Every year, our Atlanta negligent security lawyers meet with clients who were hurt while on vacation. Not only can an injury caused by poor security ruin your trip, but it can also have a devastating impact on your life. Here, we’ll explain what to do if your summer vacation is ruined by negligent security at a hotel.
Everybody Deserves to Enjoy Their Summer Vacation
If you’re like most of our clients, you work hard all year, hoping to relax a bit once summer arrives. Regardless of what you do for a living, everybody deserves a fun vacation. You also deserve to feel safe once you reach your hotel.
Sadly, every year, our Atlanta injury attorneys meet with clients who were injured while on their trip. These are people who didn’t get hurt while waterskiing or horseback riding. These are people who were injured due to the hotel’s poor security.
Don’t Let Your Trip Be Ruined Due to Negligent Security at Your Hotel
Hotels have a duty to keep their guests safe and secure. This duty extends to every facet of your hotel stay. This may mean that the hotel has a lifeguard on duty while you swim. Or it can mean that the hotel screen their valet drivers to make sure they don’t have a criminal history.
Whatever potential hazards the hotel management can reasonably foresee, they have a duty to prevent them. Some of the more critical security measures a hotel owner must have in place includes:
- Cameras in all common places, including hallways, elevators, and refreshment areas
- Maintaining a lifeguard on duty at all times
- Maintaining a front desk clerk 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- Ensuring that all parking and outdoor areas are well-lit
- Providing security guards throughout the hotel and its property
Of course, there are undoubtedly other security measures a hotel operator must maintain. However, there are a few that our Atlanta personal injury lawyers have seen neglected over the years.
Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyers Know the Most Common Types of Negligent Security Cases
Our Atlanta injury attorneys have handled negligent security cases for quite some time. Over the years, there have been certain types of negligent security claims that seem to occur more frequently than others.
The more common cases involving poor security include the following:
- Being assaulted by a hotel worker or guest
- Having their valuables stolen from their room or their person
- Being sexually harassed or assaulted at a hotel bar or nightclub
- Being run over by a car in the valet parking area
- Being robbed and injured while on hotel premises
- Becoming the victim of identity theft by a hotel employee or guest
If any of these things happen to you while on your vacation, don’t hesitate to contact our office directly. Our Atlanta personal injury lawyers know how to pursue claims like this on your behalf.
Accidents and Crimes Happen at Hotels
While you can be the victim of an accident or an act of violence almost anywhere, hotels have a duty to take steps to prevent such incidents. But with so many employees and guests, it can be difficult for hotel management to prevent crimes and accidents.
This is why we always remind our clients to take precautions while staying at a motel or hotel.
Who Can Your Atlanta Injury Attorney Sue for Negligent Security at Your Hotel?
While you can be proactive during your hotel stay, the operator and owners of the hotel still have a duty to protect you. It would be unheard of, and foolish, for a defendant to claim that it was your fault that one of their workers assaulted you.
If you do suffer an injury because the hotel didn’t have adequate security measures, your Atlanta injury attorney would pursue some, or all of the following parties:
- The owner of the hotel
- The operator of the hotel
- A management company if they provide security for the hotel
- Individual employees if there is an assault or theft involved
- The company that provides catering, entertainment, etc.
- The groundskeeping company
Anybody who may have contributed to your injury will be named in your initial complaint. Ideally, the hotel’s insurance carrier will pay your claim. If that doesn’t happen, your Atlanta personal injury lawyer has no problem filing suit on your behalf.
Tips to Help You Stay Safe at Your Hotel This Summer
Even if a hotel seems safe, it’s best to take precautions to avoid being hurt because of poor security. There are certain things you can do to help protect yourself from being the victim of a crime or accident at a hotel.
Some of the steps you can take when you go on vacation include:
- Do your research on the hotel and the surrounding area before you book your room.
- Never accept a room on the first floor of the hotel.
- Don’t swim or let your children swim if there’s no lifeguard on duty.
- Do not wander through the hotel alone, especially at night.
- Avoid the vending machine and ice areas unless someone goes with you.
- Try to stick to common areas in the hotel.
- Keep your valuables in your hotel room safe.
- Always keep your door locked.
- Make it seem as if someone is in the room at all times (i.e. keep the television on, keep the lights on, hang the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door, etc.)
- Make sure anyone claiming to be hotel staff has a nametag on.
- Never let go of your luggage.
This is a long list of hotel safety tips. However, it’s important that you take whatever steps you can to stay safe during your vacation or business trip.
If Your Vacation Turns into a Nightmare, Contact One of Our Atlanta Injury Attorneys
Once the weather turns warm, all people can think about is taking a vacation. Unfortunately, if you aren’t careful, your dream vacation can turn into a nightmare. If you fall victim to negligent security while at your hotel, you should contact our office right away.
Our Atlanta personal injury lawyers can help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.
Our firm offers all new clients a free, initial consultation. Call today and schedule a date and time to come into the office. Or, if you prefer, you can do this through our website.
