Orange County Negligent Security Attorneys
Property Owners’ Duty of Care in California
Restaurants, hotels, night clubs, retail stores, and other commercial businesses have a responsibility to protect people invited onto their property (customers, employees, etc.) from foreseeable injuries. This protection should extend to crimes committed by others, such as armed robbery, assault, or rape. If you have been a victim of crime because of negligent security at a business establishment or on a property owned by someone else, you may have a premises liability claim for compensation.
Individuals and entities who own or control property in California are subject to state laws requiring maintenance of reasonable safety standards on their property. This includes taking appropriate security measures to ensure that visitors, tenants, and occupants are not at risk of foreseeable injury. When they fail to maintain these safety standards, such as failing to take adequate security measures, property owners and businesses may be held liable for injuries resulting from their negligence.
Negligent Security and Premises Liability
Premises liability is a legal concept under which owners or occupiers of a property have a responsibility to maintain a safe environment for visitors. If you are assaulted in a hotel corridor, for example, the hotel may be liable for your injuries if it failed to take adequate security measures to prevent the crime. Property owners and occupiers may be negligent in providing security in several ways, including:
- Lack of security
- Inadequate security measures
- Lack of video cameras
- Failing to comply with laws regarding security
- Failing to protect visitors from known or foreseeable harm
When Are Negligent Security Injuries Foreseeable?
To prevail in a claim for compensation, your attorney will need to show that your injuries that resulted from negligent security were foreseeable. This can be demonstrated by gathering crime stats in the area where the injury occurred. If there had been a high number of assaults or crimes committed in that area, the assault or criminal injury you suffered could be considered foreseeable, and the property owner or business may be held liable.
What Are Common Areas for Negligent Security Injuries?
Occupants and visitors to a property are more susceptible to being injured through negligent security in some areas than others. Lack of adequate security measures can leave individuals vulnerable to crimes, such as mugging, rape, assault, and battery. Common areas where negligent security has been a problem include:
- Hotels and motels
- Night clubs
- ATMs and banks
- Parking lots and parking garages
- Dorms and campus housing
- Condominium and apartment complexes
- Subways, trains, and other public transportation
- Office buildings
- Concerts, malls, and sporting events
What Damages May Be Available for Negligent Security Injuries?
Damages for negligent security are not limited to medical bills incurred for treating your injuries. Depending on the circumstances, they may also cover other losses, including:
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Permanent disability
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
Why You Need a Lawyer
Negligent security cases are not easy to win. Each case is different and must be evaluated individually. The success of your claim could depend, in no small degree, on an in-depth knowledge of California premises liability law. Our Orange County personal injury attorneys have the knowledge, skills, and resources to pursue a negligent security claim on your behalf.
Why Choose Us?
- Allen Flatt Ballidis & Leslie was officially founded in 1974. Our Orange County personal injury lawyers have more than 40 years of experience.
- We have a history of success for our clients. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.
- We treat our clients with dignity and respect. Unlike other lawyers, we will keep you fully informed on the status of your case in real-time. We offer communication specific to your needs, not ours.
If you have been assaulted or injured on someone else’s property due to inadequate security in Costa Mesa, call us at (949) 752-7474 to schedule a free consultation. We can tell you if you have a negligent security premises liability case and what damages you may be entitled to claim.
Additional Information
Call (888) 752-7474, or send over our free case
review form, even if you're not sure. We're here to help.
