Negligent Security

Owning a business has many benefits, but it comes with significant responsibilities as well. Specifically, business owners have a duty to ensure they provide a safe environment for their customers and clients, which in some instances includes making sure their premises is secure. When business owners abandon their obligations to provide adequate security, criminal activity is likely to occur, causing innocent people significant harm. If you suffered injuries due to inadequate security at a business or building in Pensacola, you might be owed damages from the party that owns the property, and it is smart to consult an attorney. At Cardoso Law, PLLC, our assertive Florida lawyers can evaluate the facts surrounding your harm and inform you of your options for pursuing compensation. Our office is located in Pensacola, and we are available to represent people negligent security cases in cities throughout Florida.

People who own properties or businesses that are open to paying customers or the general public have an obligation to make sure the premises are safe, which may include implementing security measures depending on the nature of their business. For example, they may need to employ door attendants to ensure that no trespassers enter their properties. In some circumstances, a property owner may need to hire security companies or bouncers to prevent criminal activity. Other security measures may include installing surveillance cameras, and ensuring that parking lots, hallways, and other common areas are well lit. If a property owner neglects to ensure a property has adequate security, it may increase the chance that crimes will occur there, especially in high crime areas. Crimes that often occur at businesses with negligent security include rape, assault, burglary, and robbery.

People that sustain injuries in an environment with negligent security may be able to recover compensation in a premises liability lawsuit. A plaintiff seeking compensation for harm caused by negligent security must first prove that the defendant had a duty to provide security measures. This generally requires the plaintiff to prove that the defendant either knew or reasonably should have known of the risks presented by a lack of adequate security, namely that crimes that caused bodily injuries were likely to occur. Then the plaintiff has to demonstrate that the defendant failed to uphold its duties by neglecting to employ sufficient security measures. Finally, the plaintiff has to show that the defendant’s breach caused the plaintiff’s harm. While the breach does not have to be the sole cause of the injuries suffered, the plaintiff must show that it was a substantial factor in bringing them about.

In many negligent security cases, the plaintiffs will allege that more than one party bears responsibility for their harm. For example, the person who committed the unlawful act, the business owner, and a security company hired by the business may all be named as defendants. In cases where multiple parties may be liable for a plaintiff’s harm, Florida law provides that judgment will be entered against each party based on its percentage of fault. In some instances, one or more defendants may attempt to deflect blame to the plaintiff to avoid having to pay damages. Under Florida’s pure comparative negligence law, though, even if a plaintiff contributed in some way to his or her harm, it will merely diminish, not bar, the damages awarded.

Business owners must protect their customers from known dangers, which in some instances requires them to institute security measures. If you were hurt due to a business’s negligent security, you might be owed damages, and it is in your best interest to consult an attorney. The Pensacola lawyers of Cardoso Law, PLLC, are skilled at proving careless business owners should be held accountable for the losses they cause, and if we represent you, we will zealously advocate on your behalf. We have an office in Pensacola, and we frequently represent parties in premises liability claims in Pensacola, Ferry Pass, Brent, Cantonment, Bellview, Century, Milton, Navarre, Gulf Breeze, West Pensacola, Jay, Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, and Niceville. We also assist injured parties in cases in cities throughout Florida, including many in Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa Counties. You can reach us via the form online or at (850) 466-2073 to set up a conference.