Negligent and Inadequate Security
What is Negligent Security?
Negligent security issues arise when a property owner who knows, or has reason to know, that their guests or employees could be attacked by criminals, on their property, and who fail to take known, customary safety measures or proper security devices, may be accountable. Property and business owners have a responsibility to visitors and employees to warn them of known dangerous conditions on their premises and provide adequate security when the business premise is in an area that it is known for a high violent crime rate.
For instance, owners of apartments, shopping malls, and other public buildings should take reasonable measures to ensure that guests on their property will not become victims of a foreseeable crime. If crime such as assault, robbery, or rape occurs on their property, and if it can be proven that the owner failed to provide adequate security measures to, then the owner may be held responsible for injuries, loss, and harms that occurred as a result of the incident.
Sometimes, the landowner knows or should know that proper surveillance and security equipment are necessary to prevent or thwart potential crimes. Students, office building workers, mall shoppers, and hotel guests are all vulnerable to be victimized by a perpetrator due to lack of proper security.
Types of Negligent Security Injury and Cases
Negligent security injuries can arise from various acts of negligence and gross negligence including things such as:
- Failure to provide working locks
- Failure to secure windows
- Failure to secure doors
- Inadequate lighting
- Failure to provide security guards
- Blocked emergency exits
- Failure to maintain security system
- Failure to warn tenants and/or customers
about known dangers in the area - Failure to inspect the property
When property/business owners fail to provide adequate security measures, residents and guests are put at risk for criminal attack. Inadequate security has too often resulted in the rape, injury or death of innocent victims.
To meet the duty required by the law, an owner is to take adequate security measures including hiring well trained security guards, installing sufficient lighting, using security cameras, trimming bushes and hedges from growing too tall, and providing sturdy locks and alarms on doors and windows. The adequacy of the security measures employed may vary depending upon the location and type of business being operated.
Confident, Experienced and Honest
Some victims of an attack or sexual abuse believe that justice stops at the criminal trial of their attacker. We know that there may be other persons who may be responsible. We evaluate cases that may involve the failure of others to take reasonable customary and proper safety precautions. We can help the innocent victims in seeking justice and financial compensation from the attacker and all other parties whose negligence contributed to the assault.
