How did this horrible crime occur? The property owners failed to fix a broken front gate, prevent dangerous individuals from entering the premises, and warn residents about 20 prior crimes that had occurred at this complex. This kind of gross negligence is horrifying, and the property owners need to be held responsible for their failure to adequately protect their buildings.
Property owners have certain duties to the people who visit or live at their properties. Whether it’s a public location or a private residence, owners must make sure that no one on that property is at risk for a preventable accident. That can include things like making sure that there’s no faulty electrical wiring that could start a fire or a large, hard-to-see hole in the backyard of a rental property, but it also includes making sure that the property is safe from security breaches. Properties like this are often at risk for security breaches when owners fail to pay attention to certain dangers or skimp on security measures because of the cost.
Negligent security can lead to loss of property, serious injuries, and in some cases, death. It’s essential that property owners who allowed a security breach are held accountable so that this type of negligence does not continue and endanger others at this location.
Negligent security cases can take place in a wide range of locations. Often they are in private residences, such as:
Apartment complexes
Rented homes
On-campus college residences, such as dorms
They can also occur in more public places, such as:
Shopping malls
Hotels
Schools
Restaurants
Grocery stores
Parking garages
Other commercial establishments
Workplaces
At automatic teller machines
Workplaces that lack proper security can be particularly dangerous. There are an estimated 1.7 million violent incidences committed against people at work each year. This workplace violence costs businesses between $36 and $40 million in property damage, medical expenses, and an inability for injured employees to continue working. In these cases, business owners may be liable for harm caused to employees due to insufficient security.