Negligent Security

Property owners in Florida, especially commercial property owners, have a duty to ensure that their premises are safe for patrons and customers.

Sadly, people are frequently the victim of a crime while on someone else’s property. These incidents can leave you severely injured with permanent deformities or pain. Even though it may seem as if the criminal is the only one committing the wrong act, a business, landlord, or property manager may be complicit in the wrongdoing because of negligent security. For example, you could be entitled to damages from a premises owner if you were:

• Robbed at an ATM
• Assaulted at a bar or restaurant
• Mugged in a parking garage
• Sexually assaulted on a college campus
• Sexually assaulted at a hotel, resort, or on a cruise ship
• Robbed or assaulted at an apartment complex

All property—public and private—must have appropriate safety measures, but many do not.

Businesses in Florida are required to know the nature of their area, especially if it is a “bad part of town.” Prior crimes or incidents may make the one that harmed you “foreseeable.” If the risk of crime is foreseeable, they have a duty to take reasonable safety precautions. If they do not, you may be able to file a negligent security lawsuit. For instance, a parking garage in a South Florida “high crime area” may need more lighting than another parking garage. A Miami shopping mall may need dedicated security guards. If these safety precautions are not taken, and you are the victim of a crime, the property owner or manager may be liable for millions of dollars. Finding a negligent security lawyer who understands the intricacies of these requirements can help.

The level of necessary safety measures will vary on a case-by-case basis and often hinges on the relationship of the property owner to the injured party. If you were the victim of a crime at a commercial establishment, you need the negligent security attorneys at Mase Mebane Seitz in Miami, Florida, to help you every step of the way.

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