Inadequate Security Attorney
Miami Negligent Security Attorney
When a property's failure to provide adequate security results in a criminal attack, property owners must answer. Our attorneys fight for crime victims caused by inadequate security at apartments, hotels, parking garages, and commercial establishments.
Featured Result: $1,100,000 — Assault victim in apartment complex parking lot
Results vary. Every case is different.
What To Do After an Attack Due to Inadequate Security
- Call 911 immediately. Report the crime to police and request an ambulance if you have injuries. The police report is essential evidence for your case.
- Seek medical attention. Go to the hospital to treat physical injuries and document emotional trauma. Request a psychological evaluation if you experience anxiety, fear, or insomnia.
- Document the scene and lack of security. Take photos of lighting (or lack thereof), broken or inactive cameras, unlocked doors, damaged fences, and any other security deficiencies.
- Identify witnesses. Talk to neighbors, other residents, or visitors who may have witnessed the incident or have prior complaints about security.
- Preserve electronic evidence. If there are security cameras, footage can be erased quickly. An attorney can send a preservation of evidence letter to the property owner.
- Contact a negligent security attorney. Do not speak with the property's insurance company or sign agreements before consulting with a specialized attorney.
Understanding Negligent Security in Florida
Negligent security is a type of premises liability case where a property owner fails to provide adequate security measures, and as a result, a visitor becomes a victim of a third party's criminal act. Unlike other personal injury cases, the responsible party in a negligent security case is not the criminal but the property owner who failed to take reasonable precautions.
Foreseeability: The Key Element
The most important factor in a negligent security case is foreseeability. To prevail, we must demonstrate that the property owner knew or reasonably should have known that there was a risk of criminal activity on the property. This is established through:
- Crime history on the property and in the surrounding area
- Police reports of prior incidents
- Complaints from residents or visitors about security
- Crime statistics from the Miami-Dade Police Department
- Violations of municipal security codes
High-Risk Properties in South Florida
Certain types of properties in South Florida are particularly susceptible to negligent security claims due to their nature and location:
- Apartment complexes: Broken access gates, lack of hallway and parking lot lighting, defective locks.
- Parking garages: Insufficient lighting, missing cameras, absence of security personnel, unsupervised stairwells.
- Hotels and motels: Rooms with defective locks, unsupervised pool areas, dark parking lots.
- Bars and nightclubs: Lack of trained security staff, over-serving alcohol, absence of metal detectors.
Common Injuries in Negligent Security Cases
How Compensation Is Calculated
Negligent security victims can recover compensation for all damages resulting from the criminal attack:
- Medical expenses: Emergency treatment, surgeries, hospitalization, physical therapy, and psychological treatment.
- Psychological therapy: Treatment for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other emotional disorders caused by the attack.
- Lost wages: Time away from work during physical and emotional recovery.
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for physical and emotional trauma, including fear, insomnia, and changes in quality of life.
- Loss of earning capacity: If the attack results in disability affecting your ability to work.
- Relocation costs: If you need to move from the property for safety.
Why You Need a Negligent Security Attorney
Negligent security cases are extremely complex because they require proving that the crime was foreseeable and that the property owner's lack of security was the cause of your injuries. Property insurers frequently argue that the only responsible party is the criminal, not the property owner.
Our legal team hires private investigators and security experts to analyze the area's criminal history, evaluate the property's security deficiencies, and establish what reasonable measures would have prevented the attack. This expert analysis is essential to winning these cases.
At Get Justice Miami, we charge no fees unless we win your case. We understand the trauma suffered by criminal attack victims and fight aggressively against property owners who prioritize profits over people's safety.
Florida Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations for negligent security cases in Florida is 2 years from the date of the incident. It is crucial to act quickly because key evidence, such as security camera footage, may be erased within weeks. Additionally, witnesses may move or lose memory of events. Contact us immediately to preserve evidence and protect your rights.
Frequently Asked Questions About Negligent Security
A negligent security case arises when a property owner fails to provide adequate security on their property, and as a result, a visitor is attacked, assaulted, robbed, or injured by a criminal act of a third party. The property owner may be liable if the crime was foreseeable and the lack of security contributed to the incident.
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