Negligent / Inadequate Security

Fighting for Victims When Insufficient Security Allowed Their Attacks

When you are a guest at a hotel, in your apartment building, in a shopping mall or in your office building, worrying about your personal safety should not have to be one of your primary concerns. Unfortunately, there are an alarming number of assault victims whose attacks happen in these very places.

Property owners and their management companies carry the responsibility of ensuring the safety of all tenants and guests without exception. When they fail in that responsibility, victims have the right to seek damages. If you or a loved one was the victim of an attack that could have been prevented if the property owner had provided adequate security, you should speak to a reliable Maryland and DC assault lawyer who represents victims in these matters.

Helping You Through a Difficult Situation

At the Law Office of Kim Parker, P.A.,in Maryland, we understand how upsetting it can be to work through complex legal issues after being the victim of a violent attack. When you hire our firm, we will work with you to learn as much as we can about the attack and the circumstances surrounding it. We will handle the negotiations for you and work to resolve the matter without exposing you to a long and painful legal battle.

We have a well-earned reputation as dedicated client advocates. If the other side is not willing to work with us to reach a reasonable settlement, we are prepared to do whatever it takes to secure the compensation you deserve. In addition, we hope that the work we do for our clients will serve as a catalyst for change in the way property owners handle their security so that future victimization can be avoided.

NIGHTCLUB BOUNCER/SECURITY ABUSE

Bars, nightclubs, lounges, and pubs can be a lot of fun but they are also commonly the location of serious injuries. A customer can be hurt by another patron, or assaulted by security. The victim may suffer serious injuries and may have the right to file a nightclub injury premises liability lawsuit.

Legal Rights of Assaulted and Injured Nightclub or Bar Patrons

A customer who has been assaulted by security guards or beaten by other customers may be able to file a nightclub injury premises liability case against the person(s) who caused the injury and the bar or nightclub owner. Security guards and bouncers do not have the right to physically restrain you or to use force against you. The job simply allows them to request that you leave the premises and to call the police if a problem arises.

Often, the security guard or bar patron does not have the money to pay for a victim’s injuries. The law permits a victim to sue and collect damages from the bar or nightclub establishment if an employee was acting within the scope of his employment when the injury occurred or if the owner’s negligence allowed the injury to take place.

Liability of a Bar or Nightclub Owner

If someone has been hurt in your bar or nightclub then you may face a lawsuit. Generally, you will be able to successfully defend yourself if:

• You acted with reasonable care to avoid injuries between patrons. For example, if you refused to serve alcohol to an obviously intoxicated patron and contacted the police at the first signs of violence then you may be able to prove that you were not negligent in your responsibilities to your patrons; or
• Your employee acted willfully and outside of the scope of his employment. In other words, the employee’s actions were not sanctioned nor condoned by you.

Unsafe Apartments

Apartment complexes have many residents, most of whom reside there only a short time. Often people move into an apartment without knowing whether there is a history of crime at the complex, and some apartment owners in fact hide such histories from residents – or just lie about them.

Common instances of crime that occur in complexes include:

• Automobile break-ins
• Burglaries
• Petty theft of plants, bicycles, or miscellaneous items
• and, unfortunately, violent crimes like assault, rape and murder.

Criminals who prey on apartment dwellers take advantage of poor security at these complexes. A burned-out light bulb can turn a breezeway or stairwell into a perfect haven for a criminal; dark parking lots and unfenced areas can aid both the entry and escape of criminals. Inadequate locks on doors and windows can let criminals into your residence, and leave little or no trace of evidence for the police.

How a Lawyer Can Help You

Whether you are filing or defending a nightclub or bar premises liability lawsuit, it is important to retain experienced counsel who can protect all of your rights and zealously advocate for you in settlement negotiations or at trial.

Contact our office today to discuss your assault claim and learn more about what we can do to help you. You can reach us by phone at 410-234-2621.