If you were the victim of a crime because another person or business’s property lacked security, call a Florida negligent security lawyer at Gerson & Schwartz P.A. as soon as possible. Under Florida, property owners typically have to maintain reasonably safe premises. The only time owners can ignore someone else’s safety on their properties is in regard to trespassers. But if you are a social guest, paying customer, tenant or tenant’s guest, you should be confident of your safety on the property.
When your safety is disregarded and the property owner fails to maintain appropriate security measures, and this causes you to be harmed during a crime, our negligent security attorneys in Florida can help you pursue compensation through a premises liability lawsuit.
To discuss Florida premises liability law and your rights after becoming a crime victim, contact us at (877) 475-2905 or submit your information through our online form. We offer free consultations.
Florida Premises Liability LawIn Florida, property owners owe their guests and customers a duty of care. The specific duty of care depends on the type of visitor.
Business guests, also known as invitees, are entitled to the highest duty of care. Property owners must keep their properties in safe repair for invitees. This means routinely inspecting the property for defects and hazards, repairing anything the owner finds, or providing warning to customers regarding the danger. Because of this high standard, property owners can be held responsible for hazards they knew and should have known about that caused invitees harm.
In regard to security against crime, property owners owe business customers the highest standard of safety. If you were injured during a crime on a business’s property, such as at a bar, nightclub, or restaurant, or bank, contact our Florida negligent security attorneys right away.
Social guests, also known as licensees, are owed the second highest duty of care. Property owners are responsible for maintaining reasonably safe premises for their social guests. Owners should repair found dangers or warn guests about them. However, owners cannot be held responsible for hazards they were actually unaware of that caused a licensee harm.
For social guests who face risks of crime, property owners may be required to install and maintain security measures to protect against crimes they are aware have gone on in the neighborhood such as muggings. If you were harmed during a crime on another individual’s property, and you were there visiting as a friend or relative, call us to speak with a negligent security lawyer in Florida. We will carefully review the property owner’s duty to provide security.
Trespassers are granted the lowest duty of care. Property owners only have to refrain from intentionally or recklessly harming someone who is on their property without permission.
What is Negligent Security?Whether or not a property owner is required to install and maintain security measures depends on numerous factors. First, is the owner attempting to protect business guests or social guests? Business customers and clients are entitled to a higher duty of care, which means businesses have a greater responsible to maintain security measures to prevent crimes that occur in the area surrounding their premises.
Another factor is the rate of crime in the area. Is the property in a high- or low-crime area? The higher the crime rate, the greater the property owner’s duty to protect invitees, and in some cases, licensees.
What types of crimes are most frequently committed in the area? Property owners who are responsible for maintaining a safe space for their customers and clients need to be aware of the most common offenses perpetrated on and around their property. This may be violent offenses like assault and battery, robbery, or sexual assault. Property offenses may be more common, including vandalism.
Depending on the type and rate of crimes in the area, property owners need to determine the most appropriate security measures to keep their guests, clients, and customers safe.
Security measures may include:
Negligent security claims arise when property owners fail to maintain appropriate security measures in relation to the type and rate of crime in their area, which increases the risk of a guest or customer being injured during a crime.
Bringing a Negligent Security ClaimIf you were the victim of a crime on another person or business’s property, call our Florida negligent security attorneys today. We will carefully analyze the circumstances, including duty of care the property owner owed you, the crime rates in the area, and any security measures the owner had in place.
When it appears the property owner failed to have the appropriate type of level of security to protect you, we may recommend filing a premises liability claim and pursuing compensation.
We will work tirelessly to prove:
After becoming the victim of a violent or sexual crime on someone else’s property, a negligent security lawyer in Florida can help you hold the perpetrator responsible. Waiting for a prosecutor to file charges and for the offender to be convicted is not your only option. A bilingual attorney from Gerson & Schwartz P.A. can represent you in a civil claim for compensation. To learn more, call us at (305) 371-7000 or email us at info@gslawusa.com.