Negligent Security Claims: When Property Owners Can Be Liable for Assaults or Attacks

Safety precautions are a serious matter when it comes to preventing assaults and attacks. A property owner must plan accordingly to prevent another person from coming onto their property, falling victim to an otherwise preventable incident, and to avoid substandard security.

What Responsibility Do Property Owners Owe to People Within Their Property

It is the duty of property owners in Florida to maintain a reasonably safe property. Security is the tip of the proverbial spear. If a harm was foreseeable and reasonable measures were not expended to prevent that harm from occurring, the property owner may be determined to be responsible for the medical bills, lost wages, or other damages suffered.

The Consequences of a Property Owner Failing to Address Security Concerns

A negligent security claim may be brought against a property owner who knew (or should have known) of a dangerous condition on their property and failed to take action to prevent that condition from harming another person. 

When Can an Owner be Held Liable for Attacks on their Property?

The damages incurred as a result of an assault or attack have the potential to be substantial. As such, understanding when a property owner may be liable for the injuries suffered by another person is a critical step worth understanding:

• Inadequate lighting in parking lots, stairwells, or hallways
• Failing to provide security guards in dangerous or high-crime areas
• Not repairing in a timely fashion broken doors, locks, or safety mechanisms on an entry/exit point within the property
• Having safety and surveillance equipment available, but failing to review it consistently

How to Successfully Move Forward with a Negligent Security Claim

A claim for negligent security cannot withstand scrutiny by a property owner without being well-documented. As such, photographs, video, and other evidence are necessary to successfully hold a property owner accountable for injuries caused by a lack of security. A determination that a property owner failed to take reasonable steps to fix a broken security element can lead to substantial compensation for an injury victim. 

Where do Negligent Security Claims Take Place Most Commonly?

When it comes to negligent security claims, it is reasonable to look to areas where large numbers of people congregate. Apartment buildings, large retail stores, and hotels are examples of public places where lax security measures could foreseeably lead to an attack. 

So, when an assault takes place in the dark stairwell of a parking garage, or if a fight breaks out at a nightclub with no security personnel, it is more likely that a negligent security claim may be viable. This is due in large part because these are locations where it should be clear that security measures must be put in place to protect people on the property owner’s premises. 

The Best In South Florida Negligent Security Representation- Difilippo & Pica, PLLC

Contact Difilippo & Pica, PLLC today for a free case review. Don’t allow your rights to be taken advantage of after suffering an assault or attack on the property of another person. A South Florida negligent security attorney takes on challenges on behalf of our clients to preserve their ability to receive compensation for their injuries.