Parking Garage Rape in Atlanta

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Unfortunately, the trend continued in 2022. Rapes were up 236% compared to 2021 levels.

Experiencing a rape is an extremely traumatizing experience that can change a person’s life. Not only will they endure significant emotional distress, but they might also suffer significant financial losses, too. Considering that this type of sexual abuse is extremely unsettling, it’s important to surround yourself with a strong support system who can shield you as you heal from the ordeal.

One person you need in your support group is a parking garage rape lawyer.

This type of legal representative will go through the circumstances of your incident to determine your legal options for recovery. In some situations, you may be able to get financial compensation from a negligent property owner. Do you need to know more? Learn everything you need to know about how to cope with a rape situation in an Atlanta parking garage and how an attorney can help you below.

How to Cope with a Parking Garage Rape Situation

The aftermath of a parking garage rape is often chaotic, unsettling, and confusing. As a survivor, you may find yourself having no idea what to do or where to go immediately after the incident. You might initially question whether or not to involve the police. You might not immediately seek out medical care. You may not be ready to reveal the details of what happened to you, yet.

Respectfully, however you decide to deal and cope with the incident is okay. We all have different methods for coping with trauma, and you shouldn’t feel compelled or forced to cope in a way you don’t feel comfortable with. That being said, there are some steps you can take that can protect your rights and legal options. If you are considering seeking out criminal or civil justice or you think that might be a possibility in the future, then there are specific things you can do to ensure your success. Below, we’ll go over a few steps that you can take if you feel it is best in your situation.

Report the Incident

Directly following the incident, it’s normal to feel unsafe. For that reason, you may initially struggle with how to deal with what happened. If it’s possible, then call your closest friend or family member. Explain what happened and ask them to come to where you are.

Together, you can decide if it’s best to report the incident to police.

Involving the authorities can be stressful because you’ll have to recount what happened. That being said, crossing this hurdle will help tremendously with pursuing justice in your situation. The police will not only be able to file an official report but they’ll also have the ability to start immediately seeking out time sensitive evidence that later proves invaluable. The authorities will be able to guide you on how to handle your next steps.

Get Medical Care

Next, get the medical care you need for your injuries. Rapes almost always result in physical trauma to varying degrees.

If you get medical care right away, then your doctors can potentially collect DNA evidence that can be used later in court. If you don’t seek out medical treatment, then collecting this evidence later won’t be possible.

Seek Support

Hopefully, your best friend or family member stays with you as you go through the steps above. In an ideal world, this support system would stay by your side as you heal in the coming days, weeks, and months.

Unfortunately, even the greatest loved one may not completely understand what you’ve gone through or how to respond to your trauma as a parking garage rape victim. That being said, it’s important for you to seek out a support system that’s trauma-informed and ready to help you move forward. Support may include seeking out a therapist, joining a support group, or finding an online community of survivors like yourself.

Know Your Rights and Legal Options

As a survivor, it’s paramount that you also learn about your rights and legal options in a timely manner. The sooner you know about your options, the better position you’ll be in to get justice. As a rape survivor, you have the right to:

• Leverage the law and seek criminal charges against the culprit
• Seek out a civil lawsuit against the perpetrator
• Seek out a civil lawsuit against another negligent party

Seeking out criminal charges can be a trying mental experience because the perpetrator will likely come up with some form of parking garage rape defense strategy that you’ll need to combat. For this reason, it’s paramount that you hire a great lawyer who will field these types of arguments for you.

Similarly, seeking out a civil claim against a property owner can prove challenging, especially when the property owner has a solid legal team of their own.

What Qualifies as Negligent Security?

In Atlanta, property owners have a legal duty to provide for the care and safety of people they invite onto their property. As such, property owners are expected to take reasonable steps to secure their premises and install safety measures appropriate for the area. In general, property owners should take steps to protect guests from foreseeable crime.

Negligent security cases happen when a property owner fails to uphold their duty of care. This failure to provide adequate security contributes to or causes a criminal incident. Since the incident could’ve been prevented if the property owner had installed proper safety measures, the property owner could be held legally liable for the fallout of the crime.

You can always contact our Atlanta negligent security lawyer.

Who is Responsible for Safety in the Parking Garage?

When it comes to a parking garage, the owner of the lot is considered responsible for the safety of people who park on the property. If a criminal incident occurs as a result of a lack of security measures, then the owner of the parking lot can be held financially and legally liable.

Common Types of Crime in Parking Garages and Lots

Parking garages that lack the right safety features can become magnets for criminals. Here are just a few of the most common types of criminal incidents that happen in Atlanta’s most notorious parking garages and lots:

• Grand theft auto
• Car break-ins
• Property damage
• Rape
• Serious Assaults
• Hit-and-runs
• Robbery

Examples of Negligent Security in a Parking Garage

A parking garage owner can be held legally liable in some situations, but it’s also obvious that a parking lot owner can’t prevent all crime. In fact, it would be unfair to hold a property owner liable for someone else’s criminal behavior. That being said, it’s still important for property owners to take reasonable steps to avoid foreseeable crime in order to be considered upholding their legal duty of care.

Here are a few examples of inadequate security that could be described as negligent on the part of the parking lot owner:

• Failure to secure the parking garage at night
• Not installing adequate lighting
• Not having safety features like gates to prevent non-paying vehicles from entering the garage
• Failure to install security cameras
• Not taking action when a crime has occurred on the premises in the past
• Not taking action when crime is foreseeable based on crime patterns in the surrounding area

Do You Have the Basis to Pursue a Civil Claim?

Do you believe that your recent rape incident could’ve been prevented if the proper security measures had been in place at.

Types of Damages a Negligent Security Attorney Can Help You Recover

After a rape, it’s important to consider all the losses you’ve endured. If your situation does have the necessary elements to pursue a civil claim, then you could potentially be eligible to receive the following types of damages:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• The costs of therapy
• Pain and suffering
• Expenses related to temporary child care

Tips for Choosing an Experienced Parking Garage Rape Lawyer

If you do make the decision to pursue justice after your incident, then you’re making an extremely brave and courageous choice. That being said, it’s very important for you to choose the right parking rape lawyer to represent you. The last thing you need is to hire an inefficient lawyer who further worsens your trauma by not believing your story or arguing with you over your losses. Considering what you’ve been through, it’s good to know what to look for. Here are a few things to consider:

An Attorney With the Right Experience

First, you need to ensure you hire an attorney who has experience with both negligent security claims and rape cases. You want a lawyer who is trauma-informed and prepared to handle the details of your case sensitively. Some lawyers, while great at their jobs, tend to de-personalize their cases, and that’s not the type of representation you want in this situation.

Location Matters

Next, you want to hire a lawyer who is in your local area or very close by. The more local your lawyer is, the more likely that have experience with your local courtroom and the workers who frequent there. A lawyer that already has established connections in the court will prove to be invaluable as your case moves along.

Look for Positive Reviews and Successful Past Case Results

Next, be sure to check out the lawyer’s past case results and reviews. You want to look for a lawyer who can back up their claims of experience with solid proof of their case results. You should be able to see how much your lawyer was able to secure for other individuals dealing with negligent security claims.

An Attorney Who Has the Time for Your Claim

Finally, be sure to consult with your lawyer or the firm you plan on working with. Ask about their average case load and inquire as to whether the lawyer you speak with will be the main person handling your case. All too often, claims get handed off to legal aids and the lawyer doesn’t handle the case on their own.

You deserve a lawyer who will give your claim the time and attention it deserves.

Hiring the Right Lawyer After an Atlanta Parking Garage Rape

Experiencing any form of sexual assault is extremely unsettling. While you may feel the natural inclination towards withdrawing inwardly to protect yourself, it may be necessary to take certain steps to protect your legal and financial interests moving forward.

One of the best ways to ensure you make informed, solid legal decisions is to hire an Atlanta negligent security lawyer. The right attorney will be able to give you advice that you can rely on.

Are you in Atlanta or a nearby area? If you’re considering seeking out a legal claim against a negligent parking garage owner, then we can help you discover more about your options, potential compensation, and rights moving forward. Schedule a free and confidential consultation with our Singleton Law Firm, LLC now to get started.

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Apartment Rape Atlanta Attorney

Atlanta Assault Lawyer