Property owners in Georgia have a duty to keep their premises safe, and that duty extends to protecting visitors against injury from third-party criminal activity. If you have been a victim of crime on someone else’s property because of negligent security, you may have a claim for compensation for your injuries. Call Bross, McAllister & Williams, LLC in Atlanta or Suwanee as soon as possible to find out about your legal options.
Why Choose Our Firm?
- Our Gwinnett County negligent security lawyers are well-versed in a wide range of personal injury matters, and we have staff certified in medical coding, billing, counseling, and assistance.
- We are committed to pursuing full and fair compensation for our clients, and we have proven results. Our lawyers have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.
- We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay us no fees until we win a recovery for you. This operating basis allows the injured people we represent access to the legal system and justice.
What Is Negligent Security?
Georgia property owners are not necessarily liable for every injury caused by third-party criminal activity on the premises. The duty to provide security depends on several factors, including the relationship between the property owner and the injured person and the location where the injury occurred. To establish a negligence claim, you must show that:
- The property or business owner had a legal duty to conform to a standard of conduct;
- The property owner breached that duty;
- The breach of duty caused your personal injuries; and
- Your injuries resulted in damages.
If you need help determining if a property owner’s negligence caused your injuries, call a Gwinnett County negligent security attorney with BMW Law Group, LLC for a free case evaluation.
Foreseeability of Criminal Activity
The criminal act must have been foreseeable by the property or business owner for negligence and liability to be established. Criminal acts are considered foreseeable if:
- Substantially similar crimes have occurred previously on or near the premises;
- A volatile situation was developing on the premises (such as a loud argument leading to a fight); or
- The property is located in a high crime area.
Examples of Negligent Security
If third-party criminal activity is foreseeable, property and business owners have a duty to exercise ordinary care to guard against injury. Examples of negligent security in such a case include:
- Failure to provide adequate security guards to deter crime
- Inadequate hiring or training of security guards
- Inadequate security equipment (cameras, lighting, etc.)
- Failure to maintain fences, gates, doors, and windows in good repair
What Damages Can You Claim In a Negligent Security Case?
After proving the other elements in your claim, you will need to demonstrate that your injuries caused by negligent security resulted in damages. In a negligent security case, compensatory damages may include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. In some cases, punitive damages may also be awarded. These damages are not designed to compensate the victim, but rather to punish the responsible party for wrongdoing and deter similar actions in the future. Punitive damages in Georgia are capped at $250,000 for most personal injury matters.
Connect with Bross, McAllister & Williams, LLC
If you have been injured by criminal activity on the property of another, you may have a negligent security claim for compensation. Contact Bross, McAllister & Williams, LLC today for a confidential and free consultation. We can tell you if you have a negligent security case in Gwinnett County and what damages you may be entitled to claim.