When you visit a mall, store, apartment, hotel, or motel in Palm Beach Gardens, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting attacked while on the premises. In case you or a loved one suffers injuries in an attack that the property owner or manager would have reasonably foreseen, you may be eligible for compensation via a negligent security claim.
The experienced Palm Beach Gardens negligent security lawyer at Steinberg Law has years of experience and can work to protect your best interests and get you the compensation you need and deserve. We know that property owners will be trying their best to avoid liability for the crimes committed against you. Fortunately, our team of negligent security lawyers in Palm Beach Gardens have the resources and experience to make the liable parties pay for the harm done to you.
If you suspect that you’ve been a victim of negligent security, contact us today at 877-783-4611 or fill out the form on this page to talk to a personal injury lawyer about your case.
What Is Negligent Security?
Negligent security is the branch of premises liability law meant to cover damages that are suffered in a violent crime or assault. It involves negligence in providing sufficient security on the premises that a property manager or owner should have taken reasonable measures to address.
Under Florida law, property owners are required to provide a safe environment if they want to invite tenants, guests, or customers for business or pleasure. This includes informing their guests of any crimes or attacks that have happened on the property before, and any probable dangers.
In other words, if you or a loved one is assaulted due to a lack of security on the property, you may be eligible for compensation. If security was provided but was inadequate, for instance, where violent crimes have occurred in the area or on the property in the past, but no measures were taken to prevent them in the future, the property owner can be held liable.
Some common examples of negligent security include:
- Broken locks on gates, doors, and windows
- Poor lighting
- Poorly trained security guards
- Insufficient emergency exits
- Lack of call boxes for emergencies
An experienced negligent security lawyer can assess the situation on the property and the property owner’s failure to provide sufficient security. They can then use this evidence to prove negligence on the property owner’s or manager’s part.
What Should You Do After You Are Injured Due To Negligent Security?
Here are the steps you should take after an injury due to negligent security:
Seek medical attention
The first thing you should do is to have your injuries checked by a doctor or physician if you don’t think they are serious. Ensure that you follow your doctor’s treatment plan and instructions.
Journal the series of events: when faced with such a traumatic event, it’s easy to forget some important details. When you can, journal every step you take relevant to your case, and keep all the records of your injuries along with the cost of treatment and medications.
Never admit fault
As you talk to the insurance companies, the property owners, and other parties, avoid saying anything that could be construed as an admission of guilt – that you could have done more to minimize the injuries and damages you suffered. This could potentially undermine your case.
Reach out to a negligent security attorney
An experienced lawyer will immediately start examining all the aspects of your case and advise you on your best course of action moving forward.
Do I Have a Valid Negligent Security Claim?
Based on Florida law, business owners and property owners alike can be held liable for the resulting damages if they fail to provide sufficient security for their properties. All businesses in Florida have a duty to keep their clients or customers safe and provide basic security in ways that prevent foreseeable hazards like violent attacks or robberies.
For your negligent security claim to be successful, you must demonstrate that: the property owner had a duty to keep the premises secure and that they failed to carry out this duty appropriately. You also need to demonstrate that their actions, or lack thereof, directly led to your injuries.
It’s possible to get injured in a violent crime or assault despite the property owner’s reasonable attempts to protect you. For instance, if a robber obtains access to the property, despite it having an adequate security system in place, you may likely not have a case against the property owner.
Since these matters tend to be complex, it’s always important to work with an experienced negligent security attorney that can effectively evaluate the details of your case and ascertain whether you qualify for a claim based on Florida law.
Types of Negligent Security Cases
Here are some of the types of cases we typically see regarding negligent security:
Negligent Security at Apartment Complexes
Bost residential and commercial property owners owe their tenants a duty to keep the premises secure from violent crime. For this reason, companies or individuals renting out apartment complexes have to take reasonable measures to learn about the crime rate in the area and any other hazards. They must also take the necessary precautions to ensure the tenants and guests on the property don’t become injured or hurt.
In case they are unable to do this and a tenant or a guest ends up being injured or killed on the property, they might be liable for the damages under negligent security law. Some of the most common attacks in apartment complexes include assaults and shootings, though there’s a growing number of robbery and rape cases.
Negligent Security at Motels & Hotels
When you travel to locations away from home, whether, for business or pleasure, you will often have to stay in a motel, hotel, or other establishments overnight. When you do this, you expect that in addition to other things, your stay will be safe. It’s the responsibility of the property manager or owner to take the necessary precautions to protect you from attacks and violent crimes while on their premises.
Still, assault and other crimes can happen in hotels and motels due to negligent security. We have seen many cases of assaults and robberies happening in the parking lots, hallways, and stairways of hotels/motels, usually in poorly lit sections. Poorly trained security staff is also a huge issue with hotels.
Negligent Security at Malls & Shopping Centers
Malls and shopping centers are popular locations for Palm Beach Gardens residents. These can be anything from simple stores to huge malls with multiple departmental stores and other amenities. All these businesses have a duty to protect their customers and clients from attacks and assaults.
Unfortunately, even the fun and cool environment of the malls and shopping centers are targets for assaults, shootings, murders, rapes, and other violent crimes. Such tragedies can effectively be prevented if the property owners and managers take the appropriate security measures to protect the well-being of the customers.
How Much Will It Cost To Hire A Palm Beach Gardens Negligent Security Lawyer?
It’s normal to wonder about the financial implications of working with a negligent security lawyer. We never turn anyone away from our firm due to their financial situation. Our negligent security lawyers serve clients on a contingency fee basis. This refers to the fact that everything from the initial consultation to the end of the case is done free of charge.
We will only charge you when we win your case, and you receive compensation for your damages. If we don’t win, we don’t get paid. That’s our no-fee guarantee.
What Compensation Can I Receive From A Negligent Security Claim?
If you can demonstrate without reasonable doubt that the harm you suffered warrants monetary damages, you will be eligible for compensation. Some of the damages you may receive include medical expenses, lost income from the time spent away from work, as well as the pain and suffering, emotional anguish, and anxiety you might have suffered as a result of the ordeal.
In some cases, you might be entitled to punitive damages in addition to the damages listed above. These are usually meant to punish the defendant a bit more if they are found to be grossly malicious or negligent.
It’s difficult to determine exactly how much you could receive as compensation without going through the details of your case. However, the amount awarded in compensation will depend on the severity of the violent crime, the losses incurred, and the nature of the resulting harm. Talk to us today to get a free estimate from our negligent security law team.
Contact Steinberg Law Today and Get the Results You Deserve
Negligent security cases are quite complex. They entail conducting thorough investigations of the details surrounding the case. Your attorney will have to look at everything from the nature of your injuries to the overall crime statistics in the location where the harm occurred.
At Steinberg Law, we take pride in helping our clients get the settlement they deserve. You can feel comfortable knowing that our team has years of experience dealing with these kinds of cases. So, reach out to us today at 877-783-4611 to schedule a free consultation with us and find out if you have a negligent security claim.
