The law firm of Rafi, Brown, and Stokes has helped crime victims recover more than $15 Million in negligent security cases–these are cases where a person is injured because a business, like an apartment complex, shopping center, gas station, or restaurant failed to provide adequate security to protect their customers and guests.
If you were hurt at an unsafe property, an experienced Atlanta negligent security lawyer from Rafi, Brown and Stokes may be able to recover substantial money for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages.
What Are Negligent Security Basics?
When you are shopping in a store, pumping gas, staying in a hotel, or a paying customer on anyone’s property, you have an expectation that you are safe. In these situations, where you are invited on another’s property, you are considered an “invitee.” In Georgia, landowners and business must use reasonable care to keep the property safe for invitees.
When a business knows of (or should know of) a security threat to its patrons, the business must do something.
The business could:
- Close down until the threat no longer remains
- Warn you about the danger
- Provide reasonably security measures to protect customers who are not informed of the threat
Businesses, though, often choose to do none of these things, and instead stay open, do not warn customers, and do not protect customers—the reason for this is usually because keeping people safe costs the business money.
Negligent security cases are brought by crime victims after being injured on another’s property. An experienced Atlanta negligent security lawyer can determine if a business knew (or should have known) of a security concern, but do not act reasonably to protect their customers, the business can be held responsible.
Negligent Security Cases Can Happen Anywhere
Crime victims cases usually result from shootings, rapes, sexual assaults, and other violent crimes. These crimes can happen anywhere.
The most common locations are:
- Apartment complexes
- Hotels and motels
- Gas stations
- Bars and restaurants
- Shopping centers
- Stores and their parking lots
- Workplaces
- Colleges and other schools
- Malls
How Do Businesses Try To Avoid Responsibility?
Businesses will do all they can to avoid responsibility. Almost always, a business will argue that the crime and injury were not “foreseeable,” which means the business could not reasonably expect the crime would happen on the property and that the victim would be injured. Mike uses his knowledge of similar businesses and the area, his relationship with people in the community, and dedication to completing a thorough investigation to prove businesses who make this argument wrong.
Businesses also routinely claim there was nothing they could do to keep a crime victim safe—that even if they had security measures, the crimes still would have happened. This excuse is unacceptable because most times the business has never even tried to implement any security measures—most likely because they didn’t want to pay for them. When businesses open their doors to and take money from customers, they should spend their money to keep customers safe.
Rafi, Brown, and Stokes have successfully shown in many cases that if businesses actually had security measures in place, then his clients would not have been injured. Speak with a Atlanta negligent security lawyer who knows what businesses will try to say to escape responsibility, and he knows how to prove them wrong. Contact Rafi, Brown, and Stokes if you were injured at a businesses and believe they should have done more to keep you safe.
What Are Examples Of Security Measures?
Businesses that invite customers to their property should have security measures in place, especially when they know of prior crime at their locations.
Some ways that businesses can protect their customers are:
- Warnings
- Well-thought safety polices and procedures that are actually followed
- Sufficient lighting
- Security guards
- Gates and fences
- Controlled access checkpoints and locks on doors and gates
- Video cameras and signage
- Proper background checks on employees and residences
- Peepholes
Call An Atlanta Negligent Security Lawyer Who Can Help Today.
If you or a loved one were the victim of a crime while on someone else’s property, that property owner might be held liable if they did not have adequate security in place.
An Atlanta negligent security lawyer with Rafi, Brown, and Stokes can help you better understand your rights under the law and pursue negligent landowners for damages, which can include medical costs, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering. There is a limited time to file a claim so do not delay.
Rafi, Brown, and Stokes wants to take those worries from you and allow you the time you need to recover without having to fight a legal battle that we can fight for you. Call (404) 882-7218 or contact us to schedule your free consultation today. Compassion and commitment make the difference, and Rafi, Brown, and Stokes offers both when you need it most.
