A negligent security lawsuit is a civil lawsuit filed against a property owner or manager who fails to provide adequate security measures to protect lawful visitors from foreseeable crimes. Negligent security cases can involve a variety of crimes, including assault, robbery, rape, and murder.
To succeed in a negligent security lawsuit, the plaintiff must prove the following elements:
- The property owner or manager owed a duty of care to the plaintiff.
- The property owner or manager breached their duty of care by failing to provide adequate security measures.
- The plaintiff suffered a foreseeable injury as a result of the property owner or manager’s negligence.
The plaintiff must also prove that the property owner or manager’s negligence was the proximate cause of their injury. This means that the plaintiff’s injury would not have occurred but for the property owner or manager’s negligence.
The plaintiff may be able to recover damages for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. In some cases, the plaintiff may also be able to recover punitive damages to punish the property owner or manager for their reckless or intentional conduct.
Negligent security lawsuits can be complex and challenging to win. The property owner or manager may have a number of defenses available to them, such as:
- The plaintiff was contributorily negligent by failing to take reasonable precautions to protect themselves.
- The crime was unforeseeable.
- The property owner or manager took all reasonable security measures.
If you have been injured in a negligent security incident, you should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal options.
Here are some examples of negligent security lawsuits:
- A customer is robbed in a store that has no security cameras or security guards.
- A student is assaulted in a school that has inadequate lighting and security patrols.
- A tenant is raped in an apartment complex that has broken locks and unsecured doors.
- A patron is murdered in a bar that has no bouncers or security measures in place to prevent violence.
If you have been injured in a negligent security incident, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the property owner or manager to recover compensation for your damages.
