Is myemployer liable if my car was vandalized twice while parked in the company parking lot?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Is myemployer liable if my car was vandalized twice while parked in the company parking lot?
I bought a new car 2 months ago. Since that time, it has been vandalized at work in the privately owned lot twice; prior car never had an issue. The first incident was a hit-and-run that resulted in our sideview mirror being damaged. We assumed it was a parking issue and filed a police claim for the hit and run but made no qualms about it. The second was a theft. The thief smashed the passenger side window and stole a gun (registered and legal) and a GPS system. Another police report was taken. There is a camera but it does not cover employee parking. I was told it happens often. Isn’t there some liability?
Asked on April 21, 2011 under Employment Labor Law, Connecticut
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
The mere fact that damage occurs on a business's property does not automatically make it financially responsible. For liability to attach, there needs to both be some duty to have protected your car as in where the owner takes on the responsibility of protecting cars (e.g. it is gated and patrolled or described as secure). However, lots that anyone can walk on to do not generally create this duty. There may also be liability for fault based on negligence (e.g. suspicious person's where allowed to come onto the property for a period of time, etc).
Without more detail of your case, it's hard to know. Was this a secure lot or not? The fact that there were cameras would seem to indicate that is was (or at least that it was supposed to be). And certainly the fact that this was a second occurrence is noteworthy. Again, without more facts of the case its hard to speculate. You should speak with an attorney directly as to your specific rights.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.