Dallas Negligent Security Lawyer
Crime can happen virtually anywhere, and property owners have a duty to take adequate security measures against unreasonable, foreseeable risks to lawful visitors. If you visit a mall, apartment complex, nightclub, or other property with poor security and suffer injuries due to a crime, you may be able to file an inadequate security lawsuit against the responsible party.
Proving that a security company, business, or property owner should have foreseen a risk and taken better security measures can be challenging. A Dallas negligent security lawyer at Shamieh Law can thoroughly investigate the details of your case, research past crimes in that area, and assess the adequacy of security measures in place to determine who is liable for the harm you’ve suffered.
Our negligent security attorneys serve the city of Dallas from our conveniently located office near Love Field Airport. Contact us today to get started with a free, confidential case review.
Why Choose the Dallas Negligent Security Lawyers at Shamieh Law?
At Shamieh Law, we’ve built our legal practice around a philosophy of “Winning With Awareness.” This means we vigorously defend the right of our clients to full and fair compensation when they are injured at little to no fault of their own.
In doing so, we treat them and everyone else involved in the legal process with the dignity and respect they deserve. By maintaining this standard, we build and strengthen professional relationships that place our clients in the best position to enforce their legal right to compensation.
We believe our consistent, holistic approach, combined with our in-depth legal expertise, experience, communication skills, and strong work ethic, sets us apart from many other firms. Our award-winning team of attorneys has been recognized by numerous publications and organizations, including The National Trial Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
We strive to understand the unique challenges faced by our clients. When they are injured due to criminal activity, we proudly and vigorously defend their right to compensation in settlement negotiations and in court. At Shamieh Law, our negligent security lawyers are immensely proud of their work on behalf of injury victims. Whether helping them get medical attention or handling their case before a judge and jury, our top-tier team stands by their side.
Excellent Case Results and Glowing Client Testimonials
As counselors at law, the inadequate security attorneys at Shamieh Law provide compassionate guidance to clients and their families as they navigate the complexities of the legal system. We work hard to secure the compensation our clients deserve, as well as a sense of justice and accountability from the at-fault party.
Our strong track record of successful case results reflects our dedication and the high quality of our services. For example, our team secured $5 million for the family of an employee at a dollar store who was murdered during a robbery. Before the robbery took place, the responsible company ignored pleas for better security. This kind of disregard is unacceptable.
When considering whether to work with our firm, we think our client testimonials will help. Time after time, our satisfied clients emphasize our consistent responsiveness to their concerns, passion for our work, tireless dedication, and positive results. No need to take our word for it. Explore our client reviews here.
What Is a Negligent Security Claim?
Negligent security claims typically fall under the legal umbrella of premises liability, a specialized form of personal injury liability. Under Texas law, property owners (e.g., grocers, restaurants, and apartment complex owners) can be on the hook for premises liability when they do not implement adequate security measures to protect lawful visitors to their property. To bring these claims successfully, your attorney must show the party responsible for security should have foreseen the danger.
If you were harmed by criminal activity due to poor security on someone else’s property, and you had the legal right to be present on the property, you can file an inadequate security lawsuit. However, you generally cannot collect damages if you were a trespasser.
How Do You Determine Liability in a Negligent Security Case?
The Texas Supreme Court set liability standards in negligent security cases in Timberwalk Apartments, Partners, Inc. v. Cain. According to the standard articulated in this case, individuals and entities generally do not have a legal responsibility to protect others from crime. However, as with so many things in law, there are exceptions.
Namely, someone who controls a property, such as a management company or business owner, must exercise reasonable care to protect people invited to the property against criminal acts. This standard applies if the property owner knew or should have known of an unreasonable crime risk. The court further clarified what “foreseeability” is by listing four factors:
- Physical proximity of past crimes.
- Frequency and recency of those crimes.
- Similarity of past crimes to the crime in the inadequate security claim under consideration.
- Publicity of past crimes, including reports to the property owner.
To prevail in your inadequate security claim, the lawyer handling your claim will work to substantiate each of these factors in the context of your case. Shamieh Law has the skills and resources needed to investigate your case and gather the necessary evidence.
Causes of Dallas Negligent Security Claims
Of course, whether security lapses are sufficient to sustain a successful claim will vary based on the specific details of each case. A mere lack of lighting, for example, may not be enough to win an inadequate security lawsuit if it did not directly contribute to the crime. On the other hand, failure to install security cameras may be enough.
Our attorneys can conduct a thorough, independent investigation of your case and give you a good idea of how strong your claim for compensation may be. Your attorney will evaluate multiple types of security shortcomings that may create a solid foundation for a claim against the responsible parties, including:
- Lack of response to criminal threats
- Poor lighting
- Lack of surveillance
- Negligent security personnel
- Unmaintained locks on fences, windows, and doors
- Failure to regularly check whether security measures are in working order
You need an attorney well-versed in security negligence to thoroughly evaluate your case and determine whether the property owner should have foreseen the crime that gave rise to your injuries. The legal team at Shamieh Law has the skills, experience, and resources necessary to conduct this kind of investigation.
Case Study: Negligent Security Case at a Nightclub Makes it to the Texas Supreme Court
In 2010, the Texas Supreme Court upheld a $4.8 million verdict against a nightclub in a security lapse that resulted in an assault and serious injuries. Before the assault, there was a 90-minute dispute in the club between clubgoers celebrating a wedding and members of a fraternity. The confrontation included threats, and many of the involved patrons were intoxicated. The altercation soon turned violent, resulting in the plaintiff’s assault.
The victim of the assault filed an inadequate security lawsuit. Though the nightclub claimed it was not liable because this was the first incident of its type on the property, the Supreme Court ruled that the nightclub was liable. Why? Because the 90-minute confrontation gave the club enough time to call security and prevent the assault. In other words, the Court reasoned that there was enough time to create a foreseeable risk.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Negligent Security in Dallas?
Each case is unique, and many involve more than one liable party. Our legal team will investigate all sources of potential liability in your case, including:
- Property management companies
- Business owners
- Property owners
- Security companies
To be successful in a negligent security premises liability case, you must file your lawsuit against the correct party or parties, the most important being the one in charge of security in the space where you were injured. An experienced Dallas negligent security lawyer at Shamieh Law can make sure no potential sources of liability are overlooked.
Damages Available in a Dallas Negligent Security Claim
Victims of crime can face severe injuries, missed time from work, and emotional trauma. If you were the victim of a crime due to a property owner’s poor security measures, you may be entitled to damages for economic and non-economic harm, including:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation costs
- Lost past and future wages
- Lowered future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Further, if your loved one died due to negligent security, you can also file a wrongful death lawsuit in pursuit of various forms of compensation associated with the loss. No matter the circumstances of your case, our legal team is here to support you in your hour of need.
Contact the Dallas Negligent Security Lawyers at Shamieh Law
If you or a loved one were a victim of a crime that could have been prevented if not for negligent security on someone else’s property, do not wait to consult with an attorney. You may be entitled to legal compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress, and more.
Remember, inadequate security claims are complex and can be challenging for plaintiffs to prove. Therefore, working with an attorney well-versed in premises liability and negligent security law is essential.
At Shamieh Law, we have the experience, knowledge, and resources needed to investigate your case, represent you in settlement negotiations, and argue your claim in court. There is no charge to have your claim evaluated by one of our attorneys, and you pay nothing unless we win your case. Contact us today to schedule your free, confidential case review.
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