Beware of negligent security as you travel

When you’re on vacation, staying at a nice hotel with a good reputation, you probably feel reasonably safe and secure – and you should. Hotels and other public premises have a duty to provide a safe environment for their guests.

This includes maintaining proper security measures to prevent harm caused by criminal activity on the premises. Unfortunately, not every hotel operation puts guest safety over appearances (or money), and that can lead to negligent security issues and serious injuries.

What is negligent security?

Negligent security is a legal term used to describe the failure of a property owner or manager to provide adequate security measures to protect their guests. Negligent security claims can arise when a crime occurs on the property and the victim believes (or knows) that the property owner or manager could have taken better safety measures – ones that would have likely prevented their injuries.

Examples of negligent security in hotels can include things like:

• Lack of proper lighting in parking areas or hallways
• A failure to install security cameras in hallways and parking lots
• Inadequate locks on doors or windows
• Inadequate staff training to recognize (and respond to) suspicious behavior
• Failure to perform background checks on employees

When a hotel fails to provide adequate security measures and a crime occurs on the premises, the hotel may be held liable for any resulting injuries or damages. This is particularly true when the management or owners of a hotel are aware that there is a potential for danger to their guests. For example, it’s well-known that sexual predators have been using some big-name hotels as their hunting grounds, and hotel owners have an obligation to respond to known threats.

If you believe that you were a victim of negligent security, it may be time to find out more about your legal options.