Baltimore Negligent Security Lawyer
When you go to different businesses, such as stores, restaurants, or bars, you are entitled to a certain degree of safety. When a business owner fails to protect you from criminal activity, and you are injured as a result, that is considered negligent security.
Negligent security refers to a lack of security equipment at a place of business that results in a crime that harms someone. For example, if you were assaulted in a bar parking lot due to a lack of security guards or lighting, then you may be able to sue for negligent security.
Negligent security can happen anywhere, including restaurants, bars, nightclubs, grocery stores, retail stores, shopping centers, gas stations, schools, hospitals, workplaces, banks, hotels, apartment buildings, and parking lots. When there is insufficient security, various crimes can occur, such as bar fights, robberies, assaults, rapes, carjackings, stabbings, and shootings.
Negligent security cases require a lot of evidence. As a victim, the burden of proof is on you. Make sure you do what you can to win your case. The Baltimore negligent security lawyer at Furman | Honick Law can evaluate your claim and best advise you.
Examples of Negligent Security
So what is considered negligent security? Some examples include:
- Insufficient lighting
- Lack of security guards
- Poorly maintained property
- Broken locks, gates, fences, alarms, cameras, or other security equipment
- Insufficient emergency exits
How to Prove Negligent Security
There are two main duties involved in proving negligent security:
- Duty of care. Business owners have a duty to provide a safe environment for patrons. This means providing adequate security. When a business fails to establish a minimum duty of care, and this leads to a crime that causes injuries, then the victim can file a claim. However, if the security is considered to be appropriate for the business, then the duty of care has not been breached.
- Foreseeability of the crime. Not all businesses have to have some sort of security. Security is deemed appropriate based on the type of property and the level of crowds. For example, a busy nightclub — where alcohol is served — should have more security than a small pet store in a rural area. Security is also based on foreseeability. This refers to whether or not there has been crimes in the area in the past. If the business is in a high-crime area, then adequate security will be required. If the crime was not unforeseeable because nothing similar had happened at that location before, then the victim would have a hard time arguing that the business owner should have had better security.
Contact Furman | Honick Law Today
You may not know that negligent security is a thing, but it is a real legal issue. If you have been injured due to a crime at a place of business, you may be able to sue for your injuries.
Want to learn more? See how the team at Furman | Honick Law can assist you with these often complex cases. Schedule a free consultation with our Baltimore negligent security lawyers today by calling (410) 844-6000 or filling out the online form.