Louisiana law holds business and property owners to certain legal standards regarding the safety of their establishments. When a business owner fails to ensure that their patrons are free from the risk of criminal activity and someone is hurt as a result, they may be held liable for any resulting injuries and financial losses.
For serious injuries, turn to Bianca | Matkins. A Baton Rouge negligent security lawyer on our legal team will handle your premises liability case with the care and professionalism it deserves. For an opportunity to discuss your injuries, lost wages, and other damages with an actual attorney, reach out to our law firm to schedule a free consultation. ASL services for the Deaf community are available.
What Is Negligent Security?
Negligent security practices fall under the broader legal umbrella of premises liability. A property owner who fails to hire enough security guards, install cameras, or replace burned-out light bulbs will have neglected their responsibility to provide a safe environment to patrons. In short, negligence in regard to security allows for the proliferation of criminal activity, putting visitors at risk for serious injury.
As Louisiana premises liability attorneys, we regularly work with clients who are dealing with more than injuries from falling merchandise or slip and fall accidents. The following situations create an environment in which attacks, robberies, sexual assaults, and other criminal activity can flourish:
- Poorly lit parking lots, parking garages, and stairwells
- Burned-out light bulbs that haven’t been replaced
- Inoperable or too few security cameras
- Improperly trained or an inadequate number of security guards
When deciding how much and what type of security is needed, the owner of a property or business must exercise reasonable care. This may include considering previous criminal activity and whether inadequate security has led to injuries in the past.
Deciding whether to use guard dogs is a particularly sensitive matter. Animals that are trained to be aggressively protective of their territory could attack a patron or customer. Injuries sustained from dog bites tend to be severe, and recovering compensation for related damages often requires the guidance of a personal injury attorney.
Legal Options for Inadequate Security Injuries
If inadequate or insufficient security created the conditions for criminal activity and you were attacked, hurt, or injured; as a result, you may have a legal right to financial compensation. In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, there are two potential legal avenues for those who have been injured on someone else’s property.
The most common option is to file a premises liability case. However, some situations may also warrant filing a personal injury case against the attacker. Both types of legal claims will provide compensation for damages like lost wages, medical bills, mental anguish, and more.
When someone else’s negligence causes serious injuries, victims are owed just compensation.
Our Baton Rouge law office will help you determine the best legal path forward for your specific case.
Premises Liability Cases
In Louisiana, premises liability cases compensate victims for physical, financial, and emotional damages caused by a property owner’s negligence. Falling objects in a crowded store and violent assaults in unlit stairwells are two examples that both fall under the broader category of premises liability. Dog bites are also handled as premises liability claims.
The victim of a violent crime or assault has the right to sue the owner of a business who failed to implement necessary security measures.
Personal Injury Claims
If you were the victim of a crime, you can also hold the attacker directly responsible by filing a personal injury claim. Even if the person who committed the crime is not arrested or charged for their actions, you can still take steps to make sure that they are met with justice. In this example, filing a personal injury claim may be appropriate.
A Baton Rouge Negligent Security Lawyer is Just a Click Away
Your injury was preventable.
If a business owner failed to eliminate conditions that encouraged criminal activity and you were harmed as a result, Bianca | Matkins is standing by to discuss your case. We offer a free consultation to injury victims in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and we can easily be contacted by phone or through our convenient online form.
