Every property owner and landlord in the state of Kentucky is required to create a safe environment for those that visit, use, or live on their properties. This legal obligation also requires a property owner to implement necessary security measures to limit the risk of criminal activity. If you were injured, harmed, or otherwise suffered damages because a property owner failed to implement even basic security measures, you need the legal backing of a Louisville negligent security lawyer.
Inadequate security measures leave the door open for preventable acts of violence, including robberies, shootings, and sexual assaults.
At Thomas Law Offices, we believe that those responsible for creating dangerous conditions that allow crimes of opportunity to occur should be held accountable for the harm they’ve caused. A negligent security lawsuit is often the most effective way to recover full and fair compensation for lost wages, medical bills, funeral and burial expenses, and more.
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Do I Need a Negligent Security Lawyer?
Deciding whether to hire a negligent security attorney can be a deeply personal decision. If you were injured because a property or business owner failed to provide reasonable protections to visitors, it is very likely that you have the legal standing to file a claim.
As a type of premises liability case, your right to file a negligent security case and recover compensation hinges upon the following factors:
- You were injured by an act of violent crime
- You were legally on another person’s property when the crime took place
- The property owner failed to implement reasonable security measures
- You suffered damages related to your personal injury
Property owners should not be allowed to continue managing their premises without adequate lighting, working security cameras, and a sufficient number of properly-trained security guards. If you’re ready to hold the person directly responsible for your injuries liable for their actions, we invite you to schedule a free consultation with our negligent security attorneys.
We hope that our past successes handling negligent security cases and testimonials from past clients will make you feel confident in our ability to handle your claim.
What Constitutes Negligent Security
When property owners fail to implement adequate security measures in regard to past crimes that occurred on the property, crime rates in the area, and foreseeable acts of violence, they are considered to have engaged in inadequate and lackluster security practices.
When an act of violence resulting in injury occurs on someone else’s property with inadequate security, the victim has the legal right to explore whether other parties than the attacker were at fault. Since property owners play an essential role in the safety and wellbeing of their visitors, any failure to create reasonably safe environments could result in legal action being taken against them.
Negligent Security Puts You in Harm’s Way
Adequate security plays an enormous role in your overall safety. Whether grocery shopping, attending work, or leaving your vehicle in a parking garage while attending a conference, you deserve to feel as if the property or business owner has made every reasonable effort to make the area secure.
When steps to implement reasonable security are not made, you are at an immediate threat of suffering preventable harm, including:
- Gun violence
- Violent assault
- Robbery
- Sexual assault and rape
- Kidnapping
Those who wish to inflict harm on others often seek out properties that lack vital protections, such as good lighting and security guards. For this reason, damages associated with injuries sustained through criminal activity are often compensable in negligent security cases.
To learn more about your right to seek compensation, contact Thomas Law Offices today for an opportunity to speak with a Louisville negligent security attorney in a free and confidential setting.
Where Negligent Security Accidents Happen
Negligent security accidents can happen on any premises where property owners know that additional security measures are needed but fail to take action. Many negligent security cases in Louisville and Jefferson County involve acts of violence that occurred at:
- Amusement parks
- Parking lots
- Parking garages
- Office buildings
- Sporting venues and arenas
- Shopping malls
- Stores
- Condos
- Apartment buildings
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Schools and universities
The legal process of investigating a claim, gathering evidence, and then filing a civil suit can be time-consuming, but this is not a burden that you have to handle on your own.
Your negligent security lawyer from Thomas Law Offices will take on the task of investigating and building your case. We’ll secure the evidence necessary to prove that the property owner did not provide adequate security that would have prevented the violent attack you were injured in.
Adequate Security Measures
So what do adequate security measures look like? That will depend on a variety of factors, including the type of venue, crime rate for the area, and the number of people who will be visiting the property.
Property owners have a legal and moral responsibility to correctly evaluate their premises and venues and provide adequate security. Examples of security measures that help keep visitors safe include:
- Metal detectors (including wands and walk-through devices)
- Proper lighting
- Sufficient numbers of properly-trained security guards
- Working door locks
- Working security cameras
- Working lightbulbs and flood lights
There is no need to try and hide these types of security measures. Hiding that there are security cameras and guards could lead potential criminals to believe that the property is unsecured and not guarded, leading to a violent crime. For this reason, the Louisville negligent security lawyers of Thomas Law Offices recommend that all property owners utilize obvious security measures.
Frequently Asked Questions About Negligent Security
We understand that life after a violent crime can be confusing and overwhelming. Victims are often dealing with profound injuries, intense psychological trauma, and steep financial losses. We hope that the answers we have provided to the following frequently asked questions will provide a sense of guidance during this difficult period of time.
Should you have any additional questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to Thomas Law Offices for a free case evaluation.
Do I Have a Negligent Security Claim?
Determining whether you have a legal standing to file a claim against a negligent property owner can be complicated. You must be able to show that you were legally on the property where the attack occurred, that the attack could have been prevented with adequate security, and that you suffered damages from your injuries.
The best way to answer this question is to discuss what happened with a Louisville negligent security lawyer.
Can I Afford To Hire a Lawyer?
Every personal injury law firm in Louisville, KY handles payments differently. When you meet with an attorney, one of your first questions should be, “How are your legal fees handled?”
At Thomas Law Offices, we take most cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that we do not take payment upfront, and we only collect our legal fees as a small percentage of your final award if (and when) we win your case.
What Compensation Is Available in Negligent Security Claims?
Negligent security cases typically afford victims compensation for both economic (monetary) and non-economic (non-monetary) losses. These may include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Mental anguish and psychological trauma
It is common for victims to struggle with their mental health following a preventable violent assault, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. It is vital that you work with an attorney who understands the importance of securing maximum compensation for these types of damages.
Thomas Law Offices Fights for Victims of Negligent Security
Was your life turned upside down by a violent crime? Could adequate security measures have prevented your injuries? If you believe a property owner’s failure to install security cameras, replace burnt out bulbs, or hire security guards led to your injuries and resulting damages, we can help.
A Louisville negligent security lawyer from Thomas Law Offices is standing by to talk with you. Don’t pass up an opportunity for a free case evaluation with an attorney who is prepared to fight for your right to compensation—contact us today to schedule your consultation.