Negligent Security

Las Vegas Negligent Security Lawyer

Gina Corena and Associates - Corena Law
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Have you suffered serious injuries due to inadequate safety measures on someone else’s property? When your life has been adversely affected by the liable party’s negligence, you can take action to hold them accountable. In doing so, you could recover full and fair restitution for your suffering. 

But premises liability cases of this nature can often be complex. Make sure you have an experienced Las Vegas negligent security lawyer at Gina Corena & Associates to help you fight for the justice you deserve. Contact our office today at (702) 680-1111 for a free case evaluation.

What is Negligent Security?

The term ‘negligent security’ refers to the safety measures a property owner must take in order to ensure that their premises are not dangerous for their invited guests and patrons. Failure to uphold this duty of care is tantamount to negligent security. Some of the more common types of negligent security include:

  • Doors that cannot be locked
  • Failure to replace door locks
  • Lack of security cameras
  • Failure to replace security cameras
  • Failure to install adequate lightning
  • Failure to repair lighting 
  • Broken gating or fences
  • Failure to retain security guards
  • Inadequate hiring of security guards
  • ​Improperly trained security personnel
  • ​Inadequate security
  • Failure to obtain an alarm system
  • Failure to make repairs to a broken alarm system

Unfortunately, many victims of negligent security accidents are unaware of the fact that they have grounds for a claim. But when you are injured on someone else’s property due to a lack of adequate safety measures, you may have the right to financial compensation. A negligent security attorney in Las Vegas can help you explore your options for financial recovery.

Dangers of Negligent Security in Las Vegas

When a property does not have adequate security measures in place, the risk of injury to visitors is significantly higher. There are many different risks that come with negligent security in Las Vegas. Some of the more common types of incidents and encounters our clients have endured due to negligent security include:

  • Bystander Injuries
  • Rape
  • Attempted sexual assault
  • Assault
  • Overzealous security guards
  • Mugging
  • Armed robbery
  • Shootings
  • Other unprovoked violent attacks
  • Physical altercations
  • Harassment
  • Abduction
  • Manslaughter
  • Murder
  • Other criminal acts

When businesses and homes alike take steps to increase their active security features, they can reduce the likelihood that criminals will carry out unlawful acts on their property. For this reason, if you suffer Injuries in an attack or incident due to negligent security, you may have the right to hold the property owner accountable.

Where Do Instances of Negligent Security Happen in Las Vegas?

Property owners across Las Vegas owe a duty of care to their visitors and guests. Specific types of establishments are required to take extra security measures in order to properly protect their guests. This is especially true for businesses and properties that are located in areas that have high crime rates, a robust nightlife, or frequently contain large crowds.

With that being said, The injuries that victims sustain due to negligence security often occur at similar types of properties, such as:

  • Bars – Bars can be a particularly risky establishment. This is, in part, because of the fact that they are especially busy at night. That, coupled with the presence of intoxicated guests makes bars one of the most common places for negligent security accidents to occur.
  • Nightclubs – Night club owners have a responsibility to employ adequate security guards, and take other steps to protect their patrons from criminal activity and intoxicated individuals.
  • Apartment buildings – Apartment communities have been known to be dangerous when robbers, thieves, and other criminals target apartment residents entering and exiting their homes. 
  • Health clubs – Health clubs have been known to report incidents of theft when guests leave their items in storage lockers. But there are also a considerable number of reports of assault and sexual assault in health clubs and health club facilities.
  • Sports venues – Many sports venues can become hotspots for negligent security due to the high emotions that come with sporting events and the amount of alcohol that sounds consumed while enjoying the game.
  • Shopping malls – During the holidays and after dark, many criminals will scope out individuals who are shopping at malls and in mall parking lots in order to steal their purchases, mug them, or assault them.
  • Hotel hallways – When hotel hallways appear empty, have poor lighting, or are particularly narrow, they have been known to be regular locations for negligent security assaults and other incidents. 
  • Parking lots – Men and women alike have been accosted while leaving retail stores, restaurants, their jobs, and other establishments and heading to their vehicles in the parking lot.
  • Elevators – Another common location for negligent security attacks are elevators. Elevators in virtually any building need to have appropriate security measures in place in order to deter criminals from their attacks.

These are only a few of the more common places in which negligent security accidents and the tax occur. If you were injured in another location that was not listed above, you may still have the right to financial compensation. You can find out what next steps you should take when you contact our office to discuss the details of your case.

Common Injuries in Negligent Security Accidents

People who are involved in negligent security accidents in Las Vegas can suffer a wide array of injuries. Virtually any type of injury is possible depending on the circumstances and details of your case. With that being said, there are some types of injuries that Las Vegas emergency rooms see surrounding negligent security accidents more often than others. These include:

  • Third-degree burns
  • Bruising from physical violence
  • Broken bones
  • Compound fractures
  • Injuries from being beaten or raped
  • Internal injuries
  • Organ failure
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Loss of limbs
  • Concussion
  • Back injuries
  • Head injuries
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Wrongful death 

Injuries of this nature may require significant medical attention. You may require prescription medication, surgical interventions, physical rehabilitation, and other treatment options depending on the severity of your injuries. 

Do not be surprised if your injuries have a considerable effect on your life for years to come. You can set yourself up to handle whatever may come by successfully pursuing full and fair restitution for your damages in your negligent security claim.

Liability for Las Vegas Negligent Security Injuries

Negligent security claims in Las Vegas can be particularly complex. They are not the same type of case as the criminal charges that the individual who harmed you may be facing. For example, if you were attacked due to negligent security, your attacker may face criminal charges brought forward by the state. You might even have the opportunity to pursue a civil lawsuit against them as part of your personal injury claim.

But your negligence security case is different. Here, you are seeking to hold the property owner where the incident occurred accountable for failure to keep the premises safe. This is possible under Nevada’s premises liability law.

In order to build a powerful case against the negligent property owner, your attorney will need to be able to prove that negligence occurred. In order to prove negligence under the law, four elements must be met as follows:

Your attorney will carefully examine the evidence in your case in order to prove that the property owner owed you a duty of care, that they breached that duty of care and caused you to suffer considerable damages due to their negligent security.

In addition to photographic evidence, video footage, witness statements, and expert testimony, your attorney will work tirelessly in order to show that negligent security was clear. Such evidence might include:

  • Any prior incidents that might have occurred on the property
  • Whether the property owner had reason to believe that guests may be at risk for suffering a crime
  • The property owners level of accountability
  • Any past, current, or ongoing security measures the property owner took
Who Can Be Sued for Negligent Security in Las Vegas?

If you are considering moving forward with your negligent security claim in Las Vegas, you may be wondering who your claim will be filed against. You have an idea that the owner of the property may be at fault for your injuries, but who is that exactly? Some of the parties that are often named as liable in Las Vegas negligent security lawsuits include:

  • Medical facilities
  • Shopping centers and stores
  • Entertainment facilities
  • Bars and nightclubs
  • Their apartment complexes
  • Parking lots, decks, and parking garages
  • Event venues
  • Concert venues
  • Coffee shops and restaurants
  • Schools and college campuses
  • Daycare facilities
  • Office buildings
  • Commercial property
  • Government property

In addition to the owners of these properties and business owners being held accountable, there may be other individuals who share fault for your injuries depending on the details of your case. If you were attacked, your attacker may be named as part of your lawsuit, for example. Or if defective equipment on the property caused your injuries, then that manufacturer might also be partially at fault for the injuries you sustained.

You can find out more about who is at fault for your injuries when you contact your Las Vegas negligent security attorney for more information.

What are Proper Security Measures?

Many property owners know that they may be able to avoid litigation by ensuring that their premises have adequate security measures in place. But many property owners make careless mistakes by failing to take steps to properly secure their property. 

Some of the proper security measures that businesses and establishments should have in place in order to protect their guests and patrons include:

  • Installation of security cameras
  • Hiring security guards
  • ​Adequate lighting 
  • Using flood lights and dark areas
  • Posting signs that notify criminals of surveillance camera use
  • Escorting people to and from parking lots
  • Installing better lighting in parking lots
  • Investing in an alarm system
  • Replacing all the door locks, doors, and windows
  • Putting up barriers, gates, and fences
  • Installing motion sensor security technology

Depending on the type of property, certain security measures may be required by law. But just because a security measure is not necessarily a legal requirement does not mean that the property owner escapes culpability when they choose to skip over these measures. 

Despite the fact that these security measures may not always be required, businesses do still owe their visitors a duty of care. And failure to install proper security measures is grounds for civil action, even if criminal charges do not apply.

When Can Las Vegas Property Owners Escape Culpability?

Although property owners are most often found liable for negligent security injuries, there are instances in which property owners may be able to avoid culpability. For example, if the dangerous hazard in question was considered to be open and obvious, then the victim may not be able to pursue a claim against the property owner. 

In order for hazards to be considered open and obvious, any other reasonable person would have noticed the dangerous conditions immediately. This is known as the open and obvious doctrine.

It is also important to note that in the vast majority of cases, property owners are only responsible for their invited guests and patrons. This means that individuals who are committing a crime or trespassing on their property at the time of their injuries may not be entitled to financial compensation. Of course, there are situations in which property owners may still be liable for trespassers damages. But in most cases, this is not likely.

If you have concerns surrounding property owner liability and who else could share blame for your injuries, be sure to reach out to your Las Vegas negligent security attorney to discuss your case further.

Damages to Recover for Negligent Security Injuries in Las Vegas

Injuries occurring from negligent security can often be traumatizing. This is partially because of the fact that many negligent security cases are brought on by physically violent crime and attacks. If you are a victim of a crime, in addition  to dealing with the physical damage of your injuries, you may also have substantial psychological trauma relating to what you went through.

Thankfully, Nevada law recognizes your turmoil and allows victims of negligent security and other personal injuries to be made whole by pursuing civil action against the liable party. This means that you should be repaid for every single loss you suffered from the time you were injured and into the future.

What damages can you recover in a Las Vegas Negligent Security Lawsuit?

In order to ensure that every loss is accounted for, your attorney will likely break up your damages into two separate categories known as economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages encompass all of your financial losses whereas non-economic damages have affected your life in general. 

Although economic damages have a fixed monetary value and are therefore easier to quantify, non-economic damages can often have a traumatic impact on victim’s lives. For this reason, non-economic damages should be valued accordingly. Some of the various economic and non-economic damages that you could recover as part of your negligent security claim in Las Vegas include:

  • Property damage
  • Emotional distress
  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Loss of love and companionship
  • Loss of guidance and society
  • Loss of support and advice
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of future potential earnings
  • Medical bills and other medical costs
  • Inconvenience
  • Damage to your reputation
  • Disfigurement and Scarring
  • Loss of household services

Negligent security cases, it is possible that you could also be awarded punitive damages. These are often awarded in cases where the actions of the liable party were egregious in some way. The Las Vegas civil court system may want to punish the liable party beyond your compensatory damages. 

By imposing punitive damages, your award may be dramatically increased, and the court will have sent a message to the public that the court system has a zero tolerance policy for actions like those of the defendant.

How can you get the most out of your negligent security claim?

In order to get the most out of your case, you may need to be prepared to seek compensation in multiple ways. For many negligent security cases, you will be able to file a claim with the insurance company. Here, you may be able to recover certain types of economic damages. 

However, insurance companies often push back when a victim files a claim. Insurers are also only required to pay out up to the maximum limits of the policyholder’s claim. If your losses are greater than that, the insurance company is still only required to cover the greatest limit.

Thankfully, insurance claims are not the only way to recover compensation for negligent security injuries. Anything you cannot recover from the insurance company you may seek in your civil lawsuit against the property owner and any other parties who share blame for your injuries. 

Your injury lawyers will do everything possible to secure an injury settlement that meets your needs. However, we will also be prepared to bring your case to trial if it is in your best interest to do so.

Meet With a Las Vegas Negligent Security Attorney for a Free Consultation Today

Negligent security is irresponsible and should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. With help from a dedicated Las Vegas negligent security lawyer at Gina Corena & Associates, you could build a powerful case against the liable party. 

For practical and reliable Las Vegas car accident advice, look no further than our experienced and knowledgeable attorneys.

Our law firm proudly offers free consultations to victims of negligent security across Las Vegas and surrounding cities. Take advantage of this opportunity when you give our office a call at (702) 680-1111 or fill out our convenient contact form.

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