SKIP TO CONTENTDid you fall victim to crime on someone else’s premises? It’s possible that the property owner hadn’t taken appropriate safety measures to protect visitors or clients. But what is negligent security, and how do you prove it?
In a nutshell, negligent security is part of premises liability law. Property owners have a duty of care to keep their premises safe, which includes reasonable crime prevention efforts. If you believe the owner left their property vulnerable to criminals, talk to a premises liability attorney.
Negligent Security Examples
Property owners may face legal negligence claims if a client, visitor, or tenant suffers harm because of a preventable dangerous condition. In the context of negligent security, “dangerous condition” could mean:
- Unsupervised access, like unsecured doors or ground-floor windows, broken gates or fences, and unmonitored parking entry
- Poor lighting that allows criminals to enter the premises unnoticed.
- Negligent security staff management, like hiring security guards without an adequate background check or failing to train or supervise them properly
- Neglecting to repair safety equipment like automatic locks, security cameras, or emergency alarms
- Inadequate visitor screening, for example, failing to check whether someone carries a firearm
These oversights may expose victims to serious dangers like robbery, sexual assault, shootings, and other forms of violence.
When Can You File a Negligent Security Claim?
Once you have a clear answer to “What is negligent security?” your next question should be, “Do I have grounds for a claim?”
To pursue a claim for negligent security, you need to show that:
- The responsible person neglected reasonable security precautions. Keep in mind that security requirements depend on the type of premises. For example, a school may require different security measures than an apartment building.
- The security breach happened because of the responsible person’s action or inaction. For example, failure to repair lighting allowed an attacker to hide unnoticed in a store’s parking lot.
- You suffered harm because of the security breach. For example, a thief broke into your apartment, stole your possessions, and assaulted you while the entrance to the building was unsupervised.
Proving all that isn’t always as simple as defining “What is negligent security?” The at-fault party may argue that the violent incident was inevitable or that they couldn’t have known about the risk beforehand. That’s why you must choose a lawyer with plenty of experience handling premises liability cases.
What May Your Compensation Include?
Depending on your case, compensation for negligent security may cover the following:
- Medical bills if the assault caused physical harm
- Therapy and other required mental health treatment if you have PTSD, traumatic flashbacks, or anxiety following your experience
- Loss of income if you had to miss work days because of the incident and/or if the experience harmed your future ability to work
- Property damage in case the attacker stole or damaged your possessions
- Pain and suffering, including any significant but non-quantifiable harm like trauma, psychological suffering, or difficulty coping with daily life
If your close family member lost their life in a shooting or another violent event that happened because of negligent security, you may have grounds for a wrongful death claim. In Oklahoma, the estate representative of the deceased person files the claim, and the compensation goes to eligible surviving family members.
Did You Suffer Harm Because of Negligent Security? Call Bryan Garrett, Premises Liability Lawyer in OKC
If you’re asking, “What is negligent security, and does my situation fall under this definition?” call our law office. Attorney Bryan Garrett will let you know whether you can seek compensation and work hard to pursue a fair settlement.
Call (405) 358-2342 or fill out our contact form for a free consultation.
