Were you the victim of an assault or similar incident that happened while you were on a commercial property? If so, you may be entitled to file a negligent security claim alleging the property owner’s failure to take adequate security measures led to your injuries.
An experienced personal injury lawyer with Jainchill & Beckert, LLC, can thoroughly evaluate your premises liability case, assess who’s to blame for what happened, and determine what compensation you may be entitled to in your personal injury lawsuit. We understand how to win these tough cases, which is how we secured $1.2 million for the victim of an unsafe premises accident.
Let us help you pursue the money you need to rebuild your life. Contact us today for a free consultation with our Connecticut negligent security attorneys.
What Is Negligent Security?
Negligent security is a form of premises liability case arising from a property owner’s failure to provide a safe environment and protect guests and patrons from harm or preventable crimes. Property owners must keep their property safe for those who are lawfully allowed to enter it, such as guests or customers. Specifically, they must take reasonable steps to protect those from any foreseeable risk, as explained below, including criminal activity, such as assault.
What Are Some Examples of Negligent Security?
If the commercial property owner fails to take the necessary steps to protect individuals permitted to be on their property, they could be liable for their injuries in a negligent security case.
Examples of crimes that can occur if a property owner fails to provide the proper security include assault, robbery, rape, and even homicide. These incidents can happen at hotels, bars, parking garages, and shopping centers. They also commonly occur at office buildings or apartment complexes.
Failure to properly light common areas and hallways or to have adequate security personnel on-site may be factors in your negligent security case.
What Is Meant by Foreseeability?
Foreseeability refers to whether the property owner could have known — or reasonably foresee — that the conditions or dangers on the property could result in a crime. It is a critical concept in a negligent security case because, as the plaintiff, you must show the owner had a duty to know of the dangers and take reasonable steps to prevent the crime resulting in your injuries.
An example of foreseeability in this context is a shopping mall in an area where there have been several reported muggings. The mall’s owner should be able to conclude from this information that their patrons are at an increased risk of being attacked and take appropriate steps to prevent that from happening. Failure to provide the security services necessary to accomplish this could make the owner liable if a patron is mugged on their premises.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Damages in a Negligent Security Case in Connecticut?
Several parties can be held liable in a negligent security case. Who or what entity is liable in your case depends on the unique circumstances of your case, but they may include:
- Businesses — Business owners must keep their premises safe. They must take reasonable steps to protect their customers and visitors from foreseeable criminal activity and may be liable for harm caused by their inadequate security measures, including the failure to provide security cameras or security guards.
- Property Owners — Public and private property owners must keep their property safe for visitors and invitees.
- Managers — Property managers or companies in control of the property where the crime occurred could be responsible in a negligent security case if they were responsible for hiring security personnel and keeping the property safe, and yet, they still failed to take reasonable security measures.
What Is Needed to Prove Liability in Connecticut Negligent Security Cases?
Like any negligence case, you must establish that a duty was breached, resulting in injuries and damages. Specifically, in a personal injury claim arising from negligent security, your attorney will present evidence to show that the property owner or property management company owed you a duty of care. Next, they will establish that they breached that duty through insufficient security measures, leading to your foreseeable injury. Your attorney will offer evidence to show how you were injured and what financial losses you suffered as a direct result of the inadequate security.
Who Can Bring a Negligent Security Claim in Connecticut?
If you are injured on someone else’s property in Connecticut due to a property owner’s failure to take proper security measures, you will likely be eligible to bring a claim. While an experienced personal injury attorney will evaluate the claim’s viability, anyone injured on another’s property, including guests, employees, and customers, can generally bring a negligent security claim. In addition, victims of criminal attacks due to inadequate security may likewise have an actionable negligent security claim.
What Sort of Damages Might You Be Entitled to from a Negligent Security Case?
Your attorney will evaluate your case and determine what compensation you can pursue, which may include money for the following:
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost income
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental distress.
How Long Do You Have to File a Negligent Security Claim In Connecticut?
The time to file a negligent security case in Connecticut is not unlimited. The state statute of limitations sets the deadline by which you must file your lawsuit. Connecticut’s deadline is two years from the date of your injuries and losses.
While this may seem like a long time, contact a negligent security lawyer as soon as possible. Your attorney may be able to secure evidence to support your claims that may not be available later. They can also speak to witnesses while the event is fresh in their minds.
By hiring a lawyer shortly after your accident, you will have a legal advocate in your corner from the start who will develop and prepare your case and timely file a lawsuit within the two-year timeframe if necessary.
Contact a Connecticut Negligent Security Claim Attorney
With over 55 years of combined legal experience, the Connecticut premises liability attorneys at Jainchill & Beckert, LLC, are well-equipped to help you. We proudly provide trusted legal representation for our hard-working clients. Our attorneys have extensive experience handling personal injury cases, including negligent security cases.
While our past outcomes do not guarantee future success, our case results speak for themselves. Richard C., a former client of the firm, said this about his experience working with Jainchill & Beckert, LLC:
“Attorney Beckert was very professional. He accomplished everything he promised and more. I am very pleased at the outcome and with the service I received.”
Contact us today to speak to a personal injury attorney in a free, no-obligation consultation. You pay nothing unless we win money on your accident case.
