Negligent Security Lawyer in Norcross, Gwinnett County
Dermer Appel Ruder, LLC represents individuals who have suffered harm due to negligent security. If you or a loved one falls victim to a crime on someone else’s property, you may have a claim for negligent security.
You have legal options as the victim of crime in Gwinnett County. Not only do you have the right to file a civil claim against the criminal, but you might also have a case against the owner of the property on which the incident occurred. Contact our Gwinnett County negligent security lawyers at Dermer Appel Ruder to discuss your rights after a criminal attack in or around Peachtree Corners, Georgia. We’ll investigate your situation and let you know your opportunities moving forward. Call (404) 892-8884 for a free consultation today.
What Is Negligent Security?
Negligent security is a legal theory that holds property owners or managers responsible for the harm caused by criminal acts on their premises. Property owners and operators are legally obligated to provide a reasonably safe environment for their guests, customers, and visitors from shootings, assaults, and other violent crimes. This duty includes taking reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable criminal acts, such as installing security cameras, hiring security personnel, or installing proper lighting. Our negligent security attorneys in Norcross will help seek compensation should they get hurt in a negligent security case.
If someone is guilty of “negligent security,” it means he or she did not properly ensure the safety of visitors from security-related issues, such as rape, robberies or assaults. While Georgia law does not expect a landowner to stop all crimes, it does ask that he or she take “reasonable” precautions to prevent crimes based on the history of the area. Examples of actions that may qualify as negligent security include:
- Never researching the criminal history of the premises or neighborhood
- Refusing to spend money on security measures
- Failing to put up a fence and/or gate
- Not repairing broken parking lot or ATM lights
- Failing to hire security guards, if necessary
- Not installing cameras, alarms, and other security equipment
- Permitting many different people to have copies of keys
- Ignoring request to repair doors, windows, and locks
To determine if someone’s security attempts are negligent, the courts will look at the crime rate in the area. If your accident happened in a safe neighborhood with a low crime rate, the landowner might not be guilty of negligent security. If, however, the owner reasonably should have known that crime happened often at a location yet failed to fulfill the duty to provide adequate security, the owner could be guilty of negligence and liable for damages.
Types of Negligent Security Cases
When it comes to negligent security cases, various types of incidents can lead to injuries or harm. Some of the most common types of negligent security cases include:
- Inadequate Lighting: Poor lighting can make it difficult to see potential dangers and provide cover for criminals. It also allows criminals to carry out assaults and other violent crimes. Property owners must provide adequate lighting in common areas, parking lots, hallways, and other areas where guests or customers may be present.
- Lack of Surveillance or Security Personnel: In some cases, the presence of security personnel or surveillance equipment can deter criminals from committing crimes on the property. If property owners fail to provide adequate security measures, they may be held liable for any harm caused by criminal acts.
- Faulty Locks or Security Systems: If a property owner fails to maintain or repair broken locks, dilapidated fencing, broken security systems, it can make it easier for criminals to access the property and harm residents and guests. Property owners must ensure that their security systems function correctly and that defects or malfunctions are promptly addressed.
- Inadequate Screening of Employees or Visitors: In some cases, negligent security claims may arise from a property owner’s failure to screen employees or visitors adequately. For example, if a property owner fails to conduct background checks on employees with access to guest rooms, it may increase the risk of theft or assault.
- Negligent Hiring and Training of Security Personnel: If a property owner hires security personnel who are unqualified, poorly trained, or have a history of violent behavior, they may be held liable for any harm caused by the security personnel’s actions. Crimes can happen simply because security personnel are not positioned in the proper locations.
Understanding the specific type of negligent security that led to your injuries can help your negligent security lawyer in Norcross build a stronger case. They can investigate the incident’s circumstances and determine which parties may be liable for your injuries and damages. By identifying the type of negligent security involved, our Norcross negligent security attorneys at Dermer Appel Ruder, LLC, can determine the best legal strategy to pursue and the types of compensation you may be entitled to.
When Can a Property Owner Be Held Liable?
Property owners can be liable for negligent security if they fail to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable criminal acts on their property. For example, if a property owner knows there has been a history of violent crime in the area, they may be expected to take additional measures to protect their guests. If they fail to take reasonable steps and someone is injured, they may be liable for the harm caused.
How Much is My Negligent Security Case Worth?
The value of a negligent security case depends on the specific facts and circumstances of the case. Factors that may affect the value of your case include the severity of your injuries, the cost of your medical treatment, lost wages or earning capacity, and the pain and suffering you have experienced as a result of the incident. An experienced Norcross negligent security attorney can help you evaluate the potential value of your case.
Why Do I Need a Negligent Security Attorney?
If you or a loved one has been a victim of a violent crime on another party’s property, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and damages. However, negligent security cases can be complex and challenging to prove. Property owners and their insurance companies often have teams of lawyers working to protect their interests. To level the playing field, it’s essential to have an experienced negligent security attorney on your side who can fight for your rights and help you get the compensation you deserve.
Possible Effects of Negligent Security
Negligent security is a dangerous shortcoming that can have serious repercussions. A grocery store, bank, gas station, convenience store, apartment building, or another place with lax security can become a target for crime in Gwinnett County. In the first six months of 2018, Gwinnett County recorded 635 property crimes and 177 violent crimes. Failure to keep an area reasonably safe for customers, tenants, and other invited guests could result in preventable incidents such as violent crimes, homicide, mugging, robbery, vandalism, assault, rape, and other tragedies. If you or a loved one has suffered as a result, our Gwinnett County negligent security attorneys have the experience to help you secure compensation.
Who Is Liable?
Property owners may be liable for crimes related to negligent security if they reasonably should have taken further steps to ensure the safety of the area. If the property owner did everything he or she legally could to prevent crime, but crime occurred anyways, the courts might not hold the property owner liable. In this case, your only option for recovery would likely be a lawsuit against the criminal. Otherwise, the criminal and the negligent property owner could be defendants in your case.
After suffering injuries or property losses in a criminal attack, the Gwinnett County police will launch an investigation into who attacked or harmed you. If they find the perpetrator, the county will press charges against him or her in the criminal courts. It’s up to you to also file a civil claim against the criminal in pursuit of financial recovery. The city won’t file this claim for you. It is also your responsibility to bring a claim against the negligent property owner, if applicable.
Our Attorney Also Represent the Following Practice Areas:-
- Bicycle Accident
- Boat Accident
- Burn Injury
- Car Accident
- Construction Accident
- Dog Bite
- Foodborne Illness
- Bone Fracture
- Motorcycle Accident
- Neck Injury
- Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
- Pedestrian Accident
- Pharmaceutical Injury
- Catastrophic Injury
- Slip & Fall Accident
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Truck Accident
- Wrongful Death
Why Do You Need a Lawyer?
A Gwinnett County negligent security lawyer from Dermer Appel Ruder can help you file your premises liability claim within Georgia’s two-year deadline (four years for property-damage-only claims). We can also get to the bottom of who might be liable for your damages, including a negligent property or business owner. We’ll make the entire claims process easy so that you can focus on getting back on your feet.
Contact Dermer Appel Ruder, LLC today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your legal options. Our experienced Norcross negligent security attorneys have helped numerous clients recover damages for injuries sustained due to negligent security, and we are ready to help you too. Call 404-892-8884 to get started!
