(National Safety Council)
Holiday shoppers, balancing purchases, purses, keys and cellphones, are particularly vulnerable targets for crime. The National Safety Council cautions, “Large parking lots, such as those found at shopping malls, are considered most vulnerable to crime, according to the Urban Institute Justice Policy Center. One way for consumers to steer clear of trouble is to pick a lot where pedestrian traffic is restricted and video surveillance equipment is used to monitor the facility.”
What can mall parking lot owners do to protect their patrons and deter crime this holiday season?
The Urban Institute’s Safe City guide urges property owners to assess crime and develop strategic plans to protect patrons. Suggested security strategies include:
- Restrict pedestrian traffic through parking facility
- Install video surveillance throughout parking facility
- Keep parking facility clean and well maintained
- Improve surveillance by keeping shrubs and trees well manicured
- Reduce number of entrance/exit points
- Install entrance/exit barriers
- Require use of ticket for exit even if no parking fee is charged
- Improve lighting in and around the parking facility
- Hire a parking attendant or security guard to patrol the facility
- Introduce bike patrols to patrol facility
- Post signs to encourage drivers to protect themselves, for example: “Prevent theft: lock your car and hide valuables out of sight.”
- Post warning signs to deter potential perpetrators, for example: “This area is under surveillance for your safety.”
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 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.
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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:
– 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.