Buying a Home: Why Legal Help Matters

Usually, hotels do a good job of making sure that guests are safe during their stay. If a crime does occur against a hotel guest, the hotel must be ready to show that they did everything possible to prevent any harm done. That doesn't mean that hotels cannot be held responsible if you end up being the victim of a crime, however, so read on and learn more.

Does the Hotel Ensure Safety for Hotel Guests?

Just as with all businesses, the owners of a hotel property must take steps to ensure that the likelihood of a crime against a guest is diminished. When you consider the vulnerable status of travelers from other areas, you can understand how easy it might be for a criminal to take advantage of a guest from out of town. Additionally, many travelers are distracted and tired after their journey and that can create the perfect circumstances for becoming a victim. When a hotel fails to act properly to prevent crimes against guests, they are setting the stage for being negligent. Negligence means that they can be financially liable when a hotel guest is harmed.

Does the Hotel Have Adequate Measures for Dealing with Crime?

When it comes to hotels, there are common measures that should be taken to ensure guest safety. If the hotel fails to take any of the below steps, they might be liable for a personal injury claim:

1. Failure to warn—If crimes have been committed against guests, the hotel has a duty to warn about the potential for it happening to other guests as well. A verbal or written warning should be provided. If the hotel is located in a known high-crime area, they need to take extra steps to warn guests about the danger. In addition to signage and verbal warnings, they should also hire security guards, install cameras in the parking lots and hallways, require guest card access to common areas, and more.
2. Inadequate lighting—Bright lights in parking areas, hallways, and other areas are an excellent deterrent to crime. Unfortunately, some properties do a poor job of replacing burned out bulbs or with installing good lighting for a guest's safety.
3. Failure to ensure facility safety—When door locks are faulty and hotel room windows cannot be locked, the hotel can be found liable for any crimes committed against a guest as a result.

Can You Prove Negligence?

To gain compensation, you must show:

• You were a paying guest of the hotel when the crime occurred.
• The hotel owed a duty to you to provide you with a safe stay.
• You suffered a loss or an injury due to the failure of the hotel to provide a safe stay.
• The hotel failed to take measures to prevent your injury.

When a crime at a hotel victimizes you, be sure to file a police report and seek the advice of personal injury lawyers without delay.