The Legal Herald
Following a recent rash of apartment complex sexual assaults plaguing the north Austin community, the APD has released safety tips for apartment residents and guests to follow and protect themselves from potential attackers.
Although apartment security is ultimately the responsibility of the complex owner and management, it is critical that all apartment residents and their guests heed this important police advisory.
APD Safety Tips:
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- If you have your hands full, have a plan in case you are attacked.
- Limit distractions. Keep the volume down on your headphones or use just one earphone in order to hear and be alerted to approaching hazards.
- If attacked in an apartment complex remember other apartments are close by so yell in order for neighbors to hear you.
- Exercise with a friend. In case of an emergency, you can help each other out.
- If you have to exercise solo, let at least one friend or family member know your route, expected return time, and description of your clothing.
- Make sure your cell phone is fully charged.
- Walk in well-lit and populated areas if possible. If not, have a light source handy.
- Carry identification and include name, phone number, and medical information (allergies, medications, medical history). Consider listing an emergency contact number.
- Use discretion when acknowledging strangers.
- If you believe someone is following you, call 911 as you move to a safe place. Stay on the phone until police arrive.
- Report any suspicious persons to 911.
Know Your Rights
Apartment complex residents and guests have a right to feel safe and secure while in the community. By law, property owners are required to protect all residents legally on the premises from any foreseeable harm. For example, should an apartment owner or manager have knowledge of prior local crime, they have a responsibility to take extraordinary security precautions to protect residents and deter future crime. Should the property owner fail to provide adequate safety measures, they may be held civilly liable for any injuries or wrongful deaths which occur as a consequence.
We Fight for Victims of Property Safety Negligence…Contact us Now for a Free Consultation.
The Murray Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars for victims of unsafe properties, and recently obtained a $29.25 million dollar verdict for one of our Clients.
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.
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