What Compensation Is Available In a Negligent Security Lawsuit?
Suffering a serious injury is physically and emotionally distressing, but it’s even more devastating when it occurs due to an act of criminal violence. Knowing that a property owner could have prevented the harm caused to you if they’d provided adequate security and taken reasonable measures to keep their premises safe, makes the physical and emotional recovery even more difficult. Fortunately, your financial recovery doesn’t have to cause additional anxiety when you hire an experienced Atlanta premises liability lawyer to navigate your negligent security lawsuit.
When Is a Property Owner Negligent for Inadequate Security?
Property owners have a duty of reasonable care to those lawfully on their property. Property owners who invite people onto their property for business reasons, such as tenancy, patrons, or customers, have an enhanced duty of care. This duty requires them to make routine inspections, prompt repairs, and address safety hazards with corrective measures, including those caused by negligent security. Common negligent security measures include failing to provide adequate lighting, failing to protect access areas with gates and locks, providing inadequate security systems, or neglecting to repair broken security systems or alarms. It is also negligent to fail to hire adequate security personnel, provide appropriate emergency training for employees, and increase security when crime rates have escalated in the surrounding community. When a property owner fails to take these reasonable safety measures, it’s negligence, leaving them liable for damages in a premises liability claim or lawsuit for negligent security.
How Much Can I Recover In a Negligent Security Claim?
No two negligent security incidents have the same consequences for survivors, but physical and emotional trauma can dramatically impact well-being and have lasting adverse impacts, including related financial consequences. While a successful negligent security lawsuit against a property owner who failed to uphold their duty of care can’t erase the harm caused to a victim of criminal violence, it does recover financial compensation and provides injury victims with a sense of justice. Common compensation secured by an Atlanta negligent security attorney includes the following:
- Reimbursement for medical expenses
- Anticipated future medical expenses
- Therapy and counseling costs
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Lost wages
- Future income loss
- Diminished earning capacity if the incident caused disability or chronic pain
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Compensation for emotional damages, like PTSD, depression, sleep disturbances, or anxiety
- Catastrophic injury damages if any apply in your case, such as loss of limb, disfigurement, or the loss of one of the senses
Most claims are settled by the property owner’s liability insurance; however, a trial-ready attorney will file a lawsuit petition with the court within the state’s statute of limitations if required to recover the compensation you deserve.
How Can a Premises Liability Lawyer Help My Negligent Security Case?
The criminal justice system focuses on punishing the wrongdoer and deterring repeats of violent assaults and other crimes, but the civil courts serve as a different arbitrator of justice in financially compensating the victim for their losses. Call a compassionate and skilled Atlanta personal injury lawyer at Piasta Walker Hagenbush, LLC for experienced representation in your negligent security claim.