Negligent Security and Hiring

Practice Description

In certain circumstances, a property owner may be liable for an injury that occurs to someone while that person is on their premises. For example, if the property owner was aware of criminal activity on their premises, but failed to warn guests or provide additional security, the proprietor may be liable for attacks that occur on their property.

If you have been injured while on someone else’s property, get in contact with the law offices of Andersen, Tate & Carr. We will use our over 30 years of experience in personal injury lawsuits to ensure that you get the financial compensation you deserve. No one should have to experience financial or emotional suffering because of an injury they sustain on someone else’s property, especially if this injury could have been avoided by the proprietor following safe building and hiring practices.

Speak with an experienced security negligence lawyer in Atlanta during a free consultation to find out more about your legal rights and your best options for pursuing a potential case. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation now when you call 770-237-9860 or contact us online using our convenient form.

Where Negligent Hiring & Security Injuries Occur in Atlanta

Whenever you set foot onto a property or premises owned by someone else, your well-being can become their responsibility. Therefore, injuries caused by negligent hiring and security practices can happen in a large variety of places. The following list highlights some of the most common areas and incidences where negligent hiring and security results in a person’s safety being at risk.

• Parking garage assaults
• Shopping mall abductions
• Acts of violence in post offices
• School shootings
• Slips and falls in parking lots
• Break-ins at apartment complexes

All of these instances may partially or wholly be the legal responsibility of whoever is in charge of the facilities, including owners, managers, government entities, security forces or other responsible parties.

Additionally, if the perpetrator is an “insider” who has been given access to the property (e.g. given the master keys) without a proper criminal background investigation, the employer of that insider may be held responsible for violent acts perpetrated by their employee.

What to do After a Negligent Hiring & Security Injury

If you or your loved one has been injured or killed on someone else’s property in Atlanta — public or private — seek legal advice as soon as possible to get the compensation you deserve.

Avoid discussing the case with anyone. Keep all of your medical bills and receipts for associated costs, such as prescriptions or parking. Follow all doctor’s orders for treatment, including missing work to recover if need be. When speaking with property owners, managers, or others, do not admit that you could have acted in such a way as to reduce your own personal risk, since these statements can be used to deflect liability onto you.

Contact a trusted security negligence lawyer in Atlanta at your earliest opportunity. Negligent hiring or negligent security may be the key factor that led to the injury or death. The earlier an experienced lawyer is on the case, the more likely valuable evidence will be identified and preserved and your claim or lawsuit for compensation will be strengthened.

Factors That Build a Strong Negligent Security Case

Property owners, managers, and security providers are not responsible for every injury that occurs on their premises. However, they could be held responsible for injuries that a “reasonable person” exercising “ordinary care” could have prevented.

The biggest reason for a “reasonable person” to anticipate and try to prevent an incident is because similar incidents had happened on the property before. Evidence of prior crimes happening on the premises, therefore, provides a component for building a strong case. This case would argue that the incident could have been prevented had those responsible exercised greater care in light of previous incidents.

A lack of due diligence can also supply a strong argument that the owner, manager, or security provider could have prevented the incident had they exercised greater care. Employers are required to make sound hiring decisions. They must seek qualified candidates and investigate their criminal backgrounds, especially if these employees are tasked with protecting tenants or visitors of the property.

Both types of mistakes refer to a lapse in the defendant’s “duty of care.” This lapse must directly have led to the incident, which directly caused an injury to the plaintiff, who must have sustained damages that can be reclaimed through the court or insurance system. These four components — a duty to keep someone safe, a breach in that duty, an injury, and damages — form the basis of every negligence case.

What Businesses Can Do to Prevent Crime on their Property

Not every crime can be prevented, but business owners, property managers, and security providers must learn the hard lessons from crimes that have affected similar businesses and property types in the past.

Common methods of discouraging and preventing crime include:

• Providing ample light throughout the property
• Hiring trained security personnel with no relevant prior convictions
• Monitoring the premises through patrols and cameras
• Installing sturdy locks on important access points
• Installing fencing to encourage entry at a controlled, monitored point
• Restricting access to keys and important passwords
• Limiting the amount of cash available to thieves using a drop safe or similar system
• Installing alarms or security gates
• Hanging signs that deter crime, such as “This property is monitored,” or, “Registers have less than $50 at all times”

A Successful Result in a Case of Negligent Hiring

On October 26, 2008, Attorney Render C. Freeman won a $3.5 million verdict from a Gwinnett County jury against HTH Building Services, Inc., a commercial cleaning company.

Mr. Freeman and his team represent individuals throughout Georgia and beyond who have been seriously injured as a result of negligent hiring, negligent security, premises liability, medical malpractice, as well as motor vehicle and trucking negligence. Contact Andersen, Tate & Carr by calling 770-237-9860 to schedule a consultation regarding any serious personal injury.

Contact an Experienced Security Negligence Lawyer in Atlanta Today

Andersen, Tate & Carr is equipped with abundant resources and knowledgeable attorneys. If you have been injured due to negligent security or negligent hiring, we will take every step necessary to prepare the strongest possible case for you. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help you.

             

               

                                         

Mikhail Britt, Shumate Mechanical.
  
Our company was owed a substantial amount of money from a property owner who chose not to fully pay the subcontractors that built his project. I believe our company was one of the few that were paid anything near what they were owed, and I attribute that success entirely to Don.

Ross K.
  
The first lawyer I met with said my case was worth $3,000 – $6,000. I met with Tyler next, and he eventually recovered $100,000 for my case. Tyler did an outstanding job.

Melinda C.
  
Tyler represented me after I was injured in a car wreck. Although there wasn’t much damage to my vehicle, my shoulder was hurt and required surgery. I was happy that Tyler recovered a six-figure sum for me.