When you check into a hotel, you expect a safe environment. But for one Illinois woman visiting Arizona, a stay at a Mesa hotel turned into a life-altering nightmare. A slip and fall in a hotel shower lacking basic safety features left her with a severe hip fracture, requiring emergency surgery and ending her vacation in an instant.
The hotel’s insurance company initially refused to accept responsibility. But after relentless litigation led by attorney Montana Thompson of Phillips Law Group, the case was resolved for $710,000 — ensuring the client received the compensation she needed for her extensive medical bills, pain and suffering, and long-term recovery.
The client and her husband had traveled from Illinois to Arizona for a vacation, checking into a well-known hotel in Mesa. On the second day of their trip, she stepped into the shower. The tub surface was extremely slick, and the hotel had failed to provide basic safety measures: there were no non-slip strips, no textured flooring, no shower mat, and no grab bars installed in the enclosure.
As she shifted her weight, she slipped violently, crashing onto the hard porcelain surface. The impact caused a severe intertrochanteric fracture of her left femur — a devastating hip injury that required immediate emergency surgery at a local Mesa hospital.
Instead of enjoying their vacation, the couple spent weeks navigating the Arizona healthcare system. The client underwent surgery to have a rod and screws placed in her leg. Because she was not cleared to fly, she and her husband were forced to remain in Arizona for weeks, incurring significant out-of-pocket costs for extended lodging, transportation, and medical care far from their home network.
When the client’s family contacted Phillips Law Group, they were overwhelmed. They were dealing with mounting medical bills, the stress of being stranded out of state, and a hotel management team that was deflecting blame.
Attorney Montana Thompson took the case and immediately launched a thorough investigation. The hotel’s insurance company took a hardline stance from the beginning. They denied all liability, arguing that the shower was “open and obvious” and that the client was entirely at fault for her own fall. They claimed the hotel had no duty to provide grab bars or non-slip mats.
Thompson and his team pushed back aggressively. Through the discovery process, they uncovered critical evidence regarding the hotel’s maintenance practices and the specific conditions of the tub. They retained a liability expert who evaluated the shower’s slip resistance, proving that the surface was unreasonably dangerous when wet and fell below industry safety standards.
“The insurance company tried to blame our client for simply taking a shower,” said attorney Montana Thompson. “But the law is clear: hotels have a duty to keep their premises safe. When they cut corners on basic safety features like non-slip surfaces and grab bars, guests get hurt. We were not going to let them avoid responsibility.”
Facing mounting evidence and a trial date, the insurance company finally agreed to mediation. After intense negotiations, Thompson secured a $710,000 settlement for the client.
The substantial settlement in this case was not an accident. It was the direct result of preparing the case for trial from day one.
“This case is a perfect example of why you cannot back down when an insurance company denies a claim,” Thompson explained. “Our client was severely injured, far from home, and facing immense uncertainty about how she would recover. She needed someone in her corner who would fight for her and make sure her case was taken seriously.”
Thompson also emphasized the importance of preparation in achieving a strong result.
“At Phillips Law Group, we prepare every serious case with the mindset that we may need to go to trial,” he said. “That preparation matters. Insurance companies and defendants need to know that we are not here to take the easy route when our clients deserve more.”
That mindset — treating every case as if it will go to trial — is a defining characteristic of how Phillips Law Group approaches slip and fall claims and other premises liability cases. It signals to opposing counsel and insurance carriers that the firm is not looking for a quick, low settlement. It signals that the client’s full losses will be accounted for.
Don’t let the insurance company deny your claim. Our experienced premises liability attorneys are ready to fight for you.
Arizona law places a clear duty on property owners and operators to keep their premises reasonably safe for guests. This applies to hotels, restaurants, retail stores, apartment complexes, and any other property where people are invited or permitted to be present.
When a property owner fails to maintain safe conditions — whether through neglect, improper cleaning, failure to inspect, or failure to provide safety equipment — and a guest is injured as a result, the property owner may be held liable for:
In this case, the client’s injuries touched on nearly every one of these categories. The $710,000 settlement reflects the full scope of what she and her husband experienced — not just the medical bills, but the disruption, the fear, and the weeks of uncertainty far from home.
Slip and fall accidents in hotel showers are a well-documented safety issue in the hospitality industry. Worn or improperly maintained non-slip surfaces, lack of grab bars, and the absence of shower mats create conditions that put guests at risk every day. Older properties that have not updated their safety equipment are particularly prone to these hazards.
Guests rarely think to inspect a hotel shower before stepping in. They trust that the hotel has maintained the space properly. When that trust is violated — and someone is seriously hurt as a result — the law provides a path to accountability.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a hotel, resort, or other commercial property in Arizona, you may have a valid premises liability claim. The key is acting quickly, preserving evidence, and speaking with an experienced personal injury attorney in Arizona before the hotel’s insurance company has the opportunity to minimize or deny the claim.
If you slip and fall in a hotel or other commercial property, taking the right steps immediately can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case.
Phillips Law Group has represented injury victims throughout Arizona for more than 30 years. The firm has recovered over $2 billion on behalf of clients and has helped more than 185,000 people pursue justice after serious accidents, falls, motor vehicle crashes, and other life-changing injuries.
The firm handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis — meaning clients pay no attorney fee out of pocket unless Phillips Law Group recovers compensation on their behalf. Free consultations are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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