A fight in a bar. A burglar hiding in the shadows. A violent person admitted to an area that’s off limits. When property owners fail to protect visitors from these types of criminal activities, GDH Law is standing by to advocate for victims. A Lanham negligent security lawyer will meet with you in a completely free setting to discuss what happened to you, who might be at fault, and what your legal options are.
What Is Negligent Security?
Sometimes also called inadequate security, negligent security falls under the larger umbrella of premises liability. This area of Maryland civil law allows victims of a crime to hold property owners responsible for any negligent act or omission that allowed criminal activity to occur.
GDH Law is a boutique law firm providing high-scale, results-focused legal representation. We are equipped to handle a broad range of negligent security cases, including those that involve:
- Insufficient or inoperable security cameras
- Not enough security guards on duty
- Improperly trained security personnel
- Inadequate lighting (especially in parking lots and stairwells)
- Unlocked doors or gates
- Failure to conduct criminal background checks on employees
- Malfunctioning or non-existent alarm systems
The above failures can allow an individual with an intent to commit a crime to do just that. If property owners failed to enact proper security measures, they can potentially be held liable for robberies, assaults, sexual assaults, shootings, murder, and more.
These types of crimes can happen anywhere, including:
- Apartment buildings
- Airbnbs or other short-term rentals
- Hotels
- Bars
- Restaurants
- Nightclubs
- Schools
- Universities
- Parking lots
- Parking garages
- Shopping centers
- Banks
- Gas stations
If you were the victim of a crime while on another person’s property, it is important to determine whether the property owner’s actions or inactions contributed to that crime in any way. If so, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your related injuries and damages.
The Responsibility of Maryland Property Owners To Make Premises Safe
Making a property safe for visitors involves more than just mopping up spills and fixing loose stair railings. Property owners are also responsible for minimizing potential security risks and protecting people on their premises from becoming victims of crimes.
Every property or premises will have different security needs. It is up to the owner to constantly evaluate the situation to determine what approach to securing the property is most appropriate. For example, if there is an uptick in crime, it could be appropriate to hire additional security personnel. If a gate or lock is broken, the owner or property manager should promptly fix it.
This is because every property owner has a duty of care to protect visitors from harm. If through any act or omission an owner fails to exercise this duty of care, injured victims may have legal standing to recover compensation for their damages.
GDH Law—Fighting for the Compensation You Deserve
And at GDH Law, we aren’t afraid to stand up to negligent property owners and the insurance companies who back them. That’s because we know that being the victim of a crime is a uniquely traumatizing event, and related damages can last for years or even a lifetime.
In a typical negligent security case, you may be entitled to recover compensatory damages. These are divided into two categories: economic and noneconomic.
Economic damages refer to your direct financial losses, such as:
- Lost wages or benefits
- Diminished earning capacity
- Medical bills
- Property damage
Noneconomic damages are related to your non-financial losses, like:
- Mental anguish
- Physical pain and suffering
- Decreased quality of life
- Scarring or disfigurement
Correctly valuing the worth of an injury claim can be challenging, especially when you are up against a big, for-profit insurance company. But it is a challenge that GDH Law never backs down from.
A Lanham Negligent Security Lawyer Can Strengthen Your Case
You should have been protected. It is the responsibility of every property owner to protect their visitors from unreasonable risk or harm—including criminal acts.
We want your case to have the best chance of success. A Lanham negligent security lawyer from GDH Law has the experience and knowledge needed to:
- Collect and review evidence
- Identify all at-fault parties
- Total the value of your damages and losses
- Negotiate a full and fair settlement
We’re ready to talk. Are you? Contact us online or by phone to schedule your no-cost case evaluation.
