Negligent Security and Hotel Sexual Assault

If you have been sexually assaulted at a hotel in Houston, you may be considering legal action. If this is the case, then you may have the ability to file what is known as a “negligent security” lawsuit. But what exactly is “negligent security,” and what is the connection between this type of lawsuit and sexual assault? Understand how this legal concept works, and it becomes easier to move forward, hold negligent hotels accountable, and receive compensation for your damages.

What Exactly IS Negligent Security, Anyway?

A negligent security lawsuit is a type of premise liability lawsuit. As with most premise liability lawsuits, a property owner can be held accountable for failing to provide a duty of care to members of the public. This of course includes the relationship between hotels and guests. Hotels owe their guests a duty of care.

But how far does this duty of care extend? There are some duties that are always present, including the proper maintenance of the building and the elimination of safety hazards. But here’s the thing: It’s difficult to hold hotels liable for hazards that they were never aware of.

When a victim files a negligent security lawsuit against a hotel, they are saying that the hotel was aware or should have been aware of the danger posed by criminals – including sexual predators and abusers. Because of this, the hotel should have created and exercised a better safety plan that would have prevented these crimes from occurring in the first place.

When Can I File a Negligent Security Lawsuit Against a Hotel?

The main challenge is showing that the hotel was aware or should have been aware of the danger posed by these criminals. You can do this in a number of different ways. One option is to look into the hotel’s history and find out whether similar crimes have occurred on the premises in the past. You might look into how many times the police were called to the hotel to deal with instances involving sexual assault. You might also look into victims who never called the police but are willing to testify on your behalf.

Another option is to show that the hotel is in a particularly dangerous neighborhood that attracts dangerous criminals. Is it a high-crime area? Have other hotels in the same area experienced the same kinds of crimes?

Finally, you could show that there is something about the hotel’s “nature or type” that inherently increases the risk of sexual assault. For example, the hotel might have a strip club built into its lobby, or it might be located next to an establishment of that type.

Where Can I Find a Qualified, Experienced Hotel Sexual Assault Attorney in Houston?

If you’ve been sexually assaulted at a Houston hotel, you need a lawyer who has plenty of experience with this specific practice area. Choose the Blizzard Law Firm, PLLC, and you get just that. We know how common and serious sexual assault has become in Houston, and we’ve helped victims just like you pursue compensation and justice. Book your consultation today, and we can immediately get you started with an effective action plan.

Sources

https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/premises-liability-and-negligent-security-issues-and-implications

https://www.facebook.com/TheOceanViewHSC/

Blizzard Law, PLLC

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Houston, TX 77006

If you have further questions about this article or legal concerns, call 800-672-3103