Fort Lauderdale Negligent Security Lawyer
Unfortunately, all too often, people suffer injuries in a casino parking area, in a shopping mall, or other public places because the property owner failed to put proper security measures in place. When you have suffered an injury because a company failed to take security seriously, you have the right to hold the at-fault parties accountable. These injuries can prove life-altering. To hold the right people accountable, you should seek help from a Fort Lauderdale Negligent Security Lawyer.
If you were injured on someone’s property because of inadequate security, contact The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers immediately for a free consultation. We can inform you about your rights and how we can hold the responsible parties accountable for your injury.
Injuries That Can Result From Negligent Security
Unfortunately, these cases usually involve violent crimes, such as muggings, rapes, and shootings. Victims’ injuries may prove serious.
A victim may face:
- Broken bones – when someone falls to the ground, suffers a beating, or is accosted, broken bones can result.
- Head trauma – traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can result from being struck on the head or being thrown to the ground and striking your head.
- Stabbing or gunshot wounds – when someone is mugged or jumped in a parking lot, that individual faces a high potential for a stabbing or gunshot wound. Fort Lauderdale reports more than 1,100 violent crimes annually.
These constitute just a few of the injuries that a victim of a violent crime could face when the victim perhaps incorrectly assumed that the area was secure and safe. The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers has a track record of holding at-fault parties accountable for their actions.
Identifying the Liable Parties Due to Negligent Security
Premises liability claims, which constitute the appropriate claim for a negligent security case, can prove complicated. They may only involve a single at-fault party, or they may involve multiple at-fault parties.
The potential parties who may bear liability for your injuries include:
- Property Owner – property owners have a responsibility to ensure legal visitors to their property enter a safe area and don’t face any unnecessary risk of injury.
- Tenant of Property – in some cases, a lease agreement between the owner and tenant places the responsibility of security on the property owner.
- Property Manager – the property manager may bear the responsibility for ensuring that a property stays safe for tenants and visitors.
- Security Company – when a property owner, tenant, or property manager has hired a security firm to maintain a secure environment and fails in that task, that party may bear liability for a resulting accident.
Do not overlook the fact the person who injured you may bear liability, and you may have several options to hold that party financially accountable. Speak with your premises liability attorney regarding this issue to determine your best course of action.
Damages That You Can Include in Fort Lauderdale Negligent Security Claims
Following an accident, many injured victims struggle to understand what to include in their claims. Some of the most common types of damages that individuals who sustain injuries in negligent security accidents seek include:
- Lost current and future wages – victims of negligent security should not have to lose money while recovering from their injuries. Injured individuals should include their lost wagers in their negligent security claims. Additionally, if a victim must miss work for a long time, he or she should include a claim for estimated lost future wages in the claim as well.
- Current and future medical expenses – while many victims of negligent security may have existing health coverage, they may have to pay copayments, which doctors may require before administering treatment, especially when the treatments continue indefinitely. Claimants should claim any out-of-pocket medical expenses, including hospitalizations, tests, rehabilitation treatment, medications, and medical equipment, such as braces. Those who have a serious injury may require ongoing care and should include those costs in the accident claim.
- Temporary or permanent disability payments – every victim heals differently. Your age, physical condition, and preexisting conditions may have an impact on your ability to recover from your injuries. Should your injuries prove serious enough to render you disabled, the responsible parties may bear liability for ensuring that you receive disability payments, whether for a short time or long-term.
- Punitive damages – courts award these damages if the at-fault party engaged in particularly egregious actions. Speak with your negligent security attorney about whether your claim should include these damages.
Remember, because every case involves unique facts and circumstances, your case may involve additional damages that you should claim. Your Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney can help ensure your settlement demand includes all areas of potential compensation.
Insurance Companies and Negligent Security
Insurance companies do not like to pay out claims; rather, they just want to maximize their profits. These companies collect premiums and hope that their clients never have to file a claim. As a result, individuals who sustain injuries and wish to pursue compensation from an insurance company should retain a skilled personal injury attorney.
An insurer may do several things to minimize your claim or deny the claim outright, including:
- Victim blaming – the insurance company may try to place the fault for the injuries on the victim.
- Other parties – the insurer may claim the responsible party had no way of anticipating something happening to a guest or claim that other parties bear liability.
- Minimizing harm – insurance companies often claim that individuals suffered less severe injuries than they claim, or that the injuries stem from a subsequent event.
These constitute just a few of the tactics an insurer may use to claim that it should not have to pay a claim under a premises liability policy. If you find yourself in this situation, you should retain the services of an experienced firm, like The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers, to handle your negligent security claim.
Costs Associated With Fort Lauderdale Negligent Security Lawyers
In nearly all cases of negligent security, victims concern themselves most with the costs associated with hiring an attorney. Fortunately, in nearly all cases, The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers takes these cases on a contingency basis. This means that you can get the legal help you need, and you do not pay for legal services until, and unless, your attorney successfully recovers a settlement in your case. Ask us about this during your free consultation.
Call The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers Today for a Free Consultation
If you suffered preventable injuries on someone else’s property that stem from inadequate or negligent security, you should reach out for immediate legal advice. Our firm works hard to secure maximum compensation on behalf of our clients. Contact The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation; we will explain your rights to you and help you understand your legal options.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Lauderdale Negligent Security Claims
If you’ve sustained serious injuries in an accident that occurred due to negligent security, you should reach out to an experienced attorney at The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation. To provide additional information to prospective clients, however, we answer some of the questions that we hear most frequently from our clients below. Read on for more information.
How Much Is My Fort Lauderdale Negligent Security Claim Worth?
There is no simple answer to this question. Every incident involves unique facts and circumstances.
The value of a claim will vary depending on:
- The severity of injuries – the more serious that a victim sustains, the more likely the victim will require a long recovery. As a result, the victim should seek substantial compensation to cover lost wages and all other losses.
- Medical treatments vary – the injuries someone suffers determines the medical care they need. Someone with a broken leg will require less medical treatment than someone who suffered a catastrophic injury.
- Age of the victim – a 20-something victim may recover faster than a 50-something victim. However, if the younger victim suffers a life-altering injury, he or she will likely miss work for a longer time, therefore increasing the lost wages claim.
Do I Need a Lawyer to File a Fort Lauderdale Negligent Security Claim?
While not required, we highly recommend retaining a negligent security claim lawyer. We recommend this for many reasons. Unless you have experience handling Florida premises liability claims, you may not know the best way to pursue a claim.
Retaining the services of a Florida negligent security attorney who has experience handling these cases will help protect your rights and make sure the insurance company knows the laws on which your case depends, and if the insurer refuses to offer a reasonable settlement, your attorney can file a lawsuit and litigate your case all the way to trial, if necessary.
What Should I Do if I Get a Settlement Offer From an Insurance Company?
Do not accept any settlement offer without talking with your attorney first. Keep in mind, insurance companies already know that if they offer a fast settlement to an injured victim, they will avoid liability for compensation that an attorney would likely pursue, such as lost wages and future medical expenses.
Remember, in the weeks following an injury, you may not know what your full recovery will look like. Victims often do not know the extent of the injury or what impact it will have on them physically and mentally until weeks or months following a negligent security incident.
Once you accept a settlement, the insurance company will have no further obligation to compensate you for medical bills, lost wages, or other costs incurred due to your injuries, even if your injuries worsen in the future.
Can I Sue a Fort Lauderdale Property Owner for an Assault if the Crime Did Not Result in Criminal Prosecution?
Criminal cases and negligent security cases are not the same. Negligent security cases fall under civil law. While prosecution of a crime with a guilty finding may strengthen your civil case, your accident doesn’t need to result in criminal prosecution or conviction for you to qualify to pursue civil action.
In an assault or battery, the prosecutor in Fort Lauderdale must meet a certain standard to hold the criminal who caused your injury accountable.
Civil cases involve a different standard of proof than criminal cases. Even if the person who caused your accident avoids criminal prosecution, you can still file a civil lawsuit to hold the at-fault party accountable for your injuries.
What Should I Avoid After a Negligent Security Accident?
You should avoid taking any actions that may negatively affect your legal claim. Below, we discuss a few specific actions that you should avoid taking:
- Using social media – be very cautious about accepting friend requests and posting about the incident, including sharing photos. An insurance company or defense lawyer may use the content of these posts to minimize your claim later, so you should avoid social media if possible. You should also ask friends and family to avoid posting photos of you until after your case has concluded.
- Not following up on medical advice – you must make sure you follow all medical advice. This can prove imperative because failing to do so could signal to insurance companies that you sustained less severe injuries than you claim. Attend all physician visits, follow up on rehabilitation therapy, and take medication as ordered.
- Discussing your case with insurance companies – once you have hired a negligent security attorney in Fort Lauderdale you should refer all insurance inquiries to the attorney handling your case. You want to ensure that you provide your attorney with accurate information, which could prove important in reaching a final settlement.
How Long Do I Have to File a Negligent Security Claim in Fort Lauderdale?
Every state has statutes of limitations, including Florida. Florida law provides injured individuals with four years from the date of their accidents to pursue legal action.
Remember, while this may seem like a long time, you should still try to act quickly. Your attorney cannot determine how long-lasting your injuries may prove until your physician has had time to attempt all possible treatments. This process alone could take several months after you suffer an injury.
The sooner you contact a Fort Lauderdale negligent security lawyer, the better your chances of success. An attorney who has experience handling these cases will ensure that you meet all filing deadlines. Once you retain an attorney to handle your case, you can focus on recovering from your injuries and moving forward.
At the Levin Firm, we can help you with your Fort Lauderdale negligent security claim, whether it took place at our local Walmart Supercenter, the Fort Lauderdale Grand Hotel or Crowne Plaza, or nearby theme parks like Legoland. Contact us today at our Fort Lauderdale office at (954) 715-3260 for more information and your free claim evaluation.