Atlanta is a vibrant city with thriving businesses and bustling neighborhoods, but it is not immune to violent crimes that can leave individuals physically and emotionally scarred. While law enforcement works to combat criminal activity, business owners are legally obligated to provide a safe environment for their patrons and employees.
When businesses fail to take reasonable precautions to prevent violence on their premises, crime victims may have grounds to hold them accountable through a negligent security claim.
Here, our Georgia personal injury attorneys at Ashby Thelen Lowry explain.
The Responsibility of Atlanta Businesses to Provide a Safe Environment
Businesses such as shopping centers, apartment complexes, hotels, bars, and nightclubs are required to take steps to protect customers and visitors from foreseeable harm. This includes implementing adequate security measures to deter criminal acts.
Key responsibilities of property owners and managers include:
- Installing and Maintaining Security Cameras: Surveillance systems can discourage criminal behavior and provide valuable evidence if a crime occurs.
- Providing Proper Lighting: Poorly lit parking lots, stairwells, or pathways make crimes more likely to occur.
- Employing Security Personnel: In high-crime areas or at establishments prone to incidents, security guards are often a necessary deterrent.
- Addressing Known Risks: If a business is aware of prior criminal activity on or near its property, it must take reasonable steps to address those risks, such as increasing security measures or warning patrons.
Proving Negligent Security in an Atlanta Violent Crime Case
When a business neglects its duty to implement reasonable safety measures, it creates an environment where violent crimes, such as assaults, robberies, and sexual violence, are more likely to occur. Victims of these crimes may suffer devastating physical injuries, emotional trauma, and financial losses. In these cases, the business may be held liable for negligence if it failed to take steps that could have reasonably prevented the crime.
Establishing liability in a negligent security case requires demonstrating the following:
- Duty of Care: The business was legally obligated to provide a reasonably safe environment.
- Breach of Duty: The business failed to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm, such as not repairing broken locks or ignoring known threats.
- Causation: The lack of adequate security measures directly contributed to the crime.
- Damages: The victim suffered physical, emotional, or financial harm.
Evidence such as police reports, witness testimony, security footage, and prior crime records in the area can strengthen a case. Expert testimony may also demonstrate how better security measures could have deterred the crime.
How Our Negligent Security Attorneys in Atlanta Can Help
At Ashby Thelen Lowry, we understand the immense toll violent crimes take on victims and their families. Navigating a legal claim while recovering from trauma can feel overwhelming, which is why we’re here to handle the complexities of your case. Our team conducts thorough investigations, collaborates with security and safety experts, and fights tirelessly to hold negligent businesses accountable.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a violent crime due to a business’s failure to provide adequate security, contact Ashby Thelen Lowry for a free consultation. We are committed to seeking justice for our clients and helping them rebuild their lives. Let us stand with you and advocate for the compensation and accountability you deserve.