Property owners in Salt Lake City should ensure that their premises are reasonably safe. Negligent security claims arise when a property owner fails to provide adequate security on their premises, leading to a robbery, assault, rape, or another attack.
In order to have a negligent security claim, the owner should have acted on a foreseeable criminal act. This means that if similar attacks or robberies have happened on the premises in the past, and the property owner did nothing, they may be liable for negligent security and a victim’s damages.
If you believe that you are a victim of negligent security, a Salt Lake City negligent security lawyer may potentially help you recover compensation. Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC today at (844) 730-5111 for a free consultation to determine whether you have a case.
Examples of Negligent Security
Common places for attacks, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), can be gas stations, restaurants, bars, and parking lots. However, negligent security can happen almost anywhere, whether on residential, commercial, or public property such as:
- Shopping malls
- Grocery stores
- Government buildings
- Hotels and motels
- Apartment buildings
- Stadiums and theatres
- Public transit
- Schools
- Nursing homes
- Hospitals and other medical facilities
There are many different types of negligent security, but what they all have in common is that an owner did not react to make a property safe in good time, although they knew or should have known that security risks existed on their property.
Negligent security is obvious in cases where criminal activity and attacks have taken place at a property before, and the owner failed to install security cameras or hire security guards to make the property safe. Other examples of negligent security can include:
- Inadequate or broken lighting
- No fencing or broken fencing
- Gates remaining unlocked
- Lack of security guards
- Unqualified security guards
- Lack of security cameras or malfunctioning security cameras
An attack can leave you injured as well as traumatized for life. According to the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), psychological wounds can be longer-lasting than physical wounds. Victims of crimes can initially suffer from fear or shock, and in the long term may have to deal with lasting anxiety and depression that requires costly counseling.
If you suffered physical and/or psychological injuries in a negligent security attack, you may wish to contact a Salt Lake City negligent security lawyer to help with your case. You could potentially hold the property owner to account for your suffering and your expenses.
For a free legal consultation with a negligent security lawyer serving Salt Lake City, call (844) 730-5111
Negligent Security Lawsuit
You may have a case against a negligent property owner if they did not provide reasonable security measures on their premises that could have avoided your incident and injuries. However, litigation can be tricky in negligent security cases as every claim can differ markedly from the next. Each and every property and case has their own specific circumstances. What may count as negligent security in a nightclub—not having security guards, for example—does not necessarily count as negligent security in a grocery store or restaurant. Therefore, each individual case needs careful examination.
Generally, in a negligent security claim in Utah, the victim (plaintiff) will have to prove that:
The Defendant Owned or Leased the Property
If the defendant owned or leased the property, it was their duty of care to inspect and maintain the premises. They have to exercise reasonable care in order to make the premises safe.
The Defendant Was Negligent
You will also have to prove that the defendant breached their duty of care. Breach of duty of care would be, for example, a property owner or lessee simply ignoring broken security cameras or leaving doors unlocked even though there were previous attacks or robberies on the property.
Negligence and Breach of Duty Caused Your Injury
You will have to provide evidence that a defendant’s negligent security caused your injuries and damages.
You Suffered Damages
In a negligent security claim, you will also have to prove that you have damages. Damages can include physical or emotional injuries, as well as property damage. You must have tangible evidence for your damages such as medical reports.
If you suffered injuries in a negligent security incident, you deserve justice. However, be prepared to fight for your rights. The defendant and their lawyer will most likely claim that your attack or robbery was not foreseeable, and then the burden will be on you to prove the contrary.
This is where having a dedicated Salt Lake City negligent security lawyer work for you can help immensely. Your lawyer will try to gather evidence proving your claim. This can include reports of previous criminal activity on the property or in the immediate vicinity.
Your lawyer will try to prove that the attack or robbery was indeed foreseeable and that a property owner or lessee should have taken concrete steps to remedy negligent security on their premises.
Salt Lake City Negligent Security Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-5111
Negligent Security Compensation
If you can successfully prove your negligent security case, you may recover damages for your medical expenses, property damage, and any other losses. A Salt Lake City negligent security lawyer can help to list your damages and calculate a potential settlement amount. You may receive compensation for:
- Hospitalizations
- Medical treatments
- Psychological counseling
- Physical therapy
- Transportation costs
- Lost income
- Property repair or replacement
- Emotional suffering
- Physical pain
- Reduced life enjoyment
You may also potentially recover other damages, depending on your unique negligent security case.
Click to contact our Salt Lake City Personal Injury Lawyers today
Call Us Today for Help with Your Case
Getting involved with a negligent security case can be quite daunting and challenging. However, if a property owner’s negligence caused your damages, they should make you whole again and you have the right to take them to court. You should not be left to shoulder the costs of your damages.
Negligent security cases can be quite tricky to prove and litigate. However, we can explain the applicable laws to you and advise you comprehensively on your legal options. At Ben Crump Law, PLLC, we do not shy away from tough and complicated cases and can fight passionately for your right to justice and compensation.
Call us today for your free case evaluation at (844) 730-5111.
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