According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), violent crime decreased in 2019. Although figuring out how common negligent security is difficult, that does not mean property owners should relax their protocols for safety. Crimes can happen anywhere, which is why company owners need to incorporate security measures for their premises.
Criminals typically scour neighborhoods and commercial properties, as they look for easy targets. They are looking to take advantage of premises without security personnel and security cameras or properties that are not well lit. When a company fails to secure its premises, it runs the risk of putting its customers, visitors, and invitees in danger.
Understanding What Constitutes Negligent Security
Property owners should take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of any patrons, clients, and visitors to their property. When a property owner neglects adequate security measures, they potentially become liable if a person suffers injuries and damages from an attack or assault on the property.
If you are the victim of a violent crime on someone else’s property and you have tangible damages and injuries, you may have a premises liability claim. Our negligent security lawyers can determine whether you have a case and advise you accordingly. Do not hesitate to find help as you could potentially recover compensation for your injuries and expenses in connection with a negligent security incident.
Depending on different factors and situations, issues of negligent security may be more common in some places than others. Addressing these safety issues can help to make our communities more secure over time. Business owners typically shy away from expensive and lengthy lawsuits. High-profile negligent security lawsuits can raise awareness among business and property owners, hopefully ensuring that appropriate security measures become the norm and not the exception.
Places Where Negligent Security Can Occur
Negligent security can occur in a number of localities that could be privately or publicly owned. These can be commercial or residential areas, for example. Some examples of places and properties where negligent security crimes can happen include:
- Commercial restaurants, bars, and nightclubs
- Factories and warehouses
- Parking garages and parking lots
- Fields, parks, and playgrounds
- Public transportation
- Concert and plays
- Amusement parks and fairgrounds
- Apartment complexes
- Office buildings
- Grocery stores and convenience stores
- Gas stations
- Schools
Establishing Negligence
Collecting compensation in a negligent security lawsuit may not be as easy as it seems.
The plaintiff will have to show that a business or property owner owed them a duty of care, that they breached that duty of care, and that this breach caused the plaintiff’s injuries and damages.
However, the blame rarely falls on the property owner alone, as some of the responsibility will fall on the perpetrator of the crime. Plaintiffs also have to consider that the property owner’s defense strategy may include arguing comparative negligence, trying to push some fault on the victim of the crime.
The property owner and their legal team could also argue that the crime was not necessarily foreseeable, as crimes can be tough to predict and prevent.
This is where the victim of a negligent security crime may be grateful for the help of a dedicated negligent security lawyer, who can help gather the evidence to prove the claim. A lawyer will work hard to try and find evidence for crimes being foreseeable at the property, such as police reports and records of previous crimes.
Taking Action After an Incident of Negligent Security
Since negligent security incidents may become more common, it can be helpful to know what to do if you or a loved one become the victim of an attack or assault on someone else’s property.
First of all, if you suffer injuries and damages in a negligent security incident, seek medical advice as soon as possible. Your health should always come first. A medical report that details all your physical and/or psychological injuries can also provide good evidence for your damages.
As well as seeking medical advice, you will want to alert law enforcement to the crime. Filing a report of the incident with police can be a useful way to document the crime in writing and tell your side of what happened.
A lawyer can protect your rights straight away and determine whether you have a case against a property owner. They can also fight for your best interests in any out-of-court settlement negotiations with the defendants and their insurances. If it comes to a trial, a negligent security lawyer will be able to represent you professionally in court.
If you or your loved one suffered injuries and other damages in a crime that happened due to negligent security, call Ben Crump Law, PLLC at (844) 730-5111. We can assess your case in a free, no-obligation consultation and answer any questions you might have.
