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Hotels are common settings for sexual assault. The nature of a hotel can invite secrecy, trespassing, and crimes of a sexual nature. It is every hotel’s legal responsibility to exercise due care in the prevention of sexual assault – both to guests and employees. Failure to fulfill this standard of care could result in liability for a sexual assault crime on the premises.
If you have recently experienced sexual assault at a hotel in Illinois, contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC. We can put our sexual assault legal experience to good use on your behalf. Our lawyers can review your case, answer your legal questions, and help you take the first step toward a positive case resolution. Call (888) 424-5757 today for a free confidential consultation.
Hotel Sexual Assault and Negligent Security
Sexual assault could point to a significant issue with hotel security. Illinois’ Premises Liability Act makes it every property owner’s duty to exercise reasonable care regarding security of the premises. Under this law, hotel owners have a duty to protect guests from foreseeable risks of harm – including the risk of crimes such as sexual assault. It is a hotel’s legal duty to engage in the following practices to reasonably prevent sexual assault to guests:
- Review previous criminal cases in the hotel or surrounding neighborhood
- Inspect the property for potential hazards, such as broken security gates
- Install security cameras, parking lot lights, gates, security guards, and other systems to prevent crime
- Ensure the security and performance of all doors, windows, and locks on the premises
- Take steps to prevent or put an end to the frequency of prostitution in the hotel
- Check visitors who enter the property for proper keycards or identification to ensure they are not trespassing
A hotel must do what a reasonable hotel would to protect guests in similar circumstances. A hotel could be guilty of negligent security if it failed to prevent or address risks of sexual assault, as was its duty under Illinois premises liability law. Evidence of negligent security could be enough to grant an injured hotel guest compensation for damages.
Hotel Sexual Assault Prevention for Employees
Hotel guests are not the only ones at risk of experiencing sexual assault. Hotel employees may also face perpetrators in the form of coworkers, supervisors, employers, or guests staying at the hotel. Again, it is up to the hotel to take steps to reasonably prevent sexual assault to employees and contractors on the property. Steps for prevention may include:
- Training employees to raise awareness about sexual violence in the workplace
- Implementing rules to prevent a maid or other worker from being alone in the same room as a guest
- Installing panic buttons for maid service staff in guest rooms
- Teaching employees how to recognize the signs of sexual violence, harassment, assault, or rape
- Encouraging employees to come forward with cases of sexual assault, without fear of retaliation
If you were an employee at a hotel in Illinois who became the victim of workplace sexual assault, seek counsel from an attorney. A sexual assault lawyer can help you gather evidence, such as surveillance footage or eyewitness testimonies, to help build a case against the perpetrator and/or your employer. You deserve legal representation as the victim of workplace sexual assault in the hospitality industry.
Filing a Lawsuit for Hotel Sexual Assault in Illinois
Sexual assault can refer to any sexual conduct or sexual penetration without consent. If you have been the victim of sexual consent while working or staying at a hotel in Illinois, protect yourself by retaining an attorney. A sexual assault attorney can help you file a personal injury claim against the assailant, as well as a negligent security lawsuit against the hotel. Claims against all responsible defendants can lead to maximum compensation for your damages:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Sexual assault therapy or counseling
- Lost income or employment opportunities
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress or mental anguish
- Lost quality or enjoyment of life
To file a sexual assault lawsuit in Illinois, you will need to bring your claim to the correct county courts within two years of the date of the incident. You or your attorney will need to gather any available evidence against the defendant. Your lawyer may need to hire experts on negligent security to testify on your behalf. Hiring an attorney takes the burden of legal proof off your shoulders. Your lawyer will handle the legwork of your claim while you focus on physical and emotional healing.
Get Legal Help for Your Hotel Sexual Assault Claim
Filing a claim against a hotel, the perpetrator, or another party for hotel sexual assault can give you and your family justice, closure, and peace of mind. It could also contribute toward your future financial stability by granting you compensation for your damages. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC, we have the practice area experience to give you a strong case against the defendant. Let us help you file a lawsuit in Chicago. Contact us now to schedule a free, 100% confidential case evaluation.
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