When the security services we count on are absent, injury – sometimes serious injury – can result. Our Philadelphia negligent security lawyer handles cases involving negligent security in stores, hotels, apartments, and any other space where we depend on security protection for our safety.

The public has the right to expect certain establishments to provide competent security services. If you believe your injuries resulted from negligent security, you may be entitled to compensation. Call our experienced Philadelphia negligent security attorney at Wapner Newman to request your free consultation: (215) 569-0900.

Why Choose Us?

Effective Advocates

Choose Wapner Newman for the results you need. Our team has successfully recovered substantial sums of compensation for our clients. When we take your case, it means we believe we can do the same for you.

At Wapner Newman:

  • We have award-winning injury attorneys ready to help get you the money you need.
  • We personalize our services to your goals and needs.
  • We have successfully collected millions of dollars in compensation for our clients.
  • We offer free initial consultations and are always available for client needs and concerns.

If you’re looking for results, Wapner Newman is who you call. We always pursue maximum compensation and never let insurance companies lowball our clients.

For a free consultation with a negligent security lawyer in Philadelphia, call (215) 569-0900. Learn how Wapner Newman can potentially collect substantial compensation on your behalf. 

Compensation for Negligent Security Losses

Injury victims are entitled to pursue compensation for their losses caused by negligent security. Wapner Newman has spent decades helping them get the highest payouts available. The losses victims of negligent security face are both economic and non-economic and are financially compensable.

Common economic damages available in negligent security cases include:

  • Compensation for medical treatment costs
  • Compensation for lost wages or salary
  • Compensation for lost future earnings
  • Compensation for travel expenses related to medical care
  • Compensation for funeral and burial expenses when a fatality occurs.

Non-economic compensation covers:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Inconvenience
  • Discomfort
  • Distress.

In some cases, you may also be entitled to punitive damages, which are not to compensate but to punish. As such, they are only available in cases where the conduct in question was outrageous, meaning the defendant was acting with an evil motive or with reckless indifference to the rights of others.

Where Security Is Necessary

Many retail businesses use security systems and surveillance cameras, primarily to protect their own assets. Cameras intended to prevent shoplifting may also help protect customers, because criminals may be less inclined to commit an armed robbery or act of violence when they know security cameras are present.

OTHER PLACES WHERE SECURITY IS NECESSARY INCLUDE:

  • Schools
  • Daycare businesses
  • Places of worship
  • Casinos
  • Hotels
  • Hospitals and nursing homes
  • Sporting events and concerts
  • Apartment complexes
  • Parking lots and garages
  • Public pools and fitness centers
  • Airports
  • Public transportation
  • Amusement parks.

In cases of negligent security, courts consider whether an owner or manager used “reasonable care” regarding security. For example, if a parking garage has been the site of several violent crimes and its owner fails to increase security, the owner might be found negligent should another person suffer a violent attack on that property.

Appropriate Security Measures

According to Security Magazine, video surveillance cameras are effective in preventing theft, but the presence of a uniformed security guard or police officer is more effective for preventing bodily harm. Unlike cameras, officers can instantly react and intervene, should a security threat occur.

Before 1981, security for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority consisted of 65 or fewer rookie police officers who could not adequately cover the entire system. But after the city developed the SEPTA Transit Police Department and the first SEPTA officers began patrols, all transit system crime fell by 47 percent, and major crimes fell by 20 percent. Today, more than 260 SEPTA transit officers protect commuters and SEPTA employees from harm.

Past incidents of violence should always be considered when companies or organizations implement or update their security policies. Security must also account for the specific needs of the people it’s supposed to protect.

EXAMPLES OF INJURY RESULTING FROM NEGLIGENT SECURITY:

  • A hospital or nursing home has to control not only who gets into a building, but also who gets out. When security is negligent, a gravely ill patient or resident could simply wander out the front door. Threats in a nursing home may be internal, as well. Several reports of caregivers’ abusing and neglecting nursing home residents highlight the need for strong safety policies and internal controls.
  • Schools, which have been the sites of many mass shootings in recent years, must control access to buildings. Many schools also require visitors to sign in and get a visitor’s badge, and they hire security officers to patrol hallways.
  • Employers must consider how they will protect their workers from violence. That may include controlling access to the workspace, monitoring and patrolling parking lots, and, in high-risk settings – such as banks, convenience stores, and pharmacies – installing protective barriers and panic buttons.
  • Landlords are not required by law to hire security guards for their property, but they must ensure that tenants have locks on windows and doors. If a tenant reports a malfunctioning lock, and the landlord does not make an effort to repair it, the landlord could be found liable if the faulty lock allows an intruder to enter the dwelling and harm the tenant.

There are many more examples of negligent security in action. If you believe your injuries are the result of negligent security, a Philadelphia negligent security lawyer can potentially help you get justice.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Answers You Need

We have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about negligent security. Please contact us if you need more information.

Should I hire a negligent security lawyer?

If you need maximum compensation, yes.

How much does a negligent security lawyer cost?

Negligent security lawyers cost a percentage of your compensation, typically between 30% and 40%.

What is the time limit for negligent security cases?

The statute of limitations for negligent security in Pennsylvania is two years.

Why not sue the person who committed the crime?

You may sue the person who committed the crime. However, they likely do not have liability insurance to cover your damages.  On the other hand, the property owner or tenant in charge at the time likely will.

How much compensation can I get for a negligent security case?

It depends on your specific losses and the circumstances of the negligent security incident. The skill of your negligent security lawyer also has an impact.

More questions? Contact us for more answers and to discuss your case with a Philadelphia negligent security lawyer.

Advocacy for Victims of Negligent Security

All too often, lax security becomes apparent only after someone has suffered a serious or fatal injury. Some accidents and acts of violence are unpredictable, but many tragic events could be prevented, with appropriate security.

WAPNER NEWMAN IS WELL AWARE OF THE TRAUMA PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED DUE TO NEGLIGENT SECURITY. OUR MEMBERS OF THE PERSONAL INJURY LEGAL TEAM HAVE REPRESENTED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES HARMED BY NEGLIGENT SECURITY, GETTING THEM THE COMPENSATION THEY DESERVE FOR THEIR PAIN AND SUFFERING.

If you believe negligent security led to your injuries, request your free, no-obligation consultation by filling out our online form or calling our Philadelphia negligent security attorney at (215) 569-0900.