I am very sorry to hear about the assault. Sexual assaults are devastating for the victims and can require extensive counseling for the victim as well as emergency medical treatment.
As a victim of sexual assault, you may be able to sue the property owner for your physical and emotional injuries. In general, a visitor coming onto another’s property can sue for any injuries suffered as a reasonably foreseeable consequence of a sexual assault due to a failure to provide appropriate security.
Cases involving sexual assaults tend to happen more frequently at hotels and motels than other types of businesses. Motel and hotel owners owe their guests a duty to use ordinary care to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition. If they fail to do so, they can be subject to liability for physical harm to their guests caused by the accidental, negligent, or intentionally harmful acts of third parties.
In addition, motel and hotel owners have a duty to investigate and discover if dangerous actions are taking place or are likely to take place on the premises. They should also give guests an adequate warning to enable the guests to avoid the harm and take steps to prevent the harm. This means that motels and hotels operating in dangerous areas have a duty to keep informed of crime trends and change security measures at the business.
If you have been harmed by the failure of a motel or hotel to take appropriate steps to provide adequate security for its property, you should speak with an attorney experienced in handling premises liability cases. If you’re in the Los Angeles area, call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles premises liability attorney at 310-385-0567. I can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.