Have you or anyone you know ever been the victim of a crime outside of a restaurant or nightclub? Unfortunately, you aren’t the only ones. Attacks and assaults often happen directly outside of frequented areas. If such an event happens to you, you might be able to file a negligent security claim. However, the property and property owner have to meet specific criteria.
What Does Negligent Security Mean?
In most cases, negligent security can be proven if any of the following are met.
Lack of Lighting
It’s a commonly known fact that darkened areas are magnets for crime. Muggers and others with less than honorable intentions find solace in being able to hide in dark parking lots and wait for a vulnerable patron to pass by. Property owners should have lights installed and operational in order to prevent attacks in these areas. If they don’t and you are mugged or hurt, it will likely qualify as negligent security.
Lack of Maintenance
Many places have fencing and gates intended to keep out nefarious characters. This can give visitors a sense of safety. Unfortunately, these barriers are only effective if they are monitored and properly maintained. If they have been cut or damaged in any way, it’s essential that the property owner has them fixed as soon as possible. Should they not and someone gets attacked, it can lead to a negligent security case.
Lack of Security Personnel
If you’re attending an event where there is a large crowd, such as a concert and some nightclubs, there should be security personnel available. If you are attacked or injured due to a lack of security at a venue that meets the criteria, you can likely make a negligent security claim.
Proving Negligent Security
These are some of the basics, but it’s not always so cut and dried. It’s best to hire a negligent security lawyer to handle the case as it’s not always easy to prove that the property owner was, in fact, negligent.
A lawyer can dig in and help prove that there is a level of foreseeability. This means that the property owner did have some knowledge that a crime could and would likely be committed.
For example, if a string of robberies has been occurring in the vicinity, a property owner should take measures to ensure it doesn’t happen on their premises. Likewise, if any issues have occurred on their property in the past, they should take steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Should they fail to do any of this, it is much easier to prove negligence.
No one wants to deal with the trauma of an attack. In addition to sustaining physical injuries, it can also wreak havoc on their mental and emotional wellbeing. It can make them fear being in public again and interfere with their daily lives.
If you or someone you know have experienced such an attack on someone else’s premises, call a negligent security attorney as soon as you can. They can help determine if you have a claim and help you find your way back to life.
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