Los Angeles Negligent Security Lawyer
Los Angeles Negligent Security Attorney
Being a victim of a crime due to inadequate security can change your life. You should refrain from letting a property owner get away with failing to protect you on their property. In California, you can sue for negligent security when you can prove the essential aspects of a negligence claim. A Los Angeles negligent security lawyer can help you pursue compensation for what you’ve endured.
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Duty of Care to Protect You
Property owners are legally responsible for providing a safe environment for people who visit their premises. This duty covers most commercial properties, including shopping malls, apartment complexes, parking lots, hotels, and more. The specific security measures needed can vary but overall, the owner must create an area that protects people from any crimes that are likely to occur.
For instance, a high-end jewelry store in a high-crime area would have a higher duty of care than would be necessary at a small neighborhood bookstore. As a responsible owner, there is an expectation to anticipate potential risks associated with a property and take reasonable steps to mitigate all risks.
Breach of Duty of Care
Failure to provide suitable security can lead to severe issues. As long as suitable evidence exists, proving that a property owner breached their duty of care can be done in many ways. This failure can take many forms, like a lack of security guards in high-risk areas.
Establishments with high foot traffic, especially during peak hours, may require security guards to deter crime and provide proper crowd management. The same can apply to establishments deep in the nighttime. Places like shopping malls should have a security presence at all times to deter theft and vandalism. When they do not, this can be a breach of their duty of care.
Breaches of duty of care are not only related to inadequate personnel. Having inoperable security devices can be a breach, especially when the owner understands that the devices do not work.
Because of premises liability law, property owners should always know their duty of care to their patrons. If they willfully ignore what they owe to people, they are capitalizing on the benefits without protecting the individuals who provide their patronage.
The Breach Caused Your Injuries
Often seen as the most challenging step in suing for negligent security, a requirement exists for you to prove that the property owner’s negligence was a substantial factor in causing your injuries. This can be complicated because you must argue that the crime would not have occurred if there had been adequate security. You must establish a clear connection between the property owner’s lack of adequate protection and the crime enacted on you.
Additionally, you can argue that the owner should have seen the crime that you experienced as a foreseeable consequence of their failure to provide security measures. Although proving these elements can be complex, it is possible and essential.
You Suffered Damages
After proving causation, it is vital to detail the damages incurred because of the crime. Possible damages in Los Angeles can include various elements like medical expenses from injury treatments, lost wages after missing work, physical and emotional pain and suffering, property damage, or loss of consortium.
An Analysis of Your Case
Our team can thoroughly investigate to find evidence that strengthens your case. This may include:
- Camera footage. Security cameras are essential in matters of negligent security. Therefore, we can request that the property owner or law enforcement give us the footage showing the event. This is crucial when we discover that there were no safety measures in place at the time of the event. Occasionally, footage can include video from businesses next door or public transportation vehicles.
- Securing police reports and witness statements. Records prepared by police officers can outline what happened at a crime scene, along with witness accounts and observations. These findings can be helpful because they provide firsthand information about what happened. This information can give insight into how secure the premises were before and during your incident.
- Gathering maintenance records. It is possible that maintenance records can reveal whether the cameras or other devices were maintained by their owners. For this reason, we can find these records and extract details about service delays and instances of ignored repairs.
Negligent Security Lawyer FAQs
Q: What Is the Negligent Security Law in California?
A: Negligent security law in California deals with criminal conduct committed by a third party on a business owner’s property. In these situations, the law can hold the business owner liable for the crimes committed by other people when they fail to use reasonable care to protect people from criminal conduct or anticipate that criminal acts are possible.
Q: What Are the Damages for Negligence in California?
A: If you can prove that negligent security caused your injuries, the damages you can seek can include economic and noneconomic damages. In some cases, punitive damages may also apply. Economic damages include lost wages, medical expenses, and property damage. Noneconomic damages are intangible costs, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Punitive damages exist to punish the offender and incentivize them against similar acts in the future.
Q: What Constitutes Negligence in California?
A: In negligent security cases, negligence exists if property owners:
- Lack of appropriately trained security personnel.
- Fail to provide adequate security to prohibit foreseeable risks.
- Do not maintain or fix existing safety measures.
- Ignore prior incidents of crime that could prompt security improvements.
If you are unsure whether your case involved negligence, consulting a personal injury attorney can clarify the situation.
Q: Can You Get Punitive Damages for Negligence in California?
A: In some cases, you can get punitive damages for negligence in California. Courts award punitive damages to punish property owners for egregious conduct and deter similar behavior in the future. However, the standard for reaching punitive damages is high. Having an attorney assess your case and determine if punitive damages are possible is necessary when dealing with a negligent security case. We can investigate your case and gather evidence to advocate for punitive damages.
Help After a Negligent Security Incident in Los Angeles
We recognize how difficult it is for our clients who bear financial and physical hardships. Our consultation is available on request. You can open up about your case and get advice on how to move forward. In our discussion, you can tell us your story, ask us questions, and we can take you through the entire legal process in detail. Do not wait to be given justice. Contact Easton & Easton, LLP, and schedule a consultation with our firm.
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Easton & Easton was recently honored for securing a $32,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 20 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2024 by TopVerdict.com.
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We were recently honored for securing a $26,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as a the #1 Personal Injury Settlement in Los Angeles County in 2023 by TopVerdict.com.
Brian Easton was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2015. ABOTA is one of the most premier associations of trial attorneys and judges, requiring a proven track record of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board. Membership isn't given — it's earned in the courtroom.
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Easton & Easton was honored for securing a $20,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2019 by TopVerdict.com.
Both Doug and Matt Easton have been selected as Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Avvo with scores of 10 out of 10 — based on skill, experience, results, peer evaluations, and client reviews. A perfect score. No room for higher.
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