Parking Lot Kidnappings and Premise Liability Lawsuits

Parking Lots are Used by Almost All customers. If a Business Negligently Fails to secure its Parking lot, it may be liable for Inadequate Security

A business's responsibility for securing its property does not stop at its door. We all know that customers use parking lots to get in and out of just about every kind of business. If a business knows (or should know) that its parking lot is dangerous and chooses to do nothing about it, it may be found to be negligent in a parking lot negligent security case.

Parking lots are magnets for crime. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reveal that 10% of crime occurs in parking lots and parking garages. Negligent security experts estimate that 80% of all crime that occurs at strip malls, apartment complexes and shopping malls takes place in the parking lot. This means that businesses, such as malls, hotels, stores and office buildings, must secure their parking lots and take reasonable steps to prevent violent attacks. 

Security in a Parking Lot: What Should Be There?

Obviously, security measures in a parking lot vary based on the business. A 24 hour Wal-Mart is going to need more parking lot security versus a Church parking lot. However, the following parking lot security measures greatly diminish crime:

1. Adequate Lighting

   Lighting is critical to keeping a parking lot safe. In a parking lot kidnapping case, the first thing we do as negligent security attorneys is analyze the lighting. At night, if an area is lit, this allows people even outside of the lit area to clearly see what is going on underneath the lighting. If the parking lot has guards, or at the very least, other customers, adequate parking lot lights will allow them to see customers return to their cars. This dampens the opportunity for a parking lot kidnapping attempt.

2. Appropriate Parking Lot Design and Layout

   Parking lots should be designed and built so that the parking areas are visible to other customers and employees of the business. Remote, isolated parking lot areas invite violent crime.

3. Surveillance Cameras

   Parking lot surveillance cameras, if working and visible to visitors, deter criminal activity.

4. Patrolling Parking Lot Security Guards

   The use of security guards, patrolling in marked security vehicles or golf carts is the best defense against parking lot crimes of opportunities. This kind of armed security presence may be reasonable at a 24 hour store, a strip club or a large apartment complex. This type of measure is probably unreasonable in smaller commercial properties.

Parking Lot Kidnapping Lawsuit: The Investigation Process

The basis for bringing a parking lot kidnapping lawsuit is that (1) the business knew its parking lot was dangerous, (2) the business did not act appropriately to fix the parking lot problem, and (3) as a result, the Plaintiff was kidnapped, murdered, sexually assaulted, etc. in the parking lot. It is a requirement that the negligent security attorney prove that the shooting in the nightclub was reasonably foreseeable. In order to make your case, your parking lot attack attorney will:

• See if there were other crimes committed in the parking lot;

• See if the surrounding neighborhood was a high crime area;

• Interview witnesses to these other crimes in the area;

• Speak with former employees of the business to determine if the business knew, or should have known, about the dangerousness of their parking lot; and,

• Speak with the investigating police officers involved in the instant case.

More Questions About Your Parking Lot Attack Claim? Speak with our Lawyers Now.

Call us for a free consultation at 888.375.9998.

Victims of Parking Lot Assaults

Many victims of parking lot crimes never investigate whether the business or property owner was aware of the dangerousness of their parking lot. To investigate your potential parking lot kidnapping case, call us now at 888.375.9998. The consultation is free and we only collect attorneys fees if you make a financial recovery. 

Do I Have a Parking Lot Premises Security Case?