When you visit businesses in Baltimore, such as restaurants, bars, nightclubs, hotels, shopping centers, grocery stores, gas stations, workplaces, schools, hospitals, parking lots, or apartment complexes, you have a legal right to a certain degree of safety.
When a business owner fails to take reasonable measures to protect you from criminal activity, and that lack of security invites crime that leads to personal injuries, that is considered negligent security.
If you were injured on someone else’s property because the property owners neglected to take adequate security measures or failed to warn about existing hazards, then you may pursue a personal injury claim for your injuries.
An experienced Baltimore negligent security lawyer with Furman | Honick Law can review your case, review your best legal options, and help you pursue the compensation you deserve for injuries caused by negligent security.
Understanding Negligent Security and Premises Liability in Baltimore
In Maryland, negligent security falls under premises liability law, which requires property owners to provide adequate protection to prevent foreseeable crimes.
By law, property owners, such as those who own shopping malls, parking garages, and apartment complexes, must ensure their premises are reasonably safe. Proving negligent security involves demonstrating that the property owner failed to meet their duty of care.
Negligent security lawsuits often arise when a business or property owner fails to provide necessary security measures, which then leads to incidents like robberies, assaults, sexual assaults, carjackings, and other violent crimes.
Examples of Negligent Security
Negligent security cases can involve numerous scenarios where property owners fail to protect patrons from harm.
Examples of negligent security include:
- Insufficient lighting: Poor lighting in parking lots, hallways, or stairwells can create hiding spots for criminals, leading to potential assaults or robberies.
- Lack of security guards: Bars, nightclubs, and apartment complexes should often have trained security personnel to handle large crowds and deter crime.
- Broken or insufficient security equipment: Security cameras, alarms, and locks are essential for premises safety. When security cameras are not working or are absent, property owners fail in their legal obligation to provide adequate security.
- Poorly maintained property: Unsafe conditions, such as broken gates or fences, make it easier for criminals to enter and commit crimes.
- Lack of proper training: Security guards should receive adequate training to respond to potential security threats. Improperly trained personnel can escalate incidents and lead to serious injuries.
If you sustained injuries due to negligent security, the Baltimore negligent security attorneys at Furman | Honick Law can seek financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
What Are My Rights in a Negligent Security Case in Baltimore?
Negligent security cases fall under the broader category of premises liability, but they focus on harm resulting from a property owner’s failure to provide adequate security. In Maryland, you can hold property owners liable if they neglect their responsibility to maintain a reasonably safe environment, especially in areas where foreseeable criminal activity takes place.
The duty of care a property owner owes varies based on the visitor’s reason for entering the premises.
Here’s how these different categories affect security responsibilities:
- Business Invitees: Property owners owe customers, patrons, and clients the highest level of security since their presence benefits the business. Property owners must implement security measures—such as adequate lighting, functioning security cameras, and trained security personnel—to ensure invitees are reasonably safe.
- Licensees: Security requirements protect social guests, like friends or family members, though they cannot hold property owners to the same standard as business invitees. However, property owners should still take reasonable steps to secure the premises and prevent foreseeable harm.
- Trespassers: Typically, property owners need not provide security for trespassers. However, Maryland law prohibits setting traps or intentionally creating hazardous conditions for those entering a property unlawfully.
Maryland’s law also recognizes a specific exception for child trespassers. Under the attractive nuisance doctrine, property owners are responsible for securing potentially dangerous elements on their property that might attract children, such as unsecured swimming pools or construction areas, which could pose risks.
How to Prove a Negligent Security Case in Baltimore
To succeed in a negligent security lawsuit, your Baltimore negligent security attorney must establish two main components:
- Duty of Care: The business or property owner had a legal duty to provide adequate protection to all lawful visitors and tenants, including you. This responsibility involves taking reasonable measures, such as installing security features, improving lighting, posting warnings about known safety hazards, and employing security guards to protect individuals on the property.
- Foreseeability of Crime: Not every business or property owner is legally required to have security measures in place. The need for security depends on factors like location, property type, and previous incidents. For example, a nightclub in a high-crime area has a higher responsibility to provide security personnel and maintain working locks, while a small retail store in a low-crime area may not.
In a negligent security case, you must demonstrate that the crime was foreseeable and that the property owner failed to take reasonable measures to prevent it. Furman | Honick Law’s experienced Baltimore negligent security attorneys can assess your case and guide you through the legal process.
Types of Crimes in Negligent Security Cases
Negligent security incidents often involve violent crimes such as:
- Assaults and robberies: Poorly lit parking lots or stairways can create environments where assaults are more likely to occur.
- Sexual assaults: Insufficient security, such as broken locks or lack of security cameras, can lead to serious incidents, especially in apartment buildings or hotel rooms.
- Shootings and stabbings: Bars and nightclubs in Baltimore with inadequate security guards may experience violence that could have been prevented with proper security measures.
- Carjackings: Lack of security in parking garages can result in carjackings and other dangerous situations.
Victims of these crimes may suffer severe injuries, leading to costly medical bills, physical therapy, and sometimes permanent disability. If you or a loved one sustained injuries due to negligent security, you might be entitled to financial compensation for your physical injuries, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Injuries Resulting from Baltimore Negligent Security Cases
In Baltimore, negligent security often leads to violent crimes that cause serious physical and emotional injuries. When property owners fail to implement adequate security measures, such as lighting, surveillance, and access control, individuals are put at risk.
Security measures are important to safety everywhere in Baltimore, but neighborhoods that attract more criminal activity, such as Middle East, Fairfield, West Baltimore, and East Monument Historic District, to name a few, absolutely need them.
Here are some of the most common injuries that result from crimes associated with negligent security:
Assault-Related Injuries
Assaults are one of the most frequent types of crime linked to negligent security. Injuries from assault, including broken bones, head trauma, and internal injuries, often occur in poorly lit areas, parking lots, or unsecured buildings where security cameras or guards are absent.
Gunshot and Stabbing Injuries
In high-crime areas, inadequate security can lead to violent incidents involving firearms or knives. Gunshot and stabbing wounds frequently occur in locations with insufficient lighting, lack of security personnel, or unmonitored entrances and exits. These life-threatening injuries often require extensive medical treatment.
Sexual Assault Injuries
Sexual assault can result in both physical and psychological trauma. Property owners who fail to provide security measures, such as secure entry points, functioning locks, or visible security cameras, increase the risk of sexual assault incidents.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Physical attacks, especially in areas without adequate security guards or surveillance, can lead to head injuries and concussions. Brain injuries can result in long-term cognitive impairment, and these incidents are often linked to violent crimes in unmonitored or poorly secured areas.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Back Injuries
Attacks or altercations due to negligent security can result in severe back or spinal cord injuries. Locations without security guards, especially high-traffic areas like nightclubs or concert venues, are at greater risk for these types of injuries when altercations arise.
Lacerations, Bruises, and Contusions
These injuries commonly result from assault or attempted robbery in areas lacking proper lighting or security cameras. Cuts, bruises, and other minor injuries are often related to physical confrontations in unprotected spaces like parking garages or stairwells.
Psychological Trauma
Witnessing or being a victim of violent crime in unsecured areas often leads to psychological trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety. Emotional distress is a significant consequence of crimes in areas with insufficient security and is especially prevalent among those affected by assaults or robberies.
If you or a loved one has suffered any of these injuries due to negligent security in Baltimore, consulting a Baltimore negligent security lawyer can help you explore your legal rights and seek compensation for your losses. At Furman | Honick Law, our experienced attorneys understand the impact of these injuries and are committed to holding negligent property owners accountable.
Liability in Negligent Security Claims
In Maryland, business and property owners are expected to protect patrons by taking reasonable security measures. When a property owner's breach of this duty leads to a crime that causes injury, they may be held liable.
Baltimore negligent security lawyers can help victims prove that the property management company or owner failed to provide adequate security, resulting in liability claims for damages.
A successful claim may recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses: Hospital bills, ongoing medical treatments, and physical therapy costs.
- Lost wages: Time missed from work while recovering from injuries sustained during the incident.
- Pain and suffering: The emotional and physical trauma that results from violent crimes.
- Future earnings: Compensation if your injuries prevent you from returning to your prior employment or impact your ability to earn a living.
- Wrongful Death: If the unimaginable has happened and you are coping with the loss of a loved one after a negligent security incident, you could be eligible for a range of wrongful death damages, including loss of companionship and support, loss of income, funeral and burial expenses,
Seeking Legal Action for Negligent Security in Baltimore
You need an experienced negligent security lawyer to explain Maryland law, gather evidence, and navigate the legal process, especially when dealing with property owners and their insurance companies.
Furman | Honick Law’s Baltimore negligent security lawyers are dedicated to helping victims hold property owners accountable for inadequate protection. Our team will investigate negligent security incidents thoroughly, evaluating security cameras, property records, witness testimonies, and other evidence.
The Legal Process for Negligent Security Lawsuits
Negligent security claims involve:
- Investigation: Gathering evidence of the crime, such as police reports, security footage, and witness statements.
- Establishing Liability: Proving that the property owner failed to provide adequate security and that this breach directly caused your injuries.
- Filing a Claim: Submitting your negligent security lawsuit against the at-fault party, which may include property management companies or business owners.
- Negotiating Settlements: Working with insurance companies and legal representatives to seek fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
- Litigation: Taking the case to court if a fair settlement cannot be reached.
At Furman | Honick Law, we understand the impact of negligent security injuries on your life. Our Baltimore negligent security attorneys are committed to fighting for your rights and seeking justice on your behalf.
Common Locations for Negligent Security Incidents in Baltimore
Negligent security incidents can occur in various places, but some common locations include:
- Apartment complexes: Property owners in apartment buildings must provide security measures like secure entry points, functioning locks, and adequate lighting.
- Bars and nightclubs: Due to the large crowds and alcohol consumption, these establishments should have security guards and other safety features.
- Shopping malls and retail stores: High-traffic locations should have security cameras, security guards, and well-lit parking areas.
- Hotels: Travelers expect hotel security, including properly working locks, security cameras, and on-site security personnel.
- Hospitals and healthcare facilities: Patients and visitors should feel safe in these environments, necessitating proper security and surveillance.
Why You Need a Baltimore Negligent Security Lawyer
When a property owner’s failure to provide adequate security results in serious injuries, pursuing legal action can help you recover damages. Furman | Honick Law has the experience to handle complex negligent security claims, from proving liability to negotiating with insurance companies.
If you or a loved one has suffered due to a negligent security incident in Baltimore, consulting with a negligent security lawyer can provide clarity about your legal options. Furman | Honick Law’s team of Baltimore negligent security attorneys are here to evaluate your claim and help you pursue justice.
Contact Furman | Honick Law for a Free Legal Consultation
Negligent security is a serious issue that can result in life-changing injuries. If you’ve experienced harm due to criminal acts on someone else’s property, obtaining legal guidance is essential. Furman | Honick Law offers a free legal consultation to help you understand your options and take the next steps.
Call our Baltimore personal injury lawyers today at (410) 844-6000 or complete our online form. We’re committed to helping you pursue the compensation you deserve for your case so you can focus on your recovery and reclaim your peace of mind.