Atlanta Negligent Security Lawyer

Negligent Security Attorney in Atlanta, GA

When you visit any business in Atlanta, stay in a hotel, or rent an apartment, you have a reasonable expectation for the property to be safe and for the property owner to maintain reasonable security measures. Unfortunately, negligent security is a more common and more dangerous issue than many people realize. An Atlanta negligent security lawyer can help if you have been injured due to a property owner’s negligence.

Experienced Legal Counsel for Negligent Security Claims in Atlanta, GA

The attorneys at Hall & Lampros, LLP have more than 60 combined years of experience handling a wide range of personal injury cases for clients throughout Georgia. Negligent security claims fall within the purview of premises liability laws, which pertain to property owners’ responsibilities to ensure the safety of lawful guests and visitors. 

While premises liability cases often involve slip-and-fall accidents and other incidents arising from poor property maintenance or failure to warn lawful visitors of known safety hazards, negligent security cases typically involve a victim of a criminal act that occurred on private property and could have been prevented with appropriate security measures.

Understanding Negligent Security Claims in Georgia 

In 2012, a Georgia resident met a man in an Atlanta CVS parking lot to sell an iPad, but the encounter turned to violence when the alleged buyer threatened the seller with a firearm. This led to the seller suffering multiple gunshot wounds, and in 2019, a Fulton County jury awarded him a verdict of $45 million from CVS on the grounds that the location had seen criminal activity in the past, so the possibility of future incidents was a “reasonably foreseeable” risk they failed to prevent. 

This is just one example of how negligent security claims can arise. When a person suffers a violent attack, sexual assault, robbery, or any other criminal act while on private property, they may have grounds to pursue a negligent security case against the property owner under certain conditions. For example, if there was a history of similar incidents on the property or if the security measures in the area were inadequate, these could form grounds for a claim. 

In 2021, Central Insurance Agency reported findings regarding ten years’ worth of negligent security claims nationwide: 

• Apartment building owners and operating companies paid an average of $1.5 million in damages from jury awards and an average of $1.7 million in private settlements.
  
• Retail stores paid an average of $1.7 million in jury awards and $1.2 million in private settlements.
  
• Hotels paid an average of $1 million in jury awards and $632,000 in private settlements. 

These are just a few examples of the results seen from negligent security cases nationwide. Some of the most commonly cited examples of negligent security in these cases include: 

• Poorly trained security guards and other staff responsible for the physical security of a property. 
• Failure to install and/or maintain security cameras. 
• Broken door locking mechanisms and unsecured entryways. 
• Poor lighting in areas of a property where criminals could easily hide. 
• Failure to address known security risks discovered from previous incidents. 

If you believe that a property owner in Atlanta is responsible for the harm you recently suffered, an experienced Atlanta negligent security lawyer can help you gather and preserve the evidence you need to prove that the property owner is responsible for the incident you experienced. The actual perpetrator may also be liable for civil damages, and your attorney can explain what to expect in this type of personal injury case. 

Claiming Compensation for Negligent Security in Atlanta 

The main objective of any personal injury case is for the injured plaintiff to secure the compensation they need to recover as fully as possible from the injury they suffered because of the defendant’s negligence. Once you have proven that the property owner knew of a foreseeable danger but failed to act, your Atlanta negligent security lawyer can help you claim compensation for the damages you suffered.

The plaintiff in a personal injury case in Georgia may claim compensation for any economic losses they suffered because of the defendant’s negligence. In negligent security cases, economic damages typically include medical expenses, long-term medical treatment costs for severe injuries, lost wages, and lost future income, if the plaintiff is unable to return to work in the future because of a permanent disability.

Additionally, a personal injury plaintiff has the right to claim compensation for the pain and suffering they experienced. Pain and suffering compensation is generally awarded based on the severity of the plaintiff’s injury and their anticipated recovery time. Your Atlanta negligent security lawyer can determine a suitable amount that reflects the scope and severity of the harm you suffered. 

In some negligent security cases, defendants are required to pay punitive damages at the court’s discretion. Punitive damages could be awarded to a plaintiff if the facts of the case show that the defendant was egregiously negligent, failed to address known security risks on their property, or otherwise exceeded the scope of typical negligence. Your Atlanta negligent security lawyer can explain any such factors in your case. 

What to Expect From Your Atlanta Negligent Security Lawyer

Negligent security cases are inherently complex in several ways. You need to hire a negligent security lawyer who can gather the evidence needed to prove that a defendant’s negligence contributed to the incident that resulted in your damages, and you must also prove the full extent of those damages. 

Many negligent security cases are resolved in pretrial settlement negotiations. Most defendants, especially large corporations, prefer to resolve these claims as quickly and as quietly as possible, so your Atlanta negligent security attorney may be able to negotiate a settlement with the defendant. However, if this is not viable for any reason, you will need to prepare for litigation. Generally, settlement can resolve a case far more quickly than litigation. 

Ultimately, a negligent security case could involve substantial damages and raise very difficult legal questions that the average person will not be able to answer on their own. When you hire a negligent security lawyer at Hall & Lampros, LLP to represent you, you are more likely to succeed with your case and more likely to recover appropriate compensation within a reasonable timeframe. 

You have a short time to build a negligent security case in Atlanta. The attorneys at Hall & Lampros, LLP are confident we can provide unmatched representation in this difficult case, so reach out to our firm at your first opportunity to learn more about the legal services we offer. 

FAQs

What Are the Elements of Negligent Security? 

The elements of negligent security that you will need to prove in your case are that the defendant had a duty of care, breached that duty in some way, and that you suffered actual harm because of this breach. You must then show the full extent of the damages you suffered because of their negligence. Hire a negligent security lawyer as soon as possible so they can begin gathering the evidence you need to prove liability. 

What Is the Value of a Negligent Security Claim in Atlanta? 

The value of a negligent security claim in Atlanta depends on the severity of the plaintiff’s injuries and other details of the case. An experienced Atlanta negligent security attorney can accurately calculate the total economic damages you are eligible to claim, and they can also determine suitable pain and suffering compensation to include in the claim. You are more likely to secure appropriate compensation if you hire a negligent security lawyer to represent you. 

How Long Does it Take to Resolve a Negligent Security Case in Atlanta?

The time required to resolve a negligent security case in Atlanta depends on several factors. If you hire a negligent security lawyer to represent you, they can gather crucial evidence right away, accurately determine your total claimable damages, and guide you through your case proceedings efficiently. Most of these cases end with pretrial settlements, but some must be resolved in litigation, which takes much longer than settlement negotiation. 

Why Should I Hire a Negligent Security Lawyer in Atlanta? 

You should hire a negligent security lawyer in Atlanta because this type of case is likely to be far more challenging than it initially appears. You could encounter disputed liability or have trouble accurately calculating all of the damages you are eligible to claim. Ultimately, you are more likely to succeed with your case and more likely to reach a favorable outcome if you hire an experienced Atlanta negligent security attorney to represent you.

What Does it Cost to Hire a Negligent Security Lawyer in Atlanta? 

The cost to hire a negligent security lawyer in Atlanta depends on the lawyer’s billing policy. When you choose Hall & Lampros, LLP to represent you, our firm accepts your personal injury case on a contingency fee basis. There is no upfront cost to hire our firm, and we only charge a percentage of your total recovery as our fee when we secure compensation for you. If there is no recovery, you pay no fee. 

The team at Hall & Lampros, LLP has helped many clients in Atlanta and throughout Georgia with their premises liability cases, including many negligent security claims. You have a limited time to build and file this type of case, so you need legal counsel you can trust on your side as soon as possible. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with an experienced Atlanta negligent security lawyer.