Hotels and motels are meant to provide a safe place for travelers. However, they can be hotbeds for criminal activity, including violent crimes like shooting. In many cases, these incidents happen because property owners or managers failed to address obvious safety risks.
Under Texas law, victims of hotel or motel shootings may have the right to pursue compensation when property owners failed to take reasonable steps to protect guests. The sections below explain how negligent security claims work and what victims should know.
What Security Duties Apply to Hotels and Motels in Texas?
Hotel and motel owners have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to protect guests and visitors from foreseeable criminal activity.
Accordingly, these parties must provide appropriate security measures to address known crime risks. Specifically, hotels and motels have a duty to keep the following common areas reasonably safe:
- Parking lots and garages
- Hallways, stairwells, and elevators
- Entrances, lobbies, and exterior walkways
- Pool areas and other shared facilities
If a hotel owner knew that their property was at risk for violent crime and failed to provide reasonable security measures, they may be liable for injuries resulting from a shooting.
Who May Be Responsible for a Hotel or Motel Shooting?
Liability for a hotel or motel shooting may extend beyond the individual shooter to parties who failed to provide adequate security on the property.
Potentially liable parties may include:
- Hotel or motel owners responsible for maintaining the property
- Management companies that oversee daily operations and safety policies
- Private security companies hired to patrol or monitor the property
- Maintenance contractors responsible for repairing broken lights, locks, gates, or other safety features
Because these businesses often carry liability insurance, they may be able to compensate victims for medical bills, lost income, and other damages resulting from the shooting.
Common Security Failures at Hotels and Motels
Many hotel and motel shootings occur in environments where there were inadequate safety precautions. The following security failures frequently contribute to shootings and other violent crimes:
- Lack of surveillance cameras or failure to monitor existing cameras
- No security guards or patrols in areas with known crime risks
- Broken locks on guest room doors or exterior gates
- Broken exterior doors or unsecured access points allowing unauthorized individuals inside
- Poor lighting in parking areas, hallways, or building entrances
- Failure to respond to guest complaints about suspicious activity
When hotel owners fail to correct these issues, they may create conditions where crimes such as robberies, assaults, or shootings are more likely to occur.
How Long Do I Have to File a Negligent Security Claim in Texas?
In most negligent security cases, victims have two years from the date of the shooting to file a lawsuit. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations. If you fail to file your claim within that timeframe, you may lose the right to recover compensation in court. There are limited circumstances where the deadline could be extended.
How Our Negligent Security Attorneys in Houston Can Help
An experienced attorney can help you determine whether a hotel owner or manager failed to take reasonable steps to prevent your shooting.
At Hampton & King, our attorney can assist by:
- Investigating the property’s crime history and security policies
- Reviewing maintenance records, incident reports, and surveillance footage for possible security failures
- Obtaining testimony from witnesses and security experts to strengthen your case
- Identifying all parties that may share responsibility for the shooting
- Calculating damages for your financial losses and pain and suffering
- Pursuing compensation through injury claims or a personal injury lawsuit
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case with a Houston negligent security attorney.