Property owners and businesses have a basic duty to the public. They generally need to maintain business facilities and rental homes so that they don’t present any obvious safety hazards. Property owners and business occupants may have premises liability in cases where people end up hurt due to unsafe property conditions.
Frequently, premises liability lawsuits begin with allegations of negligence. Much of the time, negligence claims relate to property maintenance. However, negligence can extend to other aspects of business operations, including company security practices.
Crime victims can sometimes assert that property owners were negligent regarding security matters and may be at least partially responsible for crime-related losses.
When are security practices negligent?
The concept of negligent security confuses some people. After all, property owners and business leaders cannot control what other people do. However, they can reasonably predict certain types of criminal activity based on the type of company that they operate and the location of their facilities.
There are certain reasonable steps that can help keep businesses and apartment buildings safe for visitors and occupants. Restricting access to buildings and parking facilities can deter some types of crime.
Adequate lighting, visible security cameras and even the presence of security professionals can also help deter criminal activity. If other reasonable people might agree that the crime was predictable and potentially preventable, then the injured party may be able to pursue a premises liability lawsuit by asserting that the company was negligent regarding security matters.
Reviewing the circumstances of a recent crime with a skilled legal team can help people evaluate their options. When crimes lead to serious injuries, property damage losses and lost wages, people affected can potentially hold property owners accountable via personal injury lawsuits.