The chances are that many of us have experienced situations in which our safety has been compromised due to inadequate security measures. Perhaps you’ve visited a nightclub in an area of town with a reputation for high crime. Maybe you have used an ATM machine in a poorly lighted outdoor facility. Another example might be living in an apartment complex with an inoperable electronic security gate.
Regardless of the location, Florida property owners have a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for people who have a right to come onto their property. But what constitutes reasonableness when it comes to providing adequate security?
In many cases involving inadequate security, it boils down to foreseeable risk. For example, consider the owner of a nightclub with a prior recent history of multiple stabbings. Most people would consider the owner’s installation of metal detectors and the hiring of additional security personnel as reasonable measures to ensure patron safety.
Similarly, a landlord who installs security fences and bright lighting around an apartment complex following a rash of burglaries might be perceived as enacting reasonable security measures.
Parking areas near grocery stores, strip malls and convenience stores are all locations where customers can be extremely vulnerable. In these types of situations, property owners can face increased legal liability if they fail to meet reasonable standards to prevent third-party attacks against their customers.
You don’t have to suffer quietly if you are a Florida resident who has been injured as a result of someone failing to take your safety seriously. Victims who were attacked on someone else’s property are sometimes entitled to sue to recover compensation for medical expenses and pain and suffering.
Based in Miami-Dade, our law firm represents clients in premises liability claims throughout South Florida. We do not charge a fee to our prospective clients for the initial evaluation of their cases.