Premises Liability and Negligent Security
When negligence leads to injury, a premises liability attorney can help victims recover damages for their injuries and pain and suffering.
One way that a property owner's negligence can lead to harm is by failing to provide sufficient security measures, especially in areas of known crime. Attorney Lynn C. Harris represents clients in premises liability and negligent security lawsuits in Salt Lake City, UT, and surrounding areas, including Provo, to help them get the compensation they deserve for their suffering.
About Premises Liability and Negligent Security
Through premises liability laws, property owners may be held liable for failure to provide reasonable safety measures on their property in the event someone is the victim of a crime.
While property owners can't be held liable for the crime itself if committed by a third party, seeking damages through a premises liability lawsuit may help prevent others from being victims of a crime by forcing liable property owners to correct negligent security issues.
Premises liability laws in regard to negligent security can apply to a wide range of properties, such as:
- An apartment or housing complex
- Office building or other place of employment
- Mall or shopping center
- College campus
What Is Negligent Security?
Property owners have a responsibility to provide a reasonable level of security on their property to prevent foreseeable criminal activity by third parties.
Property owners who fail to provide adequate security measures for a given area may be liable for negligent security. Without some, or sometimes all, of the following security measures, a property owner may be found at fault for security negligence:
- Working locks on all doors and windows
- Keeping parking lots, entryways, and common areas well lit
- Installing security fences around the property
- Installing alarm systems
- Installing security cameras
- Restricting access to the property
- Performing background checks on both employees and tenants
- Hiring a security guard to patrol the property
Seeking Damages for Negligent Security
Premises liability laws make it possible to hold property owners liable for failure to provide adequate security measures in the event a visitor or tenant of the property suffers from injuries or other damages related to the negligence in security.
For example, if a property owner fails to provide working locks to his tenants apartment and the apartment is later burglarized, the tenant may be able to recover damages for any injuries or pain and suffering incurred as a result of the burglary.
Schedule a Consultation with Lynn C. Harris
If you live in or around Salt Lake City and are the victim of a crime that you believe occurred in part due to negligent security measures, you may be able to recover damages through a premises liability lawsuit. To learn more about your options, we welcome you to call (801) 609-5943 and schedule a consultation with premises liability attorney Lynn C. Harris.
