Guests at hotels and motels rely on the property to be safe day and night—in rooms, bathrooms, hallways, stairways, pools, and parking lots. Indiana treats paying guests as invitees owed reasonable care.
Common hazards
- Slippery bathtubs and bathroom floors without mats or grab bars
- Wet lobby floors from rain, snow, or pool traffic
- Broken or poorly lit stairways and missing handrails
- Pool decks, hot tubs, and fitness areas
- Torn carpeting and uneven hallway floors
- Icy walkways and parking lots
- Elevator and door malfunctions
- Inadequate security, broken locks, and unlit grounds
Negligent security at hotels
Hotels are not insurers against all crime, but they may be responsible when an attack was reasonably foreseeable and the hotel failed to take reasonable precautions—working locks, lighting, controlled access, and staffing. Indiana courts look closely at foreseeability in these cases. Read more about negligent security on our firm site.
Travelers from out of state
If you were visiting Indiana—for a race weekend in Speedway, a convention in Indianapolis, a game in Bloomington or South Bend, or a stop along an interstate—and were hurt at a hotel, an Indiana claim may still be possible after you return home.
Evidence that matters
Photograph the hazard and your room or the area where you fell, report the incident to the front desk, and keep your reservation records. Hotels often have maintenance logs, guest complaint records, and camera footage that can show whether staff knew about a problem.
Indiana law in brief
Customers and guests are generally invitees under Indiana law, owed reasonable care to keep the premises safe (Burrell v. Meads, 1991). Most claims must be filed within two years (IC 34-11-2-4), and Indiana’s modified comparative fault rules apply (IC 34-51-2). Government-owned property requires Tort Claims Act notice within 180 days (local) or 270 days (State). For the full overview, read our Indiana slip and fall lawyer page.
Frequently asked questions
Is a hotel liable if I slip in the bathtub?
It depends on the facts—such as whether the tub lacked slip-resistant surfaces or grab bars, whether there was a defect, and whether the hotel knew of the risk.
Can a hotel be responsible for a crime against a guest?
In some cases. If the harm was reasonably foreseeable and the hotel failed to take reasonable security measures, a negligent security claim may be possible.
I live out of state. Can I still bring a claim for a fall at an Indiana hotel?
Yes, you can review the claim with an Indiana lawyer. Indiana’s two-year deadline generally applies.
Sources
- IC 34-11-2-4 — official heading: “Injury or forfeiture of penalty actions.” An action for injury to a person or to personal property generally must be started within two years after the cause of action accrues.
- IC 34-51-2 — official heading: “Chapter 2. Compensatory Damages: Comparative Fault.” Indiana’s comparative fault chapter: a claimant’s own fault reduces damages in proportion, and recovery is barred if the claimant’s fault is greater than the combined fault of everyone whose fault contributed (sections 5 and 6).
Indiana Code links open the official chapter PDF from the Indiana General Assembly (2026 Code); federal rules link to the current eCFR text.
More official links: Indiana accident resources · Indiana crash statistics · How to get your crash report
General information only—not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different; deadlines can be shorter in some situations. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.