Negligent Security

When you go to the grocery store, relax in bed in your apartment, or are strolling through the parking lot to your car, you expect to be safe. You assume that the property owner has done their due diligence and has ensured that all guests will be safe from attack or assault. Sadly, not all property owner’s take this responsibility seriously, and some allow their guests to become the victim of negligent security.

If the owner of a business you were shopping at, your landlord, or the owner of a gym allowed there to be a lapse in security and you were harmed as a result, then you may be able to file a claim against them. Recovering damages may be the only way for you to recover financially from your injuries, emotional trauma, and robbed belongings. At The Lenahan Law Firm, our Dallas negligent security lawyers work diligently to make sure that our clients get the compensation they deserve. If you want outstanding legal representation, call our firm at (214) 295-1008.

Property owners and managers have a duty to keep their visitors safe at all times. If they fail in this duty and are negligent in their upkeep of the property, then it could be considered a case of negligent security. These claims allow visitors to recover damages after being injured on a property. However, your relationship with the property and the owner can impact your ability to file a claim. There are three kinds of visitors, and property owners have different legal requirements for each of them.

Invitees:An invitee is someone who enters a property with the knowledge and consent of the property owner. They must be on the property for the mutual benefit of themselves and the property owner. This means that you would be considered an invitee if you went to the grocery store to pick up supplies for dinner. Property owners must provide the invitee with the utmost duty of care, meaning that any unsafe conditions must be fixed as soon as possible, and the owner must warn the invitee of the possible danger. For example, if an ice machine was malfunctioning in the grocery store, the store owner must put down a “wet floor” sign.

Licensees: Again, a licensee must have the permission of the property owner to be on the property. Unlike an invitee, a licensee is on the property for their own benefit. For example, if you were visiting a friend’s house for a barbecue, you would be a licensee and your friend would be the property owner. Property owners have a high duty of care to licensees, similar to what they have towards invitees. Any unsafe conditions must be fixed, and the licensee must be warned ahead of time to ensure they do not become injured.