Negligent Security

When business owners in New Jersey don’t provide a safe environment for you to shop or visit, or if you’re attacked or injured while you’re there, that owner may have violated the law and be subject to a negligent security lawsuit. If you believe your injuries occurred because of a business owner’s negligence, call the best negligent security law firm in New Jersey at RAM Law. You’ll find a negligent security attorney who works hard to get you compensation that you deserve so you can focus on your recovery.

What Is Negligent Security?

The owner of a business property may be considered liable for negligent security if someone is injured because the property isn’t kept safe or free of hazards. When you visit a business in New Jersey, you shouldn’t have to worry about whether there’s a reasonable level of safety and security. Crimes such as assault, robbery, rape or homicide sometimes happen at places of business due to negligent security practices and some of these incidents result in very serious injuries or death.

If you were the victim of a crime on someone else’s property, consult an experienced negligent security law firm. A negligent attorney has the knowledge needed to determine whether an owner knew or should have known a crime may be committed against visitors and whether there’s enough evidence to prove liability. For a negligent security lawsuit in NJ, there’s no better choice than RAM Law.

What Are Some Examples of Negligent Security?

Crime can happen just about anywhere and anytime, but the risk of being the victim of a crime increases greatly when security is negligent. Some examples of negligent security include:

• Not hiring security guards or hiring guards that aren’t qualified or trained properly
• Inadequate lighting inside or outside buildings
• Alarms that are absent or malfunctioning
• Cameras that are absent or broken
• Broken locks or gates
• Failing to screen visitors for weapons

Security guards must remain alert at all times and not be distracted by small talk, texting or TV. People that initiate chitchat with security guards may deliberately try to distract them. Criminals know how to take advantage of distracted security guards and areas without security cameras or poor lighting.

Business owners or property managers may need to consult security specialists to be fully aware of areas that put patrons at risk of being victims of a crime. When planning ways to keep a business safe, businesses need to consider things that may happen outside the business. If parking lots have inadequate security, for example, people may be injured by a speeding vehicle or be victims of a hit and run accident while walking through a parking lot.

What Types of Businesses Are Responsible for Providing Security to Visitors?

Because of New Jersey laws surrounding premises liability, property owners can be held responsible if someone is injured or killed because of negligence involving security. Examples of businesses that are expected to provide adequate security to patrons include:

• Bars and nightclubs
• Apartment complexes
• Hospitals and nursing homes
• Malls and shopping centers
• Bus stations
• Hotels and motels
• Schools and universities
• Sporting venues
• Theaters and concert venues
• Airports
• Amusement parks
• Festivals
• Grocery stores
• Convenience stores

When people visit any type of business, they have a right to a safe environment that’s free of attacks or assaults. The entire property should be as safe as possible including areas that range from lobbies to halls to individual rooms to elevators, stairwells and parking lots.

While all types of businesses are expected to provide security and safety, some businesses have greater security needs than others. Bars and nightclubs may need experienced bouncers or security guards to deal with unruly patrons. Businesses that are known to be in high crime neighborhoods may need to take extra precautions to provide sufficient security.

What Injuries May Be the Result of Negligent Security?

When business owners don’t take responsibility to provide a safe environment, their visitors and customers can suffer serious injuries, especially if it’s a criminal incident. Some injuries that could happen if you’re attacked because of inadequate security include:

• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain injury
• Injury to internal organs
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Dislocated shoulder

Unsafe environments leave people open to possible bruises, lacerations, gunshot wounds and stabbings, which sometimes lead to catastrophic injuries. <Link to Catastrophic Injuries>

What Evidence Is Needed by a Negligent Lawyer to Prove Negligent Security?

If security was negligent, negligent security attorney research and knowledge is needed to gather enough evidence to prove that the liable party failed to provide a safe environment. Things that need to be addressed in a negligent security lawsuit claim include:

• The owner had a duty to exercise reasonable caution to keep visitors safe. A property owner is expected to provide a safe location, but in some cases, the fact that visitors might be in harm’s way could have been predicted. An example is when police reports show that previous crimes were committed in the same place.
• The duty was breached. Your NJ negligent security attorney looks for evidence that the duty was breached, and security was inadequate, such as having unlocked doors or windows, absent security guards or poorly lit areas.
• The owner didn’t try to mitigate risks. The court decides whether the owner took appropriate actions to mitigate risk.

Your negligent security lawyer must prove that your injury was the result of security that was neglectful and that your injury might not have happened if the owner had taken reasonable security precautions. Negligent security claims can be difficult to prove, but the experienced NJ negligent security attorneys at RAM Law help you build a strong case.

Who May Be Held Responsible for Negligent Security?

When someone is attacked on business property, it’s not always someone from outside the business. In some cases, an assault is caused by an employee of the business such as an unqualified security guard or bouncer. If you were a victim in this type of case, you may have a case that falls under premises liability rules. Parties that may be held responsible for damages related to careless security include:

• The property owner. Property owners sometimes recognize that there’s danger to others but do nothing to prevent it. Under premises law, property owners are responsible for taking security measures for their property and those who visit.
• Commercial tenants. Owners of shopping malls and other large properties may lease to commercial tenants who then assume responsibility for their own security.
• Property managers. Some businesses such as apartment complexes hire property managers to handle the many different aspects of running the business. If the property management company failed to keep the property safe and secure, they may be considered liable for a negligent security claim.
• An outside security company. Companies hired to provide security for a business are expected to evaluate the property to determine how many security guards are needed. They’re also expected to thoroughly screen and train security guards and may be considered liable if there’s an incident because of security guard errors.

Security is an essential part of running a business, but businesses sometimes don’t take it seriously. They may assume that crimes committed on business property won’t happen to them even if they’ve heard about incidents happening at other businesses. Some may put profit over safety and for financial reasons don’t take proper actions to protect those who patronize the business.

What Types of Compensation May Be Included in a Negligent Security Claim?

Every negligent security claim is different. The type of compensation you may be able to receive depends on a combination of factors such as the severity of your injuries and the impact your injuries have had on your life. Some types of compensation you may be eligible for include:

• Medical bills. Your claim includes current and future medical bills including ambulance rides, physical therapy and other forms of rehabilitation.
• Lost wages. If your injuries caused you to lose time out of work, you may be able to include lost wages in your claim.
• Future lost wages. If your injuries prevent you from returning to work on a long-term basis or permanently, you may be entitled to additional compensation for future lost wages.
• Pain and suffering. This category encompasses both physical pain and emotional distress that you’ve experienced because of the incident as well as your reduced enjoyment of life.

Unfortunately, some crimes that occur because of negligent security result in death. RAM Law has the skills needed to assist families of these victims in filing a wrongful death lawsuit.

How Do Negligent Security Attorneys Help?

Whenever someone is injured because security is negligent, getting legal representation is imperative. This type of case can be challenging and time consuming to prove. Some of the actions negligent security lawyers take include:

• Inspecting the scene of the crime thoroughly as soon after the attack as possible
• Taking pictures and videos of the scene
• Reviewing past complaints and crimes at that location
• Preserving video security footage before it’s destroyed
• Obtaining witness statements
• Consulting top specialists in the security field

Your NJ personal injury lawyer may uncover evidence that clearly proves the owner’s liability, such as windows that can’t be locked, blocked emergency exits, unlit areas or lack of procedures involving gate access. Hiring practices of security personnel may be evaluated to see if background screenings were conducted.

When You Are Injured Because of Negligence, Our Injury Lawyers at Rebenack, Aronow & Mascolo, L.L.P. Will Help

An injury from negligent security can be life-changing and saddle you with mounting medical expenses, pain and suffering. Our seasoned Personal Injury lawyers at Rebenack, Aronow & Mascolo, L.L.P. can help. Call 732-247-3600 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. We are located in New Brunswick, Somerville, and Freehold, New Jersey, and we serve clients in Middlesex County, Monmouth County, and Somerset County.

Sources:

https://www.njadvocates.com/premises-liability/negligent-security/

https://rossettidevoto.com/practice-areas/negligent-security/

https://www.mickelsendalton.com/south-carolina-negligent-security-attorney/

https://www.morrisjames.com/blogs-Delaware-Personal-Injury-Law,who-can-be-sued-in-a-negligent-security-lawsuit