Yes. People who are injured due to negligent security may have grounds for a premises liability claim. Examples of negligent security include lack of security personnel, inadequately trained security personnel, insufficient lighting, and lack of security cameras or alarms.
To win a negligent security claim, you’ll have to prove that the circumstances leading to your injury were foreseeable yet the property owner didn’t take reasonable steps to prevent it. You’ll also have to demonstrate that the security measures required to prevent the injury wouldn’t have been unreasonably burdensome to the property owner.
Many factors are considered when determining whether the circumstances that led to an injury were reasonably foreseeable. Examples include how frequently criminal activity is reported in the area, whether the area has seen a recent increase in criminal activity, whether similar criminal activity has taken place on the same premises, and whether the property owner was aware of risk factors such as a disgruntled employee or customer.
There are different security standards for different types of property. For example, a business in a low-crime area might not have a duty to implement the stringent security measures that would be required for a business in a high-crime area. Because there are so many nuances that apply to these cases, it’s wise to seek legal counsel from an experienced premises liability attorney if you intend to bring a negligent security claim.
