Businesses and property owners are responsible for security on their premises to keep people safe. Crimes that occur to patrons, visitors, or tenants on public property or property owned by an individual or entity may have been prevented if adequate security was present. When adequate security is not present, the property owner may be guilty of negligent security.
If you were the victim of an attack on someone else’s property due to negligent security, you may be entitled to compensation. A Houston negligent security lawyer from Ben Crump Law, PLLC may be able to help. Call (844) 730-5111 today to learn more.
Places Where Negligent Security Occurs
A crime can happen any time you leave your house. An attack may have happened to you when you were at any of the following places:
- Amusement park
- Concert venue
- Subway or train
- Parking garage
- Library
- Mall
- Apartment complex
- City park
- Bar or nightclub
- Sports stadium
- School
The list is long and not all-inclusive. Many other places can be the scene of an attack. Just about anywhere an attack occurs is prone to further scrutiny. Property owners may be held liable if they did not have adequate security measures in place to prevent an attack from occurring. It is worthwhile to have a member of the team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC look at your particular case and determine if you are eligible for compensation due to negligent security.
For a free legal consultation with a negligent security lawyer serving Houston, call (844) 730-5111
Types of Security Violations
Property owners have a duty of care to ensure that anyone who comes onto their property is kept reasonably safe. When you leave your home and go out, you should not have to worry about assault, rape, robbery, or death or injury from a shooting.
When a victim suffers from such a violent crime, they may think that it is just a random, unfortunate event in their life. However, it may have been preventable. A Houston negligent security lawyer can help to determine if negligent security was involved.
Property owners in Texas are required to provide basic security on their property. For example, Texas Property Code § 92.153 requires a landlord to have their dwelling equipped with a doorknob lock or deadbolt, a door viewer such as a peephole on each outside door, a window latch on each outside window, and security mechanism on each sliding glass door, such as a pin lock or latch.
These are simple security measures that tenants are entitled to and should not have to ask for from their landlord. Negligent security sometimes entails more than just having a lock on a door. In an area that is especially known for crime, negligent security could involve:
- Lack of security cameras
- Lack of security guards
- Lack of proper lighting
- Lack of an alarm system
- Fire code violations, such as a blocked exit or stairwell
A personal attack that occurred due to any of these circumstances could mean that the property owner is liable.
Houston Negligent Security Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-5111
Premises Liability Law
Property owners are subject to an area of the law called premises liability. Someone who is the victim of an attack needs to prove three things:
- The property owner had a duty of care to provide basic security measures.
- The injury or attack happened due to a lapse in security.
- The victim suffered physically or financially as a result of the attack.
Property owners should know their property area well. They should know if and where crimes are most likely to occur and if and where they have occurred in the past. They should have basic security measures in place to deter criminals and prevent crimes from happening.
If a crime happened to you on property owned by another party and you suffered physically or financially as a result, a Houston negligent security lawyer will investigate to determine the cause of the attack and the liability of the property owner. They will also look at foreseeability, which is a critical factor in determining a property owner’s negligence.
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The Critical Factor of Foreseeability
In the 2016 Supreme Court of Texas case of the Gallery Apartments vs. Alan Petrie, it was stated that property owners have no legal duty to protect persons from third-party criminal acts but do have a duty to use ordinary care to protect from third-party criminal acts if he knows of an unreasonable and foreseeable risk of harm.
In most states, foreseeability is based on whether there were similar crimes in the same location that the owner should have known about. If it can be proven that the owner did know of risk factors for crime on their property and yet provided inadequate security, they may be held liable for compensation.
Speaking with a Houston negligent security lawyer from Ben Crump Law, PLLC will help to determine your eligibility for compensation. Our team will examine how often law enforcement was called to the crime scene area, what kind of crimes were committed in the area, and the proximity in time of other similar crimes.
If you are eligible for compensation, our team will fight for your rights and stand by you every step of the way, so you do not have to fight back alone.
You should not suffer from the aftermath of a personal attack. If your attack resulted in medical bills, stolen personal property, or any other costs, economic or otherwise, you should consider seeking compensation.
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Let a Houston Negligent Security Lawyer Help You Today
Do not delay in contacting a member of our team. According to Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003, any civil action for personal injury must be filed no later than two years after the incident occurs.
Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC today at (844) 730-5111 for your free consultation. You do not have to worry about the cost of hiring a lawyer. We do not charge or receive any fees until we win a settlement for you.
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