There have been a number of high-profile incidents in the news where hotel guests have been the victims of sexual assaults. These incidents shed light on the safety failures that can easily lead to abuse. In nearly all of these situations, there were major lapses in established protocol that allowed the assaults to occur.
Sexual assaults in hotels are highly preventable. Part of the problem is that many hotels lack clear policies and procedures designed to keep guests safe. Even where safety protocols are created, they are not always followed. Management may simply neglect properly training the people at the front desk who hand out keys.
How Sexual Assaults at Hotels Take Place and How To Protect Yourself
Hotels, like other public places, can become locations where criminal acts occur, including sexual assaults. Understanding how sexual assaults happen at hotels is a crucial step towards taking precautions to protect yourself. What follows are some of the ways that these incidents may occur and some practical steps to protect yourself.
- Targeting Vulnerable Guests: Sexual assailants prefer to target guests who appear to be vulnerable, including those traveling alone, intoxicated, or new to an area. One practical step to stay safe is to travel with a group of trusted friends or family.
- Keycard Access: In many cases, perpetrators obtain access to a person’s room through deceit. They will claim to know the victim in order to gain access to their hotel room keys. An easy way to prevent unauthorized entry is by using deadbolts or locks not dependent on the key card.
- Forced Entry: There have been a number of situations where perpetrators have pretended to be maintenance or room service. It’s always best to call the front desk to confirm that a certain worker is with the hotel. This is particularly important when their presence is unexpected.
- Drinks and Social Settings: Unfortunately, many sexual assaults begin when perpetrators give their victims drinks laced with drugs. To keep yourself safe, you should never accept a drink from someone you just met.
In general, it’s best to stay away from motels and hotels in areas that are known to have high rates of crime. But it’s important to remember that crime can happen anywhere, and anyone can become the victim of sexual assault. When you’re considering which hotel to pick, it’s a good idea to ask about their safety policies and whether or not they require identification before handing out keycards.
Liability For Hotel Sexual Assaults
Hotels have a legal obligation to provide a reasonably safe environment for all of their guests. Depending on the facts of any case, a hotel could be liable if a person is sexually assaulted on their premises. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 51-3-1, “Where an owner or occupier of land, by express or implied invitation, induces or leads others to come upon his premises for any lawful purpose, he is liable in damages to such persons for injuries caused by his failure to exercise ordinary care in keeping the premises and approaches safe.” Hotels should take a number of measures in order to prevent sexual assaults.
- Enhance Security Measures: Hotels should limit access to guest-only areas by requiring keycards. A great deal of care should be taken to ensure that only registered guests can access rooms and common areas.
- Surveillance Systems and Lighting: Hotels should install surveillance systems in hallways, lobbies, parking lots, and other vulnerable areas. Proper lighting can also help deter crime and potential assaults.
- Locks and Chains: All guest room doors should be equipped with functional deadbolts, chain bolts, and peepholes. These should also be regularly inspected to ensure that they are in working order.
- Keycard Protocols: Hotels should implement strict keycard policies to limit who they allow to gain access to room keys. Guests should be required to verify their identity before they are given an additional card or replacement card.
- Employee Vetting: All prospective hotel employees should undergo a comprehensive background check. This is particularly important for positions that allow direct access to rooms.
- Zero-Tolerance Policy: Hotels should adopt a zero-tolerance stance with respect to sexual misconduct on the part of hotel guests and employees. Moreover, all suspicious behavior observed should be reported and thoroughly investigated.
Hotels should foster a culture of safety in order to best serve the needs of guests and keep everyone safe. When a hotel violates policies designed to keep guests safe, this could form the basis of a negligence claim in the event of a sexual assault. Sadly, though, hotels will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility if a guest is sexually assaulted.
Steps To Take After A Hotel Sexual Assault
It can be hard to know where to begin after being sexually assaulted in a hotel setting. Many victims become frozen with fear. Of course, your safety should be the top priority after any crime. It is best to move to a secure location, which could be a hospital, a police station, or a well-lit public area. After you are in a safe location, there are a number of measures that you should consider taking in order to preserve your rights.
- Contact Law Enforcement: Reporting the assault to the police as early as possible is an important step towards documenting what happened. The police will take measures to investigate the incident and preserve related evidence.
- Seek Medical Attention: It is crucial that victims visit a hospital or medical facility as soon after the event as possible. Victims can request a sexual assault forensic examination (otherwise known as a rape kit) to collect evidence related to the assault.
- Preserve Evidence: Victims should keep any items that could potentially be related to the assault. This will include clothing and other personal belongings.
- Document Everything: Write down all of the details of the incident while they are still fresh in your mind. Be sure to include any interactions with witnesses. You should also take photos of the scene in order to create a visual record.
- Access Support Services: It is important to care for your mental health after a sexual assault. Victims of sexual assault are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Support groups and therapists can be enormously beneficial in this context.
- Seek Legal Representation: Contact an attorney who has experience with sexual assault cases. They can help you understand your rights and hold hotels accountable for their negligence.
There is a tremendous peace of mind that can come with having a skilled sexual assault attorney fight on your behalf. They can collect evidence to help prove your claim and work to hold your assailant and the hotel accountable. One of the best parts of hiring a sexual assault attorney is that they don’t charge any money upfront. Instead, they only get paid by the opposing party if they are able to successfully resolve your claim.
Getting Legal Help After A Hotel Sexual Assault
We at Butler Kahn understand how traumatic and life-altering a sexual assault can be. This is why we work so diligently to hold perpetrators and the institutions that shield them accountable for their actions. In fact, we secured a $29.4 million jury verdict in a child sexual assault case.
Have you or someone that you care about been sexually assaulted at a hotel? You may have legal recourse. Our team of Georgia hotel security sexual assault attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We are committed to getting our clients the justice and support that they deserve under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into your particular case, we are here to help. You can reach out to us anytime at 678-737-2499.
