You deserve to feel safe from the risk of harm any time you enter a public space, whether it is a shopping mall or the common areas of an apartment complex. If you are injured as a victim of criminal behavior, the lack of security could provide you with a case for financial compensation.
An Allentown negligent security lawyer could help you understand your rights under these difficult circumstances. The property owner where the crime occurred might be liable for your damages, and a dedicated injury attorney could hold them accountable.
Every property owner owes a duty to anyone who enters their premises lawfully. For businesses, this includes customers and employees. For apartment buildings, this could be residents traveling in common areas.
There are many ways to secure a building and deter crime. A common approach is to install security cameras, which can aid in catching perpetrators while also deterring them from committing a crime at all. Other useful security tools include:
It is not enough for a property owner to purchase security equipment and never consider their obligation again. Safety is an ongoing obligation that must be continuously pursued. Over time, these systems must be updated or replaced. Fences can become damaged, doors can stop locking, and surveillance cameras can malfunction.
A property owner may be liable for a security failure even if they are not aware of it directly. These individuals should regularly inspect their property as well as the systems they have in place to make certain they still work. Ignorance is not a defense in these situations.
It can be difficult to prove that the premises were not adequately secured, especially without help. An Allentown negligent security attorney could build the strongest case possible.
In order to recover a monetary award, the injured person will need to establish that negligence was to blame. In these cases, that usually involves demonstrating that missing or inadequate security measures failed to prevent a crime from occurring.
Not every crime will lead to a winnable case for compensation. To succeed, a plaintiff will need to prove that the property owner failed to exercise due diligence when evaluating the area for criminal activity. If a reasonable person would have taken security measures or warned visitors of a potential threat, the failure to do so can lead to a winning injury claim.
One way to prove negligence is to offer evidence that similar crimes have happened before and the property owner failed to take any steps to prevent them in the future. If the police frequently visit the property, that can be used as further evidence that the owner should have known of the threat.
Building a winning negligent security claim can be challenging without the support of an attorney in Allentown. The right legal counsel could develop a winning strategy.
If you have been injured as part of a criminal act, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Before you accept a settlement or attempt to represent yourself, consider working with an Allentown negligent security lawyer. Reach out right away to learn more.