Were you the victim of a crime while visiting a nightclub, hotel, movie-theater, grocery store or other establishment? Did you suffer physical injuries, mental anguish and other damages as a result of this crime? Could the crime have been prevented if the property where the crime occurred had better security measures? If so, you may be able to file a negligent security lawsuit against the owners of the premises in which the attack took place.
According to Florida’s premises liability laws, property and business owners have a legal duty to protect anyone who enters their premises from physical harm. This includes violent criminal activity. They are required to implement reasonable security measures such as adequate lighting, properly secured gates and doors, adequate premises surveillance and, if necessary, trained security personnel. If it’s determined that they neglected or intentionally disregarded these duties, they can be held responsible for any resulting losses or injuries suffered by the victim.
Compensation for the victim
A crime victim can suffer mental anguish as well as physical injuries, with the potential need for intensive psychological counseling along with medical treatment and therapy for physical injuries. These can leave the victim unable to work and stuck with overwhelming medical bills.
If you were the victim of a violent crime in Lutz due to negligent of inadequate security, the Rivas Law Group is here to help. A negligent security case is separate from a criminal case; even if the identity of attacker is unknown or if criminal charges are never filed, the property owner might be held liable for failure to provide preventative safety measures.
Proving a Negligent Security Claim in Lutz
Negligent security claims are based on the idea that property owners and managers are responsible for providing a safe environment for visitors. Not all violent crimes occur due to negligence on the part of a property owner or manager. In order to prevail in a Lutz negligent security claim, you must be able to prove the following:
- Were you a guest, visitor, employee, tenant or customer on the premises at the time of the crime? (In negligent security claims, the defendant has no obligation to provide security to a trespasser.)
- Was the property owner responsible for securing the safety of the property?
- If so, did the property owner fail to fulfill this duty?
- Did this failure result in the damages claimed by the plaintiff?
- Are there actual damages resulting from the plaintiff’s injuries and other losses?
Tania Rivas and the Rivas Law Group have extensive experience helping victims of negligent security in Lutz get the justice they deserve. We are able to identify the responsible parties, whether it be the property owner, property manager, event organizer or the security company contracted to patrol and protect the premises. We know how to establish proof that a crime happened due to inadequate security measures, including investigating the crime scene and examining evidence gathered by law enforcement officials.
We will use this proof to aggressively negotiate with the property owner or event organizer’s insurance company, getting you the full compensation you require for the damages stemming from your ordeal. And if the insurance company fails to pay what they owe, we are prepared to take your case to court.
Frequently Asked Questions About Negligent Security
What Are The Most Common Types of Negligent Security Cases?
Listed below are the broad negligent security categories, listed from most common to least common:
• Assault and Battery
• Sexual Assault and Rape
• Wrongful Death
• Robbery
• False imprisonment
• home invasion, carjacking, arson
If I Suspect Negligent Security May Have Been a Factor in an Incident, What Should I Do?
There are several things you can do after a negligent security incident that may help a future case. First, inform the property owner or manager on the scene of the incident. If possible, talk to potential witnesses and get contact info from them. Pictures of the scene can be very helpful as well.
Make sure you get medical attention after an incident. Sometimes the excitement of an altercation can mask injuries.
Hire an experienced attorney. Having an experienced lawyer with you can help with your communications with law enforcement and insurance companies. Knowing how much to say, and what NOT to say, can be very important in cases of this sort.
Stay off of social media. The first part of this is not talking about your case on any of your social media accounts. But even seemingly innocent posts not related to your case may harm you in the end.
Get help from an Experienced Lutz Negligent Security Lawyer
Property owners should be held responsible when negligent security contributes to an assault or rape on their property. If you have been injured as a result of a crime committed on someone else’s property or business, the Rivas Law Group is ready and able to pursue a negligent security claim in order to help you recover the compensation you deserve for your suffering.
Please do not hesitate seeking help. There are statutes of limitation for filing negligent security and other personal injury claims. Please call Lutz negligent security lawyer Tania Rivas at 813-406-4460 to schedule a free initial consultation. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency basis, which means there are no up-front costs for our clients and you only pay us after we’ve won your case.
