Negligent security focuses on commercial property owners taking responsibility for criminal attacks on their premises.
Negligent Security on Commercial Property
Shopping malls, supermarkets, shopping plazas, hotels, and large retailers are commercial property owners, and they must provide reasonably safe premises for customers. A property owner which knows about criminal attacks and assaults occurring on its property must implement additional safety measures to keep customers safe. Failing to exercise reasonable care is an example of negligent security.
In Lee County, Collier County, Charlotte County, and nearby communities, there are thousands of retail stores located in strip malls, shopping malls, and plazas. Moreover, these businesses maintain large parking lots filled with customer vehicles. Customers park their vehicles to shop in these stores, and then return with their purchases to their cars.
Violent attacks often occur in parking lots. A customer is violated in the gravest sense, but other customers are also at risk of similar incidents. Moreover, negligent security helps create the conditions for these criminal acts. But parking lots are just one issue, and more problems exist.
Poor Customer Safety Can Be Negligent Security
Commercial property owners and managers must undertake reasonable safety measures to keep customers safe from criminal attacks causing injuries. Accordingly, some safety measures include the following:
- Proper lighting in common areas
- Parking lot security patrols
- No loitering
- Posting warnings
- Contracting qualified security services
- Installing security systems
- Actively monitoring security cameras
- Installing ATM panic buttons
- Developing building access control measures
- Creating a security plan
- Employing one-use hotel room key cards
Similarly, apartment complexes and hotels can take additional steps to protect their residents and guests. Rather than leaving it to chance, businesses can develop building access control measures, create a security plan, and employ one-use hotel room key cards.
A criminal attack is considered foreseeable if reasonably anticipated. Accordingly, in shopping centers and malls where crimes against customers have occurred, the property owners should hire security patrols. Rather than leaving premises a danger zone, security officers then patrol parking lots and garages to discourage criminals and improve customer safety.
Negligent Security Claims Against Businesses for Criminal Acts
In Florida, criminal attacks on business property are foreseeable in several circumstances. Hence, negligent security liability examples include:
- Whether the property owner, store, apartment, or hotel knows specific perpetrators or threats
- Criminal activity on, or around, the premises
- Review the the premises layout and location
- Business purposes
- Whether security measures are adequate
- Whether security service uses reasonable care under the circumstances
When a commercial property does not provide reasonable security measures, and you are injured, then owners and managers may be liable for negligent security. You may have legal recourse.
Harris Law Represents You in Negligent Security Claims
Were you attacked and seriously injured in the parking lot of a store? A hotel? An apartment complex? You may have a civil claim for negligent security for money damages. But, you don’t know it.
Negligent security claims are very challenging and complex. Accordingly, don’t stand alone. And, with Fort Myers personal injury lawyer David Harris, you don’t. Consequently, David investigates your negligent security claim, and if there’s merit, pursues compensation.
You are the focus. Moreover, David pursues high compensation for your serious injuries. Especially relevant, your initial consultation is free. Also, if David accepts your case, then you don’t owe any fees unless we win.
