If you were assaulted, robbed, or otherwise injured on another person’s property, like an apartment building, hotel, shopping center, or nightclub, you might assume that only the perpetrator is responsible. But under certain circumstances, the property owner is responsible as well. That is where negligent security comes into play. Claims for negligent security fall within the broad category of premises liability.
The idea is simple: if a property owner knew about (or should have known about) safety hazards and failed to exercise reasonable care to protect guests or tenants, he or she can be held legally responsible for the resulting injury. To navigate this complex legal process and hold the negligent parties accountable, you need to hire a negligent security lawyer who specializes in how to investigate, gather evidence, and build a good case in your interest.
What is a Negligent Security Claim?
A negligent security claim is a lawsuit filed against a business or property owner for failing to have adequate safety measures in place, and thus, someone got hurt, most often due to a foreseeable crime.
A few common situations that could lead to negligent security claims include:
- An apartment building with broken locks or no surveillance cameras
- A nightclub without trained guards or poor crowd management
- A high-crime district’s dark parking lot
- A hotel that ignores previous reports of intruders or attacks
Foreseeability is the determinative factor. If crime or risk was reasonably foreseeable because of past experience or known hazard, the owner of the property has a duty to act, for example, by hiring security, fixing gates, improving lighting, or installing cameras.
What Damages Can You Claim in a Negligent Security Lawsuit?
If you win a negligent security case, you may be entitled to compensation for both economic and non-economic damages, including:
Medical Bills
This covers all the healthcare costs you’ve faced as a result of the incident. That includes things like ambulance rides, emergency room care, hospital stays, surgeries, doctor visits, and prescription medications.
If you need physical therapy, mental health counseling, or future treatments like surgery or long-term care, those expenses can also be included. Be sure to save all your medical records and receipts—they’re critical for proving this type of damage.
Lost Wages and Future Earnings
If your injuries kept you from working, you can claim the wages or income you lost while recovering. This applies whether you missed days, weeks, or even months of work.
In more serious cases where the injury affects your ability to return to your job or limits the type of work you can do, you may also be eligible for compensation for loss of future earnings. Pay stubs, tax returns, and employer statements can help support this claim.
Pain and Suffering
Not all damage is physical. Many victims of violent crimes or preventable attacks also suffer lasting emotional trauma. This category covers non-economic damages, such as ongoing physical pain, PTSD, anxiety, depression, loss of sleep, or fear of going out in public.
These impacts are real and can seriously affect your quality of life. While harder to measure in dollars, your attorney can help document the emotional and psychological toll using therapy records, journals, or expert testimony.
Punitive Damages
In rare but serious cases, the court may award punitive damages. These are not tied to your losses but are meant to punish the property owner for extreme negligence or willful disregard for safety.
For example, if a landlord ignored multiple warnings about criminal activity on their property or disabled security features to save money, the court might issue additional damages as a warning to others.
Conclusion
Negligent security claims are about more than just holding criminals accountable; they focus on whether a property owner failed to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm. If you’ve suffered an injury due to poor security measures, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income, emotional suffering, and, in some cases, punitive damages.
Consulting an experienced negligent security lawyer is essential to help you navigate the legal process and seek the justice you deserve.
