The sad and scary reality is that anyone can be the victim of a violent crime. Crime can happen anywhere at any time. To protect patrons and tenants, businesses and property owners have a duty to make sure proper security measures are in place.
If you suffered crime-related injuries because an owner failed to provide adequate protection of their property, a Seattle negligent security lawyer might be able to help you win financial compensation. Call (844) 730-5111 to learn how an attorney with Ben Crump Law, PLLC can assist with your case.
Violent Crime and Public Property
You might have grounds for a negligent security lawsuit if you were harmed while on someone else’s property. This may include a place of residence, like an apartment building or rental house, or a place of business, such as a restaurant or bank. Roughly 18% of all violent crimes happen in the workplace, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). Other locations where the property owner may be responsible for security include:
- Schools and college campuses
- Movie theaters
- Malls
- Bars and clubs
- Office buildings
- Hotels
- Parking garages
Violent crime includes assault, rape, robbery, sexual assault, and murder. Examples of violent crime in public places may include:
- Being robbed while in an apartment building
- Being assaulted in the parking lot of a business
- Being raped in a college dorm
- Being shot at a concert or sporting arena
- Being stabbed at a retail store
For a free legal consultation with a negligent security lawyer serving Seattle, call (844) 730-5111
The Property Owner’s Responsibility
Negligence is the failure to behave with a level of care expected of a reasonable person. When on another person’s property, the owner of the property owes you a duty of care. If that duty was breached because the property owner was negligent, they might be liable for your injuries.
A Seattle negligent security lawyer can help show that you were harmed because the property owner behaved irresponsibly. In negligent security cases, you may need to prove the property owner should have been able to foresee the need for security measures and did not act accordingly.
A lawyer can help you prove the business or landlord did not provide or maintain necessary security measures, such as:
- Adequate lighting on the premises
- Security cameras
- Security guards or doormen
- Alarm systems
- Adequate locks
Seattle Negligent Security Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-5111
Monetary Damages
If you have been attacked, assaulted, or otherwise hurt by violent crime, you know it leaves not only physical harm, but also emotional and financial damage. Crime victims often suffer trauma on top of bodily injuries.
Victims of violent crime can suffer from sleeplessness, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or other mental health conditions. You may be afraid to visit public places or participate in activities you once enjoyed. You can be compensated for the mental anguish violent crime can induce, and the way it has affected your quality of life. You may also seek awards for mental health services or medications that you need to help you cope.
Emergency medical treatment is expensive. You can seek compensation for medical bills related to your physical injuries. This includes things like intensive care, surgery, hospital stays, and any ongoing treatment you may require, like physical therapy.
People who experience traumatic events, like victims of violent crime, often are unable to immediately return to the normal routines of their daily lives. This includes returning to the workplace, especially if that is where you were harmed. A lawyer may be able to help you recover wages lost because of your injuries.
If your incident involved theft or robbery, you might be able to recover compensation for the value of your property. If your loved one was murdered, you might be able to seek justice through a wrongful death lawsuit.
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The Difference Between Civil and Criminal Cases
If you were the victim of a violent crime, the person who harmed you may be charged with a felony. Any criminal case you may be a part of is separate from any civil action you may decide to take.
In negligent security cases, you are not seeking damages from the person who committed the crime against you. You are holding the business or property owner responsible for failing to fulfill their duty to protect you as a customer or renter.
This does not mean you cannot also file a civil suit against the perpetrator. However, you might be more successful in seeking compensation from a business or property owner who is insured to cover personal injuries.
An attorney can begin working on your case right away. You have three years from the time of your injury to bring a lawsuit for personal injury, according to RCW 4.16.080. The statute also gives three years to sue for wrongful death.
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Contributory Fault
If your own actions contributed to your injuries, you are not excluded from seeking awards. You can still win a settlement, but your compensation will be reduced under RCW 4.22.005. This means that if your fault contribution is 30%, and you are entitled to $100,000, you will get $70,000.
Help Is Available
If you were the victim of violent crime, you have suffered enough. You can find help to get your life back on track. A Seattle negligent security lawyer can assist you in seeking financial awards so that your medical bills and other expenses do not become an obstacle to your recovery.
Ben Crump Law, PLLC has worked with victims of trauma and their families. We will not allow the legal process to become another source of stress. We will be by your side, fighting for you. We will make sure your case is handled with the attention and detail you deserve.
Our team works on a contingency basis, so there is no risk to you. Our fees come from any settlement we win in your case. Call our offices at (844) 730-5111 to begin working on your case.
Call or text (844) 730-5111 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
