Articles Posted in Health and Safety Reports

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LS010463Local News

New Illinois legislation will allow cameras in nursing home rooms, a move supporters believe will deter abuse and neglect of elderly and disabled residents.

Pantagraph News reports, Bill HB2462 was signed by Governor Bruce Rauner on Friday, August 21, 2015, and will take effect on January 1.

The bill “requires the resident and any roommate to consent to having a video or audio recording device installed. It would be up to residents or their families to pay for the devices.”

In 2013, The Illinois Department of Health reportedly deemed 106 allegations of abuse, neglect and theft by nursing home staff to be valid.

The new legislation illuminates the critical need for nursing home reform. Elderly and disabled residents, who may be unable to care for themselves, deserve a safe home with trained, respectful staff and attentive care.

Our Legal Take

Advocates for elderly rights and nursing home abuse and negligence attorneys at The Murray Law Firm hope the new legislation will empower families to more closely monitor the care and treatment of their loved ones and send a grave warning to nursing home owners and managers across the country.

Generally, nursing home owners and management companies are required to exercise reasonable care to avoid injury to residents and to protect them from any foreseeable harm.  This responsibility is paramount when undertaking the care of a disabled resident who may not be able to care for him- or herself. Should a nursing home owner or manager fail in this duty, the victim and their family may elect to hold the facility civilly liable for any injuries or wrongful deaths, which occur as a consequence.

We’ve Recovered Millions for Our Clients…Contact us Now for a Free Consultation.

The Murray Law Firm has extensive and successful experience in representing victims of nursing home abuse and negligence and we offer our legal expertise, if desired.  We typically represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover.  Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us via e-mail (click here) or call at 888.842.1616. Consultations are free and confidential.

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HotelOpenDoorThe American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) reminds us, it is all too easy for a hotel vacation or business trip to turn to tragedy. While hotel and motel security begins with the owner and management, these basic guest safety guidelines may reduce guests’ risk of becoming a victim of theft or assault:

Guest Safety Tips

  1. Don’t answer the door in a hotel or motel room without verifying who it is. If a person claims to be an employee, call the front desk and ask if someone from their staff is supposed to have access to your room and for what purpose.
  2. Keep your room key with you at all times and don’t needlessly display it in public. Should you misplace it, please notify the front desk immediately.
  3. Close the door securely whenever you are in your room and use all of the locking devices provided.
  4. Check to see that any sliding glass doors or windows and any connecting room doors are locked.
  5. Don’t invite strangers to your room.
  6. Do not draw attention to yourself by displaying large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry.
  7. Place all valuables in the in-room safe or safe deposit box.
  8. When returning to your hotel or motel late in the evening, be aware of your surroundings, stay in well-lighted areas, and use the main entrance.
  9. Take a few moments and locate the nearest exit that may be used in the event of an emergency.
  10. If you see any suspicious activity, notify the hotel operator or a staff member.

Read the full AHLA safety guidelines.

Selecting a Safe Hotel or Motel

The Murray Law Firm represents victims of hotel and motel violence and security negligence. We urge guests to look for the following security measures and access controls when selecting a hotel or motel:

  • Bright lighting in all parking areas, outdoor walkways, indoor hallways, and common areas.
  • Surveillance cameras and 24-hour security patrols.
  • Building access controls, such as an entry gate, security guard, guest card controlled entry to all buildings and common areas.
  • Hotel room access controls, such as a deadbolt lock, a door viewer, a steel frame door, window locks, and a security bar for any sliding patio doors.
  • Call the local police department if you’d like to check on crime reports for a particular property.

Hotel and motel owners and managers are required by law to provide a safe premises for all guests legally on their property and to prevent foreseeable third-party criminal attacks, such as rapes, shootings, assaults, or robberies. For example, should a proprietor have reason to anticipate a criminal act based on knowledge of a security lapse or a previous crime on or near property, he or she then has a duty to exercise ordinary care to deter such crime and protect those legally on their premises from harm.

We Fight for Victims of Hotel and Motel Security Negligence…Contact us Now for a Free Consultation.

The Murray Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars for victims of hotel violence and security negligence, and we offer our legal assistance if desired.  We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us via e-mail (click here) or by telephone at 888.842.1616. Consultations are free and confidential.

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Screen Shot 2015-08-21 at 2.41.11 PMMost mall-related crime occurs in parking lots, making shoppers and drivers navigating these lots vulnerable to theft, assault and vehicle break-ins. Law enforcement officials who patrol the country’s busiest malls have coordinated with Consumer Reports to help shoppers across the country reduce their risk of becoming victims. Their advice appeared in the December 2013 issue of Consumer Reports Magazine:

Be Choosy Where You Park

Sure, that isn’t always easy. But it could be worth driving around a little to find a spot in a populated area instead of settling on one in a dark, remote location, especially if you are alone. “Park in a well-lit area because criminals hate light; they don’t want to be identified,” said Officer Heidi Miller of the Police Department in Bloomington, Minn., home of the Mall of America.

Lock and Stow

Many parking-lot thefts occur because drivers neglect to perform the simplest task: locking the car and closing the windows. Don’t allow your car to be an easy target for thieves. Hide valuables such as GPS devices, cell phones, laptops, and ­iPods. If your GPS is mounted to your windshield, pull it off and try to clean off the suction marks so that thieves don’t break into the car looking for it. “Don’t even leave the GPS cable,” Miller said, because criminals think you’re simply putting the device away in your glove box or center console. In addition, if you have an aftermarket stereo with a removable faceplate, Miller suggests removing the face and taking it with you.

Stay Focused

“People walking through the parking lot don’t pay as much attention as they used to,” Capt. Robert Guidetti of the Paramus, N.J., Police Department said. Instead they are checking e-mail or making calls. Look to your front, side, and rear when walking to and from a store. Being aware of your surroundings lessens your chances of becoming a victim or getting struck by a car, Guidetti says.

Assume You’re Watched

Criminals watch for shoppers who put purchases in their car or trunk, then walk back into the store. Once you’re gone, it can take only moments to break in and grab items. If you need to stow packages while shopping, repark your car in a different location, away from anyone who could have been observing, says Detective Bob Welsome of the New York City Police Department. Other options are to find out whether the mall has storage lockers available or ask security to hold your packages until you’re ready to leave.

Don’t Dally

“Walk like you have a purpose,” said Officer Harry Nuskey of the Upper Merion Township, Pa., Police Department, near the popular Mall of Prussia. “Don’t wander, even if you don’t know where your car is.” Have your car key in hand before you leave the store. It can also act as a weapon if necessary, Guidetti says. Once in your car, lock the doors immediately and drive off. Don’t sit and do other things. That will lessen the chance of you becoming a target.

Beware of Stranger Danger

If you are approached or chased, yell or scream to get attention or go back to the store and alert security. If you are followed while driving, go to an open gas station or a populated area with plenty of light, Miller says. “Your best defense is a well-charged cell phone,” Miller said. “Get on the phone and call 911.”

Please visit Consumer Reports for the complete article.

Parking lot owners and managers are required by law to provide a safe premises for all patrons legally on their property and to prevent foreseeable third-party criminal attacks, such as rapes, shootings, assaults, or robberies. For example, should a proprietor have reason to anticipate a criminal act based on knowledge of a security lapse or a previous crime on or near property, he or she then has a duty to exercise ordinary care to deter such crime and protect those legally on their premises from harm.

We Fight for Victims of Parking Lot Security Negligence…Contact us Now for a Free Consultation.

The Murray Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars for victims of parking lot violence and security negligence, and we offer our legal assistance if desired.  We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us via e-mail (click here) or by telephone at 888.842.1616. Consultations are free and confidential.

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