Attacked in a Hotel? Negligent Security Could Be to Blame
Hotel and motel safety has long been a problem, especially for single women who are on their own. Recent news reports have identified a disturbing trend of men targeting single women in hotels and motels and seeking card keys to get into their rooms. Careless hotel staff might give the predator a key, which makes sexual assault or other crimes much too easy to commit.
Contact an experienced Miami law firm if you are attacked in a hotel or motel while visiting the area. We can analyze whether security lapses led to the attack and seek compensation from the hotel or motel.
A Hotel or Motel’s Duty to Their Guests
Like other businesses, hotels and motels must employ reasonable security measures to protect their guests. At a minimum, the hotel should:
- Train staff properly on how to respond to emergencies or suspicious people;
- Confront suspicious people hanging around the premises or call the cops;
- Respond to cries for help or complaints about dangerous people;
- Ensure doors and windows have adequate locks;
- Install security cameras or other features to aid in catching criminals.
Furthermore, hotels and motel staff should act reasonably to protect their guests. For example, if someone reports a person acting strangely, hotel staff should investigate. That might mean confronting the person and asking if they are a paying guest. Staff should also confirm the person’s identity. What staff can’t do is laugh it off or just ignore the complaint.
Any hotel or motel that hands out a key card to a stranger is certainly negligent. That means you might have a legal claim against the hotel.
There are advantages to bringing a negligent security claim. You can certainly sue an assailant, if you catch them. But they might not have any money to pay a personal injury settlement. A hotel or motel should have an insurance policy to cover any accidents on their property.
There is no excuse for negligent security. Some women have been assaulted when men claimed they knew the women and procured a key card from the front desk without any proof of identity. That type of negligence is unacceptable. A hotel or motel should instead call a guest and report they have a visitor or otherwise confirm that the guest is expecting someone. Just handing over a key is a grave mistake.
Call a Miami Negligent Security Attorney
We can help people visiting Miami from other states. There is no reason to hire an out-of-state lawyer to handle a negligent security claim for an attack in Florida. Our local lawyers have easier access to the hotel or motel, which can aid in evidence collection. We can also file a lawsuit in Florida courts, which out-of-state lawyers cannot do on their own.
Your out-of-state lawyer will probably need to coordinate with a local attorney, anyway. Why not reach out directly and hire local counsel to represent you? Contact Pita Weber Del Prado. We offer a free consultation with a Miami negligent security lawyer at no cost to you.
Source:
foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/predators-targeting-women-staying-popular-hotel-chains-horrifying-crime-trend-report
