At the Button Law Firm, we dedicate our work towards putting safety first in the community. Whether we're on the roads or out and about at the store, the safety of those around us is what we work towards every day. Something that we have noticed, when asking family and friends, is that safety as a major factor in deciding between hotels is NOT a priority for them. With that, and inspired by the Kenneka Jenkins incident, we have decided to make safety a priority when choosing hotels.
What Should You Be Looking For?
Security Cameras: A hotel that does not have security cameras installed at crucial security points is not a hotel that cares about the safety and well-being of its patrons. Security cameras should be installed at every entrance and exit, each stairwell, each elevator entrance, and throughout the hallways where rooms are located.
Security Guards: Security Guards, especially nighttime security, should be available in order to help escort guests to their cars at nighttime, provide security interference, as well as a feeling of comfort when they are around. If the area has an issue with high crime, there should be off-duty police officers instead.
Attentive Nighttime Staff: A majority of the hotels that we have visited do not have a staff that is constantly attending the front desk. This is important, as the front desk staff act as gatekeepers to the hotel, and can recognize suspicious individuals who do not appear to be guests.
Card Activated Entrances: Unfortunately, all entrances of hotels are not typically card activated, so as to prevent non-guests from coming in. We believe that the safest method to keeping unsafe individuals out is to have card activated entrances or have new guests buzzed in by the front desk staff. With that, there will be a better screening system for individuals who come into the hotel.
Parking Garages Made Safe
When you go to a parking garage, you want to know that if there are dangers lurking, you are being warned. A warning of a rapist on the loose or someone with a gun is the least we expect. We all know that we deserve to be safe. Safety is assisted by safety mechanisms in parking garages such as card entry only, security guards driving around, great lighting, and security cameras actually being actively monitored. What good are cameras if they are not actively monitored and recorded? They will only show the event after something happens, but will not allow someone watching to radio for help.
What Can You Do To Make Sure You're Being Safe?
Research is crucial in these situations. By searching the hotel's website, you can take note of the safety precautions they do and not take. From there, your decision should be based on a hotel that checks off all the safety measures on our list.
We suggest that you give your hotel a call before booking a room and run through our safety lookout list. This extra step could be the difference between life and death in some cases. More importantly, we expect that if we are paying for a room at a hotel, they are keeping our safety at the top of the list. That is a fair exchange; our money in exchange for us to be in a safe environment.
If you believe that you are a victim of a Dallas metroplex hotel's negligence in security and premises liability, give our Texas personal injury lawyer a call at 214-699-4409. We work tirelessly to ensure that our community is safe, one hotel at a time.