My wife tripped.

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Hillbilly

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So I had a younger couple check in yesterday around 4. Last night at 10pm I had a call from them. He said that he just got off the phone with his mom and the mom thought they should call us to make a report so we knew. That's how he started the conversation with me. I asked him "What report and what can I help you with?" He told me his wife had tripped in our parking lot and fell. He said he didn't think she broke it but she was in a lot of pain. He then told me he thought we should know right away. I told him I was very sorry and if I could get some Ice for her? He paused and said, "No she will be ok!" He said there was a spot in the parking lot from the rain that made a little spot that she tripped over. I apologized and we ended the call. I then got out of bed and went to look at what they had been talking about. There was a very small place where water had traveled but nothing crazy. I could smell them smoking outside their room so I went and got a bag of ice. I personally wanted to see what had happened and to check on them as well. I felt it was the right thing to do. The conversation was fine and they thanked me for the ice. She said, "She should of been paying more attention. My wife and I are both freaking out a little. They left today and Im wondering what their next move will be? Will they just go on or will I get bills in the mail for missed work and Dr. appointments? This is a first in 21 years. I'm at a loss for what to do? I feel like if I refund their card it will make me look guilty. Anyone have any thoughts?
 
Our first year in operation we were in a very similar situation. A guest had invited one of their friends over to socialize on our deck. This guest was wearing high heels and ended up stumbling on a ramp/threshold between the door and the deck. Long story short, this guest had sprained an ankle and went through our insurance to file a claim. What helped was that this guest had by own admission went from the inside to the outside multiple times, so insurance was able to state that they were familiar with the surroundings. I believe the end result was the insurance paid for any medical bills the person had, but nothing for pain and suffering. Our insurance apparently has a no fault claim that will award even questionably valid medical expenses.
I would contact your insurance company and go over in detail all interactions you had with the guest following the trip and take pictures. In the event your guest requests your insurance information they will have already heard your side.
 
Don't refund them. Go take pictures and write down your side of the story. If they call, refer them to your insurance company that has a department that will deal with it. Likely they will get nothing or a quick few bucks. But it has nothing to do with your income from the room.
 
1) Call your insurance company immediately. Let them know everything that happened and what was said or done. Give them the contact information on the guests should they need it.
2) Document everything. Write down and date everything you remember about what happened, what was said by the guests, what you said back. Take photographs of the area and make sure they are timestamped.
3) After that, wait. I think it's quite acceptable to make a follow-up call to make sure she's ok. And document that conversation too.
The key thing to remember is that the rules of evidence (although you'd probably never end up in a courtroom) gives precedence to evidence created closer to the date of the event itself. What you write down next week or next month has less weight than what you write down right now.
 
Thank you all for the great suggestions. I did call the insurance company and they told me to write everything down and to not give them any info at this time. If I do it will open up a clam regardless if they file or make contact. They told me to just sit back and wait to see if one comes in. But pictures are a plus. Just because someone trips a falls does not mean we are at fault. So I was happy to hear that. I think I will contact them in a few days just to see how they are doing. Do you think it would be nice to send them a gift certificate for a future stay? Or just leave things be?
Thanks again for all your help! :)
 
Thank you all for the great suggestions. I did call the insurance company and they told me to write everything down and to not give them any info at this time. If I do it will open up a clam regardless if they file or make contact. They told me to just sit back and wait to see if one comes in. But pictures are a plus. Just because someone trips a falls does not mean we are at fault. So I was happy to hear that. I think I will contact them in a few days just to see how they are doing. Do you think it would be nice to send them a gift certificate for a future stay? Or just leave things be?
Thanks again for all your help! :).
Stop acting guilty. That's my two cents.
If you tripped and fell in the parking lot at the grocery store and there was nothing to blame but your two left feet and your distraction would you expect free groceries?
Stop giving people the idea that someone else is responsible for their clumsiness.
 
Thank you all for the great suggestions. I did call the insurance company and they told me to write everything down and to not give them any info at this time. If I do it will open up a clam regardless if they file or make contact. They told me to just sit back and wait to see if one comes in. But pictures are a plus. Just because someone trips a falls does not mean we are at fault. So I was happy to hear that. I think I will contact them in a few days just to see how they are doing. Do you think it would be nice to send them a gift certificate for a future stay? Or just leave things be?
Thanks again for all your help! :).
STOP. Don't do anything more than what the insurance did. Anything you do might suggest your guilt. Just let things be and it will blow over in 99% of the cases. Stop acting as if it your responsibility.... it's an accident, nothing more, nothing less. If they do claim, they will call you or you will get papers. Insurance keep records on people who do slip and fall for a living. You bought insurance for peace of mind... so you used it... they will take care of you. Let the rest roll off your back.
 
Thank you all for the great suggestions. I did call the insurance company and they told me to write everything down and to not give them any info at this time. If I do it will open up a clam regardless if they file or make contact. They told me to just sit back and wait to see if one comes in. But pictures are a plus. Just because someone trips a falls does not mean we are at fault. So I was happy to hear that. I think I will contact them in a few days just to see how they are doing. Do you think it would be nice to send them a gift certificate for a future stay? Or just leave things be?
Thanks again for all your help! :).
PLEASE listen to what has been said. I had a man fall on the last step-he picked himself up and that was that-never heard another thing. I have fallen - in Germany & landed on my shoulder & still do not know what I did cuz I never checked it out (it does hurt most days so I know I am still alive),and then did it again here twice. I have never made a claim anywhere except at work once when I tripped over a cord. (They popped for the surgery to remove the mandarin orange-size lump from my knee.)
 
Thank you all for the great suggestions. I did call the insurance company and they told me to write everything down and to not give them any info at this time. If I do it will open up a clam regardless if they file or make contact. They told me to just sit back and wait to see if one comes in. But pictures are a plus. Just because someone trips a falls does not mean we are at fault. So I was happy to hear that. I think I will contact them in a few days just to see how they are doing. Do you think it would be nice to send them a gift certificate for a future stay? Or just leave things be?
Thanks again for all your help! :).
Stop acting guilty. That's my two cents.
If you tripped and fell in the parking lot at the grocery store and there was nothing to blame but your two left feet and your distraction would you expect free groceries?
Stop giving people the idea that someone else is responsible for their clumsiness.
.
I'm in the UK so I only know your litigious systems by reputation from the outside, but I'm very much with Morticia. As soon you you do something to effectively compensate them for this accident you are at least in some part accepting that you are responsibility and that could cost you dearly later on.
 
You have done everything you need to do at this point.
Do not contact them.
Do not send them flowers.
Do not send them anything for a future stay.
Do NOT...........engage about the incident.
Any future words could be used against you. If they (or an attorney) contact you provide them with your insurance contact. Nothing more.

Hope this will be the end of it all!
 
Glad to hear that it wasn't your wife that tripped since that was my first thought! Just sit back and relax. Don't worry.
 
Thank you all for your help. I’m not doing anything and moving on. I guess we will just wait and see. I really appreciate all your help!
 
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