Greensboro Negligent Security Lawyer
Every year, thousands of people are injured due to property owners and managers who fail to provide adequate security. If you or a loved one has suffered from an assault in a building or a private lot, the perpetrator should be found and punished to the full extent of the law. In addition, the owner of the building or private lot may be liable for your medical expenses and pain and suffering damages.
OSHA Recommendations
In 1998, the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration made recommendations to protect the health and safety of employees and patrons of commercial locations. These recommendations included increasing staff during high-risk periods, reducing store hours, installing adequate lighting, drop safes and silent alarms, and creating bullet-resistant enclosures to protect store clerks. Unfortunately, many property owners and operators are not subject to OSHA regulations and standards, and they ignore these recommendations. As a result, their patrons and employees may suffer the consequences.
Forms of Inadequate Security
Inadequate security can take many different forms. Did the property owner/manager warn residents of ongoing criminal activity that he knew about? Did the property owner/manager provide adequate security? Was the lighting adequate on the property? Was perimeter fencing installed to protect the property? Were there surveillance cameras installed in appropriate locations on the property?
Owner’s Duty and Design Features
When numerous crimes have occurred on or around a property, the owner may have a duty to take corrective safety measures. Certain design features – including the layout of a property, its lighting, and the placement of exits – make some properties and the people who frequent them easy targets for crime. A property owner may have a duty to warn visitors of potential dangers. In addition, property owners are required to provide their buildings with proper lighting, safe locks, and other necessary and reasonable safety features. When a property owner fails to provide a safe environment, they may be held accountable for the crimes that are committed on that property.
Consequences of Inadequate Security
Inadequate security can result in unsafe conditions almost anywhere. Injuries suffered as a result of criminal attacks can be severe and life-altering. In most cases, we find that our clients are best served by getting out-of-court settlements. We will discuss your situation with you and go over the options available to you to make sure that all of your needs are handled quickly and appropriately. Our security negligence attorneys will also help you file a claim with the North Carolina Victims’ Assistance Network.
Common Inadequate Security Cases
Inadequate security cases generally involve a breach of security at a commercial establishment or at an apartment complex. Typically, the case would involve proof that the defendants knew, or should have known, that there was criminal activity in the area, and that their security patrols, lighting, and security hardware (such as the locks on the doors and windows) were not adequate, resulting in a breach of security on the property.
