Facilities serving the public must take reasonable steps to keep their properties safe. These necessities include crime deterrence. When you are the victim of a crime in a public space, commercial property, or private facility that serves paying customers, the property owner and manager could be liable.
Speak with a local premises liability attorney when you sustain injuries or losses due to a crime on someone else’s property. An Atlanta negligent security lawyer could review your situation and assess whether the property owners might be liable in your case. If so, you could pursue compensation for your losses.
Seeking Damages in a Negligent Security Case
If you are the victim of a crime and the police catch the perpetrator, the prosecutor could bring criminal charges. If the perpetrator is convicted or pleads guilty, they face a criminal sentence that could include jail time or fines. However, you will not receive any compensation through this avenue as criminal charges are processed separately from civil claims.
A lawsuit against the negligent property owner or manager is an opportunity for you to get compensation for your losses. If your Atlanta attorney can prove the owner or manager liable, you could receive a financial award to reimburse your lost or damaged property, medical expenses, and lost income. You could also collect money to compensate for your physical pain, psychological trauma, scarring, disability, inconvenience, and the incident’s other impacts.
A property owner who benefits from your presence or patronage should contribute to your damages when you suffer losses because of their failure to provide safe premises. A negligent security lawsuit offers you an opportunity to hold them accountable for their failure to implement adequate security.
Owner’s Obligation To Keep Premises Safe
Georgia follows the traditional rule that a property owner owes different duties to others depending on why they entered the premises. According to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated §51-3-1, a property owner is responsible for keeping the premises reasonably safe for business customers or others with permission to be there. The duty includes regular inspection for conditions that invite criminal activity. This law applies to the owners and managers of:
- Bars
- Gyms
- Hotels
- Schools
- Theaters
- Daycares
- Restaurants
- Concert venues
- Nursing homes
- Sports facilities
- Office buildings
- Shopping centers
- Apartment complexes
Other types of property that invite the public or paying customers to enter also must take measures to protect their invitees from crime.
Regardless of the type of establishment, our Atlanta negligent security attorneys could review the details of your accident and injuries to determine the best course of action.
Determining Whether Negligence Caused the Incident
Negligence is a legal term that means failing to take the precautions a reasonable person would have taken in similar circumstances. Whether a party’s efforts were “reasonable” depends on the situation. For example, if an office building with no cash-handling tenants is in a low-crime area, basic precautions such as functioning outdoor lighting, an electronic entry system, and security cameras might be adequate. However, more security is necessary if the business is an upscale restaurant that attracts wealthy customers. The restaurant owner could be liable for a carjacking if they do not offer valet parking or at least a parking lot attendant.
To determine whether negligence is present, one of our Atlanta attorneys could investigate the crime rate in the area where the incident occurred. If crime is prevalent, the owner should have implemented reasonable measures to deter the known risks. Even if the area is generally safe, certain businesses attract certain types of crime. The owner or manager has a legal duty to implement measures to reduce their patrons’ risk of harm.
Contact an Atlanta Negligent Security Attorney Now
Being the victim of any crime is a dreadful experience that could cause persistent physical and emotional injuries. Although the ultimate responsibility rests with the criminal, the property owner whose negligence allowed the incident to occur bears responsibility, too.
Seeking damages after a crime can provide emotional healing as well as money to reimburse your losses. With over 25 years of trial experience, the legal professionals at Robert James Trial Attorneys understand both sides of the law. When you partner with us, you will be treated with respect and professionalism every step of the way. Contact an Atlanta negligent security lawyer today to discuss your situation.
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