Articles Tagged with Best Hotel Rape Victim Attorney

HotelOpenDoor-300x211In August 2018, ABC 7 reports, a woman was raped inside a Las Vegas hotel room. Only weeks later, KTNV reports, another woman suffered a sexual assault in a different Las Vegas hotel. The unconscionable attacks raise questions over hotel security measures in the Las Vegas area.

While guest safety is ultimately the responsibility of the property owner and management, hospitality industry leaders urge travelers to take precautions to protect themselves. Meetings Today recently collaborated with female business travel experts to develop “safety tips for women in order to avoid sexual harassment and assault while on the road.”

  • If possible, request to have a room that is not at the end of a long hallway.
  • When heading to your room, pay attention to who’s in the elevator with you….If you notice someone get off at the same floor as you, try to maneuver to where that individual is walking ahead of you and never behind you.
  • Try to choose hotels that have taken care to meet female travelers’ needs with features such as a female-only floor and a closed-circuit camera inside the room to see who’s knocking at the door.
  • Do not share your room number….Make sure to double lock your room door from the inside.
  • Do not arrange out-of-hours meetings in your hotel room (after the event is over, for example). Always try to get together at a coffee shop, restaurant, etc.

Read the complete list of travel safety tips at Meetings Today.

Guest Rights and Hotel Responsibility

By law, hotel owners have a duty to provide a safe and secure premises and to protect their guests from any foreseeable harm. For example, should a hotel owner be aware of prior criminal activity on or near property, they have a duty to take additional security precautions to deter future crime and to protect guests. Should a hotel owner or manager fail in this critical responsibility, they may be held civilly liable for any sexual assaults, injuries, or deaths which occur as a consequence.

We’ve Recovered Millions for Victims of Hotel Security Negligence…Contact us Now for a Free Consultation.

Headline Frame Fox News DeskThe Murray Law Firm has an extensive and successful record representing victims of violence and security negligence. We have recovered millions of dollars for our Clients, and we recently obtained a $29.25 million dollar verdict for a victim of an unsafe property. We offer our legal assistance, if desired.

We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover.  Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us via e-mail (click here) or by telephone at 888.842.1616. Consultations are free and confidential.

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Screen Shot 2015-08-21 at 2.41.11 PMViolent crimes often occur in parking lots, hotels, nightclubs, and apartment complexes. While property owners have a legal duty to protect patrons legally on their premises from any foreseeable harm, many fail to provide adequate security and safety measures.

The National Crime Prevention Council offers tips to protect patrons from violent crime:

  • Don’t walk or jog early in the morning or late at night when the streets are deserted. 
  • When out at night, try to have a friend walk with you. 
  • Carry only the money you’ll need on a particular day. 
  • Don’t display your cash or any other inviting targets such as pagers, cell phones, hand-held electronic games, or expensive jewelry and clothing. 
  • If you think someone is following you, switch directions or cross the street. If the person continues to follow you, move quickly toward an open store or restaurant or a lighted house. Don’t be afraid to yell for help. 
  • Try to park in well-lighted areas with good visibility and close to walkways, stores, and people. 
  • Make sure you have your key out as you approach your door. 
  • Always lock your car, even if it’s in your own driveway; never leave your motor running. 
  • Do everything you can to keep a stranger from getting into your car or to keep a stranger from forcing you into his or her car. 
  • If a dating partner has abused you, do not meet him or her alone. Do not let him or her in your home or car when you are alone. 
  • If you are a battered spouse, call the police or sheriff immediately. Assault is a crime, whether committed by a stranger or your spouse or any other family member. If you believe that you and your children are in danger, call a crisis hotline or a health center (the police can also make a referral) and leave immediately. 
  • If someone tries to rob you, give up your property—don’t give up your life. 
  • If you are robbed or assaulted, report the crime to the police. Try to describe the attacker accurately. Your actions can help prevent someone else from becoming a victim.

We Fight for Victims of Property Violence and Security Negligence…Contact us Now for a Free Consultation.

Property owners and managers are required by law to provide a safe premises for all guests legally on their property and to prevent foreseeable third-party criminal attacks, such as rapes, shootings, assaults, or robberies. For example, should a hotel, parking lot, nightclub, or apartment complex proprietor have reason to anticipate a criminal act based on knowledge of a security lapse or a previous crime on or near property, he or she then has a duty to exercise ordinary care to deter such crime and protect those legally on their premises from harm.

The Murray Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars for victims of property violence and security negligence, and we offer our legal assistance if desired.  We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us via e-mail (click here) or by telephone at 888.842.1616. Consultations are free and confidential.

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HotelOpenDoorMany travelers relax while on vacation, sometimes leaving themselves vulnerable to theft and assault. While security measures are not typically part of the hotel selection process, Independent Traveler suggests a little research may reduce a traveler’s risk of becoming a victim of hotel violence. We have highlighted some hotel safety tips below. Read the complete report at Independent Traveler.

Before Your Stay

Long before you actually book your hotel, start by doing your homework. Take a careful look at the security situation in the country and/or city you’ll be visiting….

When the time comes to book your hotel, don’t just look at rates and amenities — pay close attention to location as well. Is the hotel in an upscale residential neighborhood, a bustling business district or a seedy commercial area? Is it safe to walk around after dark? Is there a police station nearby? All of these factors could affect the likelihood of a break-in or assault during your stay. You can find neighborhood information online or in a good guidebook.

You’ll also want to find out about the hotel’s own security measures. Call ahead and ask whether the front desk is staffed 24 hours a day, if there are security guards on the premises and if there are surveillance cameras in the public areas…. Is access to guestroom floors restricted to guests only? If hotel staff can’t offer any specific examples of what they do to keep guests safe, book somewhere else.

Checking In

Don’t accept a room on the ground floor if you can avoid it. Many safety experts recommend staying somewhere between the third and sixth floors — where rooms are high enough to be difficult to break into, but not so high that they’re out of the reach of most fire engine ladders.

If you’re staying in a motel where doors open directly to the outside (rather than a hallway), see if you can get a room overlooking an interior courtyard instead of a parking lot.

Don’t let the front desk attendant publicize your room number. If he or she announces it out loud when giving you your key, ask for a different room.

While you’re at the front desk, ask what phone number you should dial in case of emergency. Is there a direct line to the hotel’s security team…?

Upon arriving at your room, immediately identify a fire escape route. Check the location of the nearest stairwell and/or emergency exit (elevators should be avoided during a fire) and figure out a couple of potential plans for escape in case the hallway is blocked in one direction or another.

Check the locks on the windows (and balcony door, if applicable) as soon as you arrive, and notify the front desk if any are not functioning. It’s a good idea to check these locks again each time you return to the room, as housekeeping may open them and forget to close them again.

During Your Stay

Keep your door locked at all times whenever you’re in your room — including any deadbolts, security chains or swinging metal security locks. Never prop your door open, no matter how briefly.

At night, leave a pair of shoes next to the bed in case you need to leave in a hurry. Keep your room key, wallet and a flashlight close to hand as well.

If someone comes to your door unexpectedly and claims to be hotel staff, call the front desk to make sure the visit was actually authorized. Never open your door to someone until you’re sure of their identity; use the peephole instead.

Protect your valuables by using the hotel safe — or, better yet, leaving them at the front desk while you’re out. Get a written receipt for anything you leave with the front desk and find out whether you’re covered in case of loss. (Many hotels do not accept liability for items left in guestroom safes.) If you’re traveling with a laptop, you may want to consider bringing a security cable to lock it to a piece of furniture. Small locks are also available for suitcases.

When you leave the room, leave the TV or radio on, or put your “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door; both of these tricks will give potential thieves the impression that you’re still there. (You can contact the front desk to arrange a housekeeping visit even if the “Do Not Disturb” sign is up.)

The hotel parking lot and hallways should be well lit. Report any outages to the front desk and ask for a security escort if you feel unsafe.

If you do experience a crime during your stay, don’t simply complain to the hotel — file a police report as well….

Know Your Rights

Generally, hotel and motel owners are required by law to protect guests from any foreseeable harm. For example, should a hotel owner be aware of prior criminal activity on property, they have a duty to take security precautions to protect guests and deter future violence. Should the hotel owner or manager fail in this duty, they may be held civilly liable for any injuries or wrongful deaths which occur as a consequence.

We’ve Recovered Millions for Our Clients…Contact us Now for a Free Consultation.

The Murray Law Firm has extensive and successful experience in representing victims of hotel and motel security negligence and we offer our legal expertise, if desired.  We typically represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover.  Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us via e-mail (click here) or call at 888.842.1616. Consultations are free and confidential.

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