Atlanta Negligent Security Attorney

Just about everyone knows that being aware of your surroundings is one of the keys to staying safe. But no matter how cautious you are, you can still become a victim of crime anywhere, in parking lots, shopping centers, apartment complexes, hotels, bars, and restaurants just to name a few.

So, who is responsible if you are the victim of a violent crime at or near a business you patronized? In Georgia, a business owner can be held liable if they were negligent regarding security, or in other words, if they did not do everything possible to reasonably protect you.

Why Choose a Negligent Security Lawyer at Piasta Walker Hagenbush, LLC?

Piasta Walker Hagenbush, LLC is an Atlanta personal injury law firm devoted to representing injury victims against powerful defendants and their profit-protecting insurance companies. With our representation, your case has the following advantages:

A history of success in recovering over $100 million for our injured clients, including a recent $19 million award for a mall crime victim
A personalized strategy with the objective of obtaining the maximum compensation available to you
A dedication to professional excellence and compassion
Assertive legal representation with open communication and honesty throughout the process

We don’t charge upfront fees to injury victims. Instead, we offer a free case consultation and then go to work for you, only charging our fee after we’ve first obtained compensation for you.

What Is a Property Owner’s Duty of Care In Georgia?

Even homeowners have a legal duty of reasonable care to those who enter their property, but commercial property owners who own businesses have an enhanced duty of care under GA Code § 51-3-1 to those they invite onto their property for commercial purposes, or their “invitees.” This duty includes more than just routine property maintenance, but also reasonable security measures to protect those who enter the property.

Examples of reasonable protection include:

Hiring security guards
Increasing lighting
Adding signage
Asking the police to enforce a no-loitering policy
Ensuring that gates, doors, and windows are locked, secured, and in good repair
Having an adequate security system
Adequately training employees on how to handle emergencies

If you are injured in a violent crime in Atlanta because a business owner did not provide adequate security, the Atlanta negligent security lawyers at our law firm are here to help. Call a specialized Atlanta premises liability lawyer at Piasta Walker Hagenbush, LLC today at (404) 996-1296 for a free case evaluation and to learn more about how we can help. We charge no legal fee unless we win your case.

Compensation For an Atlanta Negligent Security Claim

Individuals who were hurt at or around a business or commercial property because of negligent security may be entitled to file a lawsuit against the negligent business owner to recover damages, such as:

Medical expenses
Lost wages and income
Damage to property
Pain and suffering
Other losses stemming from the incident.

Success or failure of your negligent security claim will largely depend on your ability to prove that the security measures on the defendant’s property were in fact insufficient.

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Get Legal Representation From a Negligent Security Lawyer in Atlanta

Why Hire an Atlanta Negligent Security Attorney?

If you were injured on a business owner’s property, there are a few things you need to understand:

The liable insurance companies do not have your best interests in mind. An insurance company’s goal is to resolve your claim for the least amount of money possible and in the shortest amount of time possible, which is certainly not in your best interest.
You should let an experienced personal injury attorney deal with the insurance companies, while you take the time to get better. Injuries can take weeks, months, or even years to fully heal. You should, therefore, be focused on getting the treatment that you need and recovering from your injuries. Your attorney may also be able to assist you with recommendations to different medical providers.
Personal injury law firms, like ours, handle negligent security cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you do not have to pay us anything unless we win or settle your case.

What Are The Elements of a Negligent Security Lawsuit in Atlanta, GA?

Those who own or manage commercial property or businesses have a legal duty to protect anyone who visits their property. When a business owner fails to provide reasonable security to patrons, they can be held liable for an attack or assault that happens on or around their property.

However, to receive compensation for negligent security in Atlanta, you will need to prove the following elements of a valid negligent security claim:

The business owner had a duty to protect you – business owners have a duty to ensure the safety of those who they invite onto their property as guests. To prove you were an invited guest, you will need to show that there was an expressed or implied invitation i.e., that you were a customer or patron of their store or establishment.
Foreseeability – the business owner must have known or reasonably should have known that there is a high risk of harm or injury to you. The specialized Atlanta negligent security attorneys at our law firm can help you find out if there were any previous incidents that should have made the business owner do more to ensure the safety of the individuals who visit their property.
There was negligent security – In other words, you and your lawyers must prove that the business or property owner did not fulfill their duty to provide reasonable security measures.
You were injured because of the business or property owner’s negligent security – essentially you must prove that if the property or business owner had reasonable security measures in place, you would not have been attacked or assaulted.

What Is The Statute of Limitations for Negligent Security Lawsuits in Atlanta?

In Georgia, you generally have only two years from the date of the incident to file a negligent security lawsuit. Miss this deadline, and you will forfeit your right to seek compensation for your injuries and other losses.

It is, therefore, important to get an experienced lawyer involved in your case as soon as possible. Under GA Code § 9-3-33, only the following limited exceptions apply to the two-year statute of limitations:

When an injury victim is incapacitated for a significant period after an injury, they have up to two years from the date they regain their cognitive abilities to file a claim
If an injury victim is a minor, they have up to two years from their 18th birthday to file a claim on their own behalf
Under the delayed discovery rule, if the victim discovers an injury some time after the incident, for example, if a sore, stiff shoulder is diagnosed as a torn rotator cuff two weeks after suffering harm, the time limit begins on the date of the discovery

Our Atlanta personal injury lawyers can help you navigate the personal injury claims process in Atlanta from beginning to end.

Common Circumstances That Can Give Rise to a Negligent Security Claim in Atlanta

Certain crimes are frequently associated with negligent security claims, such as robbery, shootings, assault and battery, rape, and homicide. Some examples of circumstances that can give rise to a negligent security claim in Atlanta include:

A robbery at an ATM or while pumping gas at a station
A mugging in the parking lot of a mall or shopping center
An assault in a hotel room or the lobby of an apartment building
An attack on a college campus

Whatever the circumstances, if you or a family member was injured because of an act of violence or other criminal act at a commercial establishment, our negligent security lawyers in Atlanta can help you explore your options for pursuing legal action to recover compensation.

Common Defendants In Atlanta Negligent Security Cases

In most cases, property owners are liable for damages in premises liability claims, but depending on the circumstances of a negligent security case, the liable party could be a negligent security contractor or a business owner operating on leased property. Common defendants in these cases include owners or operators of:

Stores
Bars, pubs, and nightclubs
Restaurants and cafes
Hotels
Apartment complexes
Event venues
Colleges and universities
Hospitals
Schools
Malls
Amusement parks

Property owners are also required to provide adequate security measures in parking lots and parking garages on their property, as well as in the public areas of the property.

What Types of Injuries Occur Due to Negligent Security In Atlanta?

Suffering an injury is always painful and traumatic, but when the injury is from an act of violence that could have been prevented with reasonable security, it’s even more distressing. Common Injuries in Atlanta negligent security claims include the following:

Lacerations, contusions, and abrasions
Soft-tissue injuries like sprains and torn ligaments
Fractures
Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries
Puncture wounds from knives
Bullet wounds
Sexual assault
Spinal cord injuries
Emotional distress, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances

Compensatory damages fall into two categories: tangible economic damages like medical expenses and income loss, and intangible non-economic damages like pain and emotional trauma. While a successful claim doesn’t erase intangible damages, it brings the injury victim a sense of justice and closure.

Contact Piasta Walker Hagenbush, LLC for Your Atlanta Negligent Security Lawyer

If you were a victim of a crime at a business or other commercial property in Atlanta because the business owner did not have reasonable security measures in place, you need an Atlanta personal injury lawyer who can help you recover the compensation you deserve.

Visit our contact page, or call Piasta Walker Hagenbush, LLC at (404) 996-1296 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Atlanta negligent security attorney. We charge no legal fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf.