At Cowen Edwards, we stand alongside any victim of sexual assault at Casinos in the Fort Lauderdale area. The owners and operators of these establishments can be held responsible for the physical, emotional, and financial consequences of an attack.
We help victims prove that the owners of bars failed in their duty to keep guests safe. Then we demand the maximum in support for victims. If you have been a victim, please contact our lawyers for a free, confidential consultation on how to seek justice and full support through recovery.
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Sexual Assault at a Fort Lauderdale Casino?
Yes. In many cases, your civil litigation will result in a better outcome for you and your family if you turn your case over to strong legal representation. You can take home much more for your recovery than if you had handled your case yourself. A skilled lawyer is also a critical protection for your case when the casino’s lawyers try to pick your case apart and question what happened simply to save the casino money.
These are just a few of the legal protections sexual assault victims will benefit from when turning their cases over to a skilled, experienced lawyer:
- Investigating the assault and the casino’s safety record and security lapses
- Requesting security video before it’s erased
- Tracking down witnesses before they become hard to find
- Safeguarding your case when insurance adjusters and lawyers try to blame you or someone else or question how badly you’ve been hurt
- Rejecting settlement offers that don’t meet the victim’s needs and demanding more
- Earning more in a settlement or in a court judgment for the victim’s recovery
- Preparing for a lawsuit and trial if a casino won’t accept full responsibility and offer a fair settlement
- Helping you prepare to provide difficult testimony if it’s absolutely necessary
Casinos in the Fort Lauderdale Area
Residents and visitors in Fort Lauderdale are very close to some of the biggest casinos in Florida. Some are in Broward County.
These are just a few of the most popular casinos within a short driving distance from Fort Lauderdale:
- Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood – Hollywood, FL
- Gulf Stream Park Horse Racing & Casino – Hallandale Beach
- Isle Casino Racing – Pompano Beach
- Mardi Gras Casino – Hallandale Beach
- Miccosukee Casino — Miami
Can a Casino Be Liable for My Sexual Assault?
People go to South Florida casinos for many reasons, even beyond gambling. They go to enjoy the shows, enjoy the hotels and amenities. They may want to try a high-end restaurant or watch a horse race. Casinos are ready to swipe your credit cards and win your cash. However, these mega-businesses must make sure they provide visitors with a safe visit.
Florida’s premises liability laws hold business owners and property owners liable for the safety of the visitors they welcome in. They must take reasonable action to prevent any scenario and scene where a sexual assault could occur.
A Casino can be responsible for recovery costs for sexual assault victims if it’s established that: (1) The owners had a legal responsibility to protect the victim, (2) The owner failed in protecting the victim, (3) The negligence of the owner led to the assault.
Support doesn’t come automatically. Victims need to prove that a casino’s negligence contributed to a sexual assault.
Unfortunately, businesses will do everything possible to fight this accusation. Their lawyers can try to point the finger of blame at someone else to get out of providing support to victims. They’ll also question every aspect of what happened.
Common Security Mistakes That Lead to Sexual Assault at Casinos
The negligence described above often involves a lack of proper security measures that allow a criminal to seek out a victim.
The legal term for this type of carelessness on the part of a business is known as “negligent security.” It can be the basis of a personal injury case that seeks support for victims in the present and for the future when their lives will continue to be affected by such a terrible crime.
But your lawyer will be examining every decision the Casino made to show what really happened. These are just a few of the mistakes Casinos can make that would jeopardize a visitor’s safety:
- Too few surveillance cameras or a security system that isn’t working
- Hotel rooms with broken or compromised door locks
- Too few security guards
- Too few security personnel on casino floors
- Lack of training for security guards
- Improper background checks on security guards and other casino employees
- Lack of proper lighting at night in parking lots
- Failure to warn customers of previous assaults on the premises or in the area
- Allowing entrance to a guest who poses a known risk to others
- Bartenders not taking reasonable precautions to prevent guests’ drinks from being spiked
- Ignoring issues that owners and operators should foresee from guests who are consuming alcohol, known as “foreseeability”
When Can a Civil Claim Be Filed After a Sexual Assault?
Victims of sexual assault can file a legal claim against the casino at any point after the crime occurs. This is a civil case and is separate from a criminal trial that may be coming up for a sexual assault suspect.
The civil claim against an at-fault business or property owner can be filed and settled at any time, even if the criminal trial has yet to get underway or is ongoing. The verdict in a criminal trial doesn’t necessarily affect the outcome of a civil trial.
Your attorney would first seek a settlement from the casino that offered fair support to you. However, if a casino and its insurance provider refused to accept full responsibility for the assault, your lawyer would be ready to file a lawsuit and take the negligent party to court.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a sexual assault civil claim against a business in Florida?
You have two years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury claim against a business that contributed to the circumstances that led to your sexual assault. When reporting someone who committed a sexual assault, victims have up to four years to contact authorities.
What should I do right after a sexual assault?
You should contact 911 immediately and get help on the way. If it’s safe, you feel strong enough, and there’s time, you should alert a Casino manager and make sure an incident report is prepared. Get witness contact information. Take photos of any visual evidence that shows negligent security.
Should I allow evidence collection and a medical exam?
Yes. You should allow medical examiners to check you out and conduct evidence collection for sexual assault. Allow this step even if you aren’t sure you will be filing charges. Get checked out by doctors even if you don’t feel like you are injured.
Dedicated Fort Lauderdale Negligent Security Sexual Assault Lawyers
At Cowen Edwards we go to work to earn justice for victims while causing as little disruption to victims and their families as possible. We want to make sure the victims of crime have everything they require to begin to recover physically, emotionally, and financially.
When you’re hurt in a negligent security incident in Fort Lauderdale, we’ll be there to stand up for your rights and hold those responsible fully accountable. Don’t wait–contact us today to set up your free, confidential consultation.
