Negligent Security
It’s impossible to guarantee safety 100 percent of the time, but there are definitely measures to protect themselves. In many cases, safety measures are also the responsibility of another person or entity.
For instance, if you or your child is living on a college campus, you’ll protect yourself by locking your dormitory door and staying aware of your surroundings. And it’s reasonable to expect that the premises will be secure. The same is true for hotels, parking garages, and various other public locations.
Unfortunately, safety measures sometimes fall by the wayside, putting us at risk.
If you or a loved one was assaulted, raped, or otherwise attacked, and the attack could have been prevented through the use of reasonable security methods, you could be eligible for compensation.
As a victim of negligent security, you could receive compensation for medical costs associated with your attack, as well as for pain and suffering.
What is “Negligent Security”?
Negligent security is a legal terms that means a third party bears some responsibility for an attack even though that person did not actually commit the attack. In addition to the attacker, the owner or manager of the property where you were attacked can also be held accountable for what happened to you.
Owners and other people responsible for security at college campuses, shopping malls, apartment buildings, banks and ATMS, gas stations, churches, airports, and other locations are responsible for protecting customers, residents, and visitors from foreseeable crimes. They are partially responsible for your security while you are on their premises.
Should an assault, robbery, rape, or other attack occur, and it can be shown the owner of the property failed to take adequate safety measures, legally that person can be held responsible.
Examples of security negligence might include failure to…
- Fix a lock on an apartment building entrance
- Install or maintain cameras in parking garages
- Hire a security guard
- Install passcode access system
- Install or properly maintain sufficient lighting
How Can Filing a Lawsuit Help?
If you’ve been injured because someone failed to secure his or her property, you might be entitled to compensation for:
- Cost of medical care
- Lifelong effects of the injuries
- Loss of income
- Pain and suffering
We understand that, immediately after you’ve been attacked, the last thing on your mind is legal action. Any time you are injured, your first priority needs to be your own safety and well-being.
However, if someone else’s negligence permitted the attack to happen, it is within your rights to take legal action.
An attack can result in high medical bills and ongoing emotional trauma. Though a lawsuit can never undo the damage done by an attack. However, it can ease the financial burden you face if you are injured physically or emotionally. And it can serve to prevent a future attack happening to someone else.
If you’ve been the victim of an assault, robbery, rape, or other attack, and the event did not occur on your own property, you could have a right to take legal action. For more information or to discuss the details of your situation with an attorney, contact the Law Office of Robert M. Geller at (813) 337-7798.
