I fell and broke my leg at a Belize hotel while on vacation from the states. I quickly got very good medical care at a very reasonable cost. But when I return home, I will not be able to drive, which is very important because I live in a small town where you can only get places by motor vehicle. Also, my job involves lifting as well as driving. Can I seek any type any legal redress from the hotel?

You should ask your hotel. They would probably be the best place to start. Suing in Belize is not like in the states. Liability laws are much different. If your really want to pursue legal action contact a lawyer not a message board.

So what happened that you think it's your Hotel's fault that you broke your leg?

Litigation is one import I hope we don't get!

Very limited Tort laws in Belize !
such as,'The owner of a dog shall be liable in damages for injury done to any
cattle or poultry by that dog.'

http://www.belizelaw.org/lawadmin/PDF%20files/cap172.pdf http://www.belizelaw.org/lawadmin/PDF%20files/cap172.pdf

One thing I have noticed during my trips to Belize is the responsibility for your well being is on you. They TEACH their children not to play with the outlets. They PAY ATTENTION to curbs and walking near the road.
We in the US have become accustomed to having the government look out for us...seatbelt laws, helmet laws, ambulance chasing attorneys, someone is almost always there either to protect us from our own selves or to help us gain $$ from someone who didn't protect us.
If it was truly the hotels fault you broke your leg, you may have a chance. But, if you stepped off the curb, or didn't look where you were going, it's on you..
I agree, I hope litigation for personal injury cases don't make it to Belize.

Hmmm. My wife and I had an "accident" at a Belizean hotel six years ago. I'm going to sue the SunBreeze for child support:)

Thanks for the idea, troll.

But you will have to raise the "accident" here in Belize then. Come on down family Reaper!

you should return to Belize and seek legal advise from one of the many experts that are established at BCs.

Absolutlty sue for your broken leg and while you're at it sue for a damaged liver if you drank any One Barrel, and sue for sore feet caused by walking on a beach where the sand was too soft and did not provide enough support, and sue for sunburn because no one told you that Belize was in a tropical climate and sue for damage to your hair caused by the salt water that you were not told made up the Caribbean. Please let me know how these lawsuits turn out as I may want to be a part of your class action suit.

You are trying to wind everyone up i am assuming. Why do some people in life always try to blame others and neglect to look at the real problem. .......themselves.

The poor person just asked a question .....

Belize is filled with NICE people - really!

Wow. Why does almost every thread have to end up like this?

I truly wonder why anyone would even want to come to this island after getting beat up on this message board for asking simple questions.

I also wonder why people who live in paradise are so unhappy they have to spill it on everyone else.

I agree with Diane. Belize is filled with nice people--really! Don't judge the island based on this message board!

Keep in mind there is one big difference in Belize law that has some effect on limiting frivolous law suits. Normally the loosing party has to pay the other's legal fees.

Internet legal advice; you get what you pay for.

Nonetheless, the likelihood of a fall at an hotel causing injury having been the hotel's fault is slight. It shows a certain mindset to assume immediately that "there must be someone I can sue".

according to the OP's writing tense, he/she is still there.

Yeah, but what a cute little "accident" she is.... I think no accident but a blessing!

You guys crack me up... Hey, maybe I should sue for being cracked up! Hmmmmmm

And I agree with DCG, cutest little accident ever!

Only if you cracked up at a SP hotel Nova!

I have discovered that the law of gravity trumps all in Belize.

I dont think you and your wife had an accident, I think you had to much fun and was awarded a prize for your efforts.

A delightful prize.

I don't know if it's common practice, probably not, for guest lodgings to have liability insurance coverage. Even if they do, collecting on a claim would be challenging. The claim would probably have to exceed a certain amount, a form of self-insuring to pay small, provable claims. In the current economic environment I would think the possibility that a claim for reimbursement either for treatment of an injury received on the property is next to nil, let alone reimbursement for lost work time back in the home country. The responsibility for that kind of insurance coverage should fall to the individual in the form of a temporary disability policy if they are injured at their own home or on vacation. At home base in the US, we don't even hire any workers unless they are bonded and insured.

We had a pier with a swimming platform. We let locals and kids use it at will. But leave it to a foreign visitor to think in terms of being compensated because he/she stubbed his/her toe on a nail walking out to take a swim. However, we did carry a separate liability policy because we know there's that one chance that someone would come after us for damages should they be injured because of anything on our property due to someone's lack of due caution. And that was a dozen years ago, before the wave of outsiders coming to Belize broke over.

Really sorry to hear about your injury. Liability suit? Forget about it. Belize, unlike the US, is NOT a nation with a cornucopia of tort laws. Can I get a "Thank you Lord!"?

I heard a story about some folks in a failed takeoff that ended scarily but mashed the plane, the passengers (mostly American) began making noses about their injuries and mental distress...they were told "sorry" and packed off to the States forthwith...

The ounce of prevention here, travel insurance, all kinds of coverages available. Agin sorry for your leg, hope it heals soon and things work out.

I'm not a lawyer of course (thank God) but I'm quite sure that you would have to return to Belize to pursue any type of claim. So there is another obstacle.

Sorry to here you are laid up. The laws in Belize are a lot like the laws in New Orleans, there are no deep pockets. If you trip and fall, it is basically your own flat for not seeing the the object that caused you to fall. Hope you have medical insurance at home to get you well. Also if you did sue the Hotel, how will that help you do your job?
Cayebum