NJ Premises Liability Lawyers Hold Property Owners Accountable for Inadequate Security

A property owner cannot turn a blind eye to a potentially dangerous security concern. Property owners must provide a safe and secure environment for visitors to property. This is because visitors rely on property owners to keep premises safe and they must be held responsible for injuries caused by negligent security.

If you’ve been injured due to inadequate security, you will want to speak with an experienced attorney about your potential premises liability claim.

Negligent Security Measures Fail to Deter Violent Criminal Activity

Negligent security injuries occur in a variety of locations, including private homes, apartment complexes, hotels or motels, retail stores, malls or shopping centers, restaurants, nightclubs, office buildings, parking garages, parking lots, movie theaters, stadiums, and construction sites.

Under premises liability law, a homeowner or business owner has a duty to keep visitors safe from harm. This means a property owner can be held accountable for criminal actions that occur on the premises, particularly if the criminal actions were encouraged by lax security. If a dangerous situation was foreseeable, the property owner may be liable for an assault that occurs on their premises, such as a shopping center parking lot. An assault may be foreseeable in certain circumstances:

• The type of business: Sometimes, a violent crime is foreseeable at a particular location because of the type of business. For instance, customers are likely to leave a jewelry store carrying valuable items and/or large amounts of cash. Similarly, a bar or liquor store might be a likely site for drunken altercations.
• The location of the business: A violent crime may be foreseeable at a particular business because of the location of the business. For example, the business may be located near an ATM machine.
• Amount of crime in the area: A violent crime may be foreseeable at a particular home or business because the area has a past history of criminal activity. An area with a high crime rate may necessitate additional security.

An assault or robbery is more likely to occur under certain conditions. Examples of inadequate security caused by physical conditions or procedural conditions include:

• Failing to hire enough security guards: A business may need to hire security guards if there are factors that could make the location particularly dangerous.
• Negligent security guards: If the security guards are acting as agents of the business, the business owners may be liable for negligence by the security guards. The business also has a responsibility to ensure that security guards are properly trained and vetted before hiring.
• Insufficient lighting: It is incumbent upon property owners to make sure that potentially dangerous areas such as parking lots or darkened stairwells are well lit because lighting can discourage criminal activity.
• Absence of security cameras: Security cameras can act as a deterrent to violent crimes.
• Failing to properly monitor security cameras: Employees who monitor security cameras can quickly notify the police.
• Unattended parking garage: The presence of a parking garage attendant can function as a deterrent to violent crimes.
• Failing to install or maintain locks: This is problematic in residential or hotel settings because an attacker may have easy access to the victim’s room.
• Absence of gates: Some establishments may need gates to deter unauthorized entry.
• Absence of alarms on the premises: Alarms can protect site visitors by discouraging criminal activity and allowing quick responses by the police.

Any party who owns or manages a property can be liable for damages caused by violent attacks or assaults on the premises. The potentially liable parties include homeowners, business owners, landlords, location managers, security subcontractors and government agencies.

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Speak with a NJ Premises Liability Attorney Today because You Deserve Aggressive Representation

Victims of negligent security need a voice. They need someone who will stand up for them in court. The attorneys at Lombardi and Lombardi, P.A., have over 35 years of personal injury and premises liability litigation experience in Ocean, Monmouth, and Middlesex counties. This gives us access to an array of experts on inadequate security. When we handle your case, we will consult with safety experts to determine the effectiveness of security measures. We will also leave no stone unturned in reviewing maintenance records and video footage.

We only get paid if we collect money for your premises liability claim, so call us today at 732-906-1500 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation at our offices in Brick, Edison, or Freehold.