Visitors and events
Hotel, resort and vacation rental injuries
Hotels, resorts and vacation rental owners in Riverside County must use ordinary care to keep guests reasonably safe (Civil Code § 1714). Hotel, motel and resort pools are regulated as public pools, must be operated safely, and must have lifeguards or signs clearly saying none are on duty.
What a hotel, resort or rental owner owes guests
California's basic rule is that everyone is responsible for injuries caused by a lack of ordinary care in managing their property (Civil Code § 1714). For hotels, resorts and short-term rentals in Palm Springs and the other desert resort cities, Temecula or Riverside, that means keeping rooms, walkways, stairs, balconies, pools and parking areas reasonably safe, and warning guests of hazards they would not see. The same statute reduces a recovery to the extent the injured person's own carelessness contributed.
Common hotel and rental injuries
- Slips on wet lobby, bathroom or pool-deck surfaces, and trips on torn carpet or broken steps.
- Falls from balconies or stairs with loose or low railings.
- Pool and spa injuries, including drownings and near-drownings.
- Injuries from broken furniture, fixtures or doors.
- Assaults where lighting, locks or security were inadequate.
- Dog bites at rentals or on resort grounds (see Civil Code § 3342).
Hotel, motel and resort pools
Hotel, motel and resort pools are regulated as public pools, not private backyard pools:
| Which pools | California's public pool regulations apply to hotel, motel and resort pools, along with apartment, condominium, homeowner association and many other shared pools. [source] |
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Anyone operating or maintaining a public pool must do so in a sanitary, healthful and safe manner (Health & Safety Code § 116040). A public pool that charges a direct fee must have lifeguards; other public pools, such as most hotel pools, must either provide lifeguards or post signs clearly saying lifeguard service is not provided (Health & Safety Code § 116045). Missing signs, broken gates, cloudy water that hides a swimmer, or a missing drain cover can all be evidence in a pool injury case.
Vacation rentals
A short-term rental owner's duty of care is the same basic duty under Civil Code § 1714. Cities can also have their own vacation rental rules, so check the rules of the city where the rental is located. Save the listing, because it shows what the owner advertised, such as a pool, a spa or a balcony.
What to do if you are hurt at a hotel or rental
- Report the injury to the front desk or the host right away and ask for a copy or number of the incident report.
- Photograph the exact hazard before it is cleaned up or repaired, with something that shows scale.
- Get names and phone numbers of witnesses, including staff.
- Keep your reservation confirmation, receipts and any messages with the host or platform.
- Get medical care before you travel home, and keep all records.
If the property is owned by a city or another public agency, such as a public pool or park, a written claim is generally required within six months. Our premises liability page explains how these cases are proved.
Deadlines
Most injury lawsuits in California must be filed within two years (CCP § 335.1). If a city, the County, the State or another public agency may share responsibility, a written claim is generally due within six months (Gov. Code § 911.2); our claims guide lists where to file.
Every fact on this page links to the official source it came from. We checked each one in September 2026. Agencies change fees and procedures, so confirm with the agency before you go. How we research.
Common questions
Is a hotel responsible if I slip and fall?
A hotel is responsible if it failed to use ordinary care, for example by leaving a known hazard unrepaired or unmarked (Civil Code § 1714). Your own care is also considered.
Do hotel pools have to have a lifeguard?
Not always. A public pool that charges a direct fee must have lifeguards; other public pools must either provide lifeguards or post signs clearly saying there is no lifeguard service (Health & Safety Code § 116045).
What if I was hurt at a vacation rental booked online?
The property owner still owes guests ordinary care under state law. Keep the listing, your booking and all messages, and report the injury to the host and the platform in writing.
Related pages
Hurt in Riverside County?
Talk with our Riverside team about what happened. Consultations are free, in English or Spanish.