I am so sorry to hear about the attack. You may be able to hold the parking lot’s owner responsible, depending on the circumstances. You should speak with an experienced premises liability attorney to learn more about your legal options.
Under California law, the owner of the premises is legally responsible for providing a safe environment for anyone who has a right to be on or near their property. If a property owner fails to take reasonable steps to ensure that his or her property is safe, the property owner can be held responsible for any damages that could occur as a result. Those damages could include compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, emotional damages, and more.
Premises liability is the legal responsibility of a property owner or manager to take steps to prevent an accident or an assault on the property. If an accident or an assault occurs, it’s critical to investigate whether the property owner knew or should have known of the circumstances that led to the accident or assault. A property owner is not required to be an absolute insurer of the safety of every person who sets foot on his or her property. However, in your situation, if the parking lot was in a neighborhood that was known to be dangerous, if there were inadequate security measures taken, if the lot was poorly lit, it could be seen as reasonably foreseeable that an attack would occur. In that case, the property owner may be responsible for failing to take actions to protect you.
Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles premises liability attorney, at 310-385-0567 if you have been injured in an attack in a parking lot. You may have legal options against the property owner. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.