Security Issues & Personal Injury Lawsuits

Negligent or Inadequate Security Litigation

Premises owners have a duty to address unsafe conditions that pose foreseeable risks of injury. While this includes open and obvious dangers like open holes, poorly maintained pools, or slippery floors, it can also include dangers associated with crime, assault, and physical altercations.

If security failures resulted in you or a loved one suffering preventable harm, you may be entitled to compensation. Athea Trial Lawyers helps victims and counsel nationwide in serious injury and wrongful death cases, and has recovered billions in compensation for our clients.

To learn how we may be able to help you pursue a potential case, call (800) 664-0161 or contact us online.

Negligent & Inadequate Security

Premises owners have a duty to exercise reasonable care to address unsafe property conditions that pose injury risks to guests. This can include taking measures to correct or protect against dangerous hazards or provide adequate warning when hazards are not open and obvious or cannot be reasonably or immediately corrected.

While some premises cases may present a clear path to liability (i.e. a business owner spills liquid on the floor and fails to clean it up), others are not always so clear. This is particularly true in claims involving security issues such as:

• Robbery and assault committed by guests or trespassers
• Injuries inflicted by security personnel
• Intentional or accident shootings
• Fights at nightclubs, bars, and other businesses
• Altercations at sporting events, concerts, and large venues
• Sexual assault

To prevail in security lawsuits, Plaintiffs must prove some general elements of premises liability, including that:

1. The premises owner owed a duty of care to the Plaintiff;
2. The duty was breached due to negligence;
3. The premises owner’s negligence was more likely than not the cause of injury;
4. The Plaintiffs suffered actual damages.

When successful, security lawsuits allow victims to hold property owners liable for the damages they suffered, including medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. Athea Trial Lawyers helps victims and counsel seek the maximum recovery possible.

Examples of Security-Related Negligence

Negligent security lawsuits and claims generally allege that premises owners failed in some way to ensure a reasonably safe environment. This may be the result of:

• Failures to use easily obtainable security tools or hire a security service.
• Failure to employ sufficient or adequately trained security.
• Broken security cameras or lack of surveillance cameras
• Insufficient lighting or monitoring of premises
• Failures to secure or repair broken locks, gates, or access points
• Failure to monitor property, regulate entry or access, and de-escalate situations
• Lack of security checks, metal detectors, or weapon pat-downs
• Failure to act on knowledge of criminal activity on premises

Security lawsuits are nuanced and fact-specific cases that demand in-depth investigations. This includes gathering footage, witness statements, incident or police reports, and records or communications maintained by premises owners. Because premises cases require Plaintiffs to prove a property owner had actual or constructive knowledge of foreseeable dangers, it’s also important to identify potential evidence of prior knowledge, such as:

• Litigation involving violence or crime on the property
• Previous lawsuits over security-related issues
• Documentation of previous incidents, crime, or complaints
• The likelihood of violence or crime based on the nature of the business or location
• Evidence of unsafe property conditions that went unaddressed.

Proven Results in Negligent Security Cases

Over their decades in practice, our attorneys have recovered billions for the seriously injured, including millions for victims injured due to issues involving security. This includes:

• A record $160.5 million verdict for a traumatic brain injury sustained at a nightclub. The case led to significant changes in industries using security guards.
• A $52 Million verdict over the wrongful death of a single mother who was abducted, assaulted, and murdered while working at an Allsup’s store with a history of security lapses.
• A precedent-setting ruling that colleges in California have a duty to protect students from known classroom dangers. This victory was won after a nearly ten-year battle in the trial court, Court of Appeals, and CA Supreme Court. (Rosen v. The Regents of the University of California).

If you have questions about a security-related lawsuit, our award-winning lawyers are here to help. We offer FREE and confidential consultations and serve clients nationwide. Call (800) 664-0161 or contact us online.