Car got broken in on Hilton parking lot.... compensation?
 

My car was parked on a private parking lot, belonging to a Hilton property in NY State (I won´t publicly tell which one). It got broken in, as did two other cars the same night. Another two cars had the same destiny last week.

Do you think I should ask for some sort of compensation here? BTW, it`s a rather long-term stay....

I don't think so. What could they have done to stop it from happening? I'm sure there is some waiver you accepted by parking there that they aren't responsible. I'd file this under the "unfortunate things happen" heading.

Sorry to hear about it though. :(

Even valet parking comes with the warning that "no bailment is created." Certainly, a hotel which provides "parking as a courtesy" doesn't assume liability for your voluntary parking on their lot. Unfortunately, there are bad guys out there. The first thing people do is look for someone to blame when something bad happens. It's not the hotel; it's the bad guys.

Contact your homeowner's insurance carrier.

Just about every hotel I stay at has had a sign either in the parking lot or near the front entrance that states something to the effect of "Parkers assume all risk" or "Hotel accepts no risk for cars parked on this property."

TS Cards punched in Chaplain's Office
 

If by virtue of this incident you are only now learning that in almost every case, commercail and hotel parking lots claim and have established in law no liability for this sort of event. Some states require signage in the facility, while others require it to be otherwise published, but I cannot imagine having traveled by auto (or driven much in one's own city) without having learned this, one of life's bitter lessons.

Don't leave "nuffin" in your room either!

While your auto insurance may not cover events like this (except as damage to the auto above your "deductible", your "Homeowners' Insurance" may offer some recovery from theft (but these days come with ever increasing deductible limits).

I think El Pelón is right about this... even caveats about anything of value left in our rooms are given, so I suspect tennster's language applies.

Sometimes, knowing I am not covered either way, I practice a little risk management and choose a Park and Fly at the SFO DoubleTree because it is in a gated lot with an attendant at least some of the time, and select a spot in view of the lobby, as opposed to a room and a free lot adjacent to the local county park lot at the Embassy Suites - I have seen drug deals and drinking at the lot next to the ES.

But these days are a bit risky - your car can be broken in for your goods, entertainment, air bag - and even your catalytic converter is at risk of theft. If your auto or homeowner policies cover the theft, you have to decide whether to file a claim (and risk unfavorable treatment at renewal time.)

(Mejor pelón que pelado... ;) )

I understand however on the flip side I would tell the front desk. (I am sure you did.) Also, was there security/security guards? I have been to properties with them, and I would at least ask where they were the night of the break-in. Where there security camera and if so who was watching them? The hotel is not at fault but if some form of so called 'protection' was in place I would be asking the GM why it didn't work-especially on a longer term stay.

Keep in mind, just because there's a sign that says "we are not liable" does not mean you've signed away all of your rights and the hotel is not partially responsible. Those signs are kind of a lawyers trick to encourage people not to sue.

I'd contact the hotel - or send a letter to the corporate office.

If you were parked in a Sears parking lot and your car was broken into, would you expect compensation from Sears? Regardless of whether the hotel had security staff on duty or not, regardless of whether they had signs or not, why would you think they would be responsible?

Couldn't hurt to ask, but I don't think they're obligated.

I think there are too many variables to clearly say that the hotel does or does not bear a greater responsibility. It would be interesting to hear of the security measures in place.

I know of some Hiltons in Europe whose parking lot is across the street from the hotel and unsecured, and others whose parking lot is totally private and accessable to valets and guests only. My expectation of security is different for those two models. If the lot is wide open and unsecured (even if it's considered the Hilton's private lot), I wouldn't expect anything of the hotel.

But if there was some/any form of security in place, I'd also be considering pursuing something from the hotel. Even more so if you only found out about last week's break-ins by telling them about yours. They should've been warning their guests in light of the situation.

I don't PAY to park at Sears, but I do PAY to park at a hotel. Along with that payment I expect some security.

Parking at Sears is not free. You pay one way or another.

I would say compensation is not warranted unless it was a hotel employee who did it