At Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to holding negligent and careless property owners accountable for their actions. Let our Las Vegas negligent security attorneys help you get the compensation you deserve.
When you go anywhere in Las Vegas, you should not have to worry about your safety. Whether you are a visitor or a resident, you should be able to rely on security at various establishments to keep you safe. However, there are times when property owners fail to properly secure their premises.
When you are dealing with an injury, you need a Las Vegas negligent security attorney you can trust both personally and professionally. At Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to our clients.
One of the most difficult aspects of these cases is proving liability. Your Law Vegas negligent security lawyer will work to obtain all records that prove the property owner’s fault, including:
By using your medical records and evidence gathered, your lawyer will negotiate with the defendant’s insurers and legal team to obtain a settlement that is fair to you. Your negligent security attorney will also prepare the case for trial if the defendant does not offer a fair settlement.
Whether you live in an apartment complex, work in an office building, or visit a casino, you should be able to expect reasonable security measures to protect your safety. In Las Vegas, property owners should always have:
When security is inadequate, those who have a right on the property could become victims of crime and subject to serious injuries. They could be assaulted, both physically as well as sexually.
Property owners should always properly assess the risk that not having security will pose to guests. All to often, cost-cutting measures by property owners means cutting security and hoping for the best.
Claims over negligent security fall into the larger category of premises liability lawsuits. Premises liability law holds property owners accountable for injuries sustained on their property caused by their negligence. Part of a property owner’s duty is to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors, including adequate security protections against foreseeable crimes when appropriate. A foreseeable crime, for example, could be an assault in a business’s parking lot that is located in an area with a high crime rate. The owner should know that visitors may be at a higher risk of being targeted and take precautions.
When an owner fails in their duty, victims have the right to hold the property owner accountable. First, however, they must provide proof of the following four elements of negligence:
The property owner owed you a duty of care to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors. This duty only applies if you were legally allowed on the property and not trespassing.
The property owner failed to exercise reasonable care in providing adequate security for visitors, as a condition on the property created an unreasonable risk of harm, and the defendant (at-fault party) knew or should have known of the condition.
The defendant’s failure to provide adequate security and protect or warn against harm directly caused your injury.
You sustained damages as a result of your injury. For example, medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, etc.
The steps you take after an injury caused by negligent security can impact your ability to claim compensation. Here is what to do to protect your rights:
If you are severely injured, call or ask someone to call 911. Emergency medical responders will transport you to the hospital if necessary, and a police officer will arrive on the scene to make a report.
If you can, take photos or videos of the hazardous condition or area that caused your injury, the surrounding area, and of your injuries.
Speak to anyone who witnessed your injury. Ask for their contact information and if they are willing to make a short recording of what they saw on your phone. When filing a claim, witness statements can heavily influence an insurance company’s decision on fault.
File an incident report with the property owner or manager and tell them that you are seeking medical care. Even if your injury seems minor, it is possible to have delayed symptoms, so it is best not to discuss the extent of your harm at this time. If the owner or manager refuses to file a report, call to notify the police if you have not already.
See a physician as soon as possible after leaving the scene. It is critical for your health, and can also link your injuries to the negligent security incident through medical records.
Most negligent security lawyers offer free consultations and can advise you of your legal options. Once you hire an attorney, they will handle every aspect of your claim. With their experience and knowledge of premises liability law, they can protect you from being taken advantage of and will ensure you recover the compensation you deserve.
A study was completed on negligent security lawsuit statistics by a Massachusetts-based security management and liability consulting firm, known as Norman D. Bates, Esq., President of Liability Consultants, Inc. 1,086 cases were reviewed that took place between during a 9 year period, and the following data was reported about negligent security lawsuits.
Cases involving wrongful death yielded the highest average verdict at $2.8 million. Next were negligent security cases related to robberies, with an average verdict of $1.9 million or settlement of $1.6 million. Third was cases involving rape which averaged $1.5 million in jury verdicts and an average of $1.2 million in settlements.
The injuries sustained due to negligent security are typically severe, with life-changing repercussions. The most common types that occur are categorized here by their cause.
While committing an assault, the assailant can cause a wide variety of injuries, including:
A gunshot wound is a penetrating injury, and its severity depends on the type of weapon, bullet, and the affected area of the body. It can result in severe tissue and organ damage with sudden incapacitation, profuse bleeding, fractures, and death.
A person or child can be injured in or near a swimming pool or possibly drown due to negligent security. For example, if there was no lifeguard on duty when there should have been, the lifeguard was not paying attention, the locks on the pool gate did not work, etc.
Victims of sexual assault can suffer any type of physical injury at the hands of the perpetrator, as well as a sexually transmitted disease (STD), unwanted pregnancy, or psychological trauma.
Due to the devastating nature of injuries caused by negligent security, victims often suffer long-term emotional injuries even if they heal physically.
For example:
Victims can be killed by their assailants who had the opportunity due to negligent security. When a death is preventable and caused by the negligence of another party, it is a wrongful death. In these cases, surviving family members have the right to pursue a claim on behalf of their lost loved one.
If you or someone you care about has been injured because a property owner failed to provide adequate security, seek legal assistance today. At Harris & Harris personal injury claims in Las Vegas, we are going to investigate what happened and work to secure the compensation you need. This includes:
If you need a Las Vegas negligent security attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or by calling us at (702) 384-1414 or toll-free at 1 (800) 393-2350.