The Legal Herald
(NSC)
What can mall parking lot patrons do to protect themselves and their families this holiday season?
Holiday shoppers, balancing heavy bags, purses, keys, and cellphones, make vulnerable targets. “Large parking lots, such as those found at shopping malls, are considered most vulnerable to crime,” according to The National Safety Council. These facilities present inherent security challenges as they frequently occupy a large space with low levels of activity and numerous hiding places for would-be attackers.
While parking lot safety and security is ultimately the responsibility of the property owner, patrons can take safety precautions to protect themselves and their families. The City of Overland Park urges shoppers to heed the following parking lot safety tips:
- Always lock your vehicle, both when you’re driving and once you’ve parked. Make this a habit.
- When you get ready to park your car, scan the area for anyone or anything suspicious.
- Park as close to your destination as possible.
- Don’t leave your keys in the ignition. (you’d be surprised)
- Don’t leave valuables (GPS, cell phone, wallets, cash, etc) in the vehicle in plain sight. If you secure your belongings in the trunk, make sure no one is watching you store them there. Many trunks can be accessed by pushing a release button inside the car, and a thief will break into your car in order to access the trunk area if it is worth his/her effort.
- Back into a parking space if possible, so that you can exit quickly, if needed.
- Try making your shopping trips during the day. Crooks mostly operate under cover of darkness.
- Always be aware of your surroundings, and don’t be distracted by talking on your cell phone. Is the parking lot well-lit?
- Upon approaching your car look around, in, underneath and next to your car.
- Once inside the car, quickly lock all doors. Most people let their guard down once inside their car.
- If you are alone wait until others walk by and join them from a distance.
- Avoid strangers. Again trust your instinct.
- Keep your cell phone in a pocket or somewhere easily accessible.
- You may opt to carry some non-lethal personal protection product like a stun gun or pepper spray.
- Wear comfortable shoes when walking to your car, so that you could run if necessary.
- If you see someone tamper or damage a vehicle, call the police immediately – 911.
Remember to trust your instincts – you can’t ever be too careful.
Victims of Parking Facility Violence: Know Your Rights
Shopping center patrons have a right to feel safe and secure while on the premises of the establishment they are visiting, both inside a business and outside in the parking lot. By law, property owners are required to protect all patrons legally on the premises from any foreseeable harm. For example, should a shopping center owner have knowledge of prior violence on or near property, they have a responsibility to implement additional security precautions to protect patrons and deter such crime. Should a mall or parking lot owner fail in this critical responsibility, they may be held civilly liable for any injuries, sexual assaults or wrongful deaths which occur as a consequence.
Can I Afford an Attorney?
Our Clients frequently come in concerned that they won’t be able to afford legal help. We believe everyone has a right to exceptional legal service. We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover. This means our interests are always tied to that of our Clients. Be sure to ask any potential personal injury attorney about their fee schedule and whether they represent Clientele on a contingency basis before signing a contract.
We’ve Recovered Millions for Victims of Parking Lot Security Negligence…Contact us Now for a Free Consultation.
The Murray Law Firm has an extensive and successful record representing victims of violence and security negligence. We have recovered millions of dollars for our Clients, and we recently obtained a $29.25 million dollar verdict for a victim of an unsafe property. 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.
Choosing the Right Attorney
Selecting the right attorney for you or your family is highly important. You must feel confident that the attorney you hire has a complete understanding of the law applicable to your particular case, and has successful experience in handling such cases.
Important: Do not hire a lawyer who has violated the Rules of Professional Conduct!!!
You should not hire an attorney who calls you or visits you unsolicited, or anyone that contacts you directly to offer legal services. This activity is strictly prohibited by Rule 7.3 of the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which states as follows:
A LAWYER “SHALL NOT” CONTACT A PROSPECTIVE CLIENT THROUGH A “LIVE TELEPHONE” OR AN “IN-PERSON” VISIT.
– RULE 7.3, ABA MODEL RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT.
If an attorney, or someone acting on behalf of an attorney, contacts you in this manner, that attorney is in violation of this Rule. This unethical and unprofessional activity on the part of the lawyer is good sign that you should stay away. It is imperative that you are represented by an attorney who is capable of advocating for you within the confines of the law, and an attorney who fails to abide by the Rules of Professional Conduct is probably not the best fit. In fact, any such attorney should be immediately reported to the local State Bar Association. If you have been contacted in such an unsolicited manner, contact us and we’ll assist you in filing a report.
DISCLAIMERS:
The information contained in this post is from secondary sources and may therefore contain inaccuracies. We will gladly correct or remove this post upon request.
The material contained in this post is not intended to constitute legal advice. As each Client is unique, please contact us for a free consultation on your particular case.
“Contingent attorneys’ fees” refers only to those fees charged by attorneys for their legal services. Such fees are not permitted in all types of cases. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client.