Negligent Security Attorney in Lakeland

Some negligent security incidents, such as shootings, battery, and violent robberies, can cause catastrophic injuries and death. Injuries that victims of crime in Lakeland may experience include:

• Head injuries such as traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Cuts and lacerations
• Broken bones
• Dislocations
• Dental injuries
• Gunshot or stab wounds
• Internal organ damage

However, physical injuries are not the only devastating consequences of assaults and attacks. The psychological effects of being victimized can be debilitating and include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, fear of leaving the house, and others. Victims may never lead a normal life again due to injuries and emotional scars.

If you or a loved one is affected, you do not have to suffer in silence. Morgan & Morgan can be here for you. Our experienced negligent security attorneys want to help victims and their families recover the compensation they deserve. 

Compensation might be available if you were hurt or lost your loved one in a negligent security incident. Depending on your case, you could recover economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages reimburse victims for any monetary losses from the assault or attack, such as:  

• Healthcare costs
• Lost wages
• Property damage, such as stolen or destroyed personal items
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Medical expenses

Non-economic damages should compensate victims for losses of a non-monetary nature, such as physical pain and emotional distress. While non-economic losses can be considerable in a traumatic assault, attack, or shooting, they are generally challenging to calculate. However, an experienced attorney can help you put a dollar value on non-economic damages such as:

• Physical pain
• Emotional anguish
• Disability
• Reduced life quality

Wrongful Death Compensation

If your loved one died due to the carelessness of a business or individual, you could hold the responsible party accountable and pursue compensation. While nothing can bring back your loved one, receiving damages can help you manage the financial losses due to the death of your relative.

The types of damages you could collect depend on various factors, such as your relationship with the decedent, their age at the time of passing, and the degree of negligence of the responsible party. Examples of compensation survivors could receive include:

• Medical expenses prior to death
• Loss of companionship and protection (spouse)
• Loss of parental instruction and guidance (minor children)
• Pain and suffering of the decedent before death
• Burial and funeral costs
• Loss of services and income from the decedent
• Mental pain and suffering of survivors
• Lost inheritance

Since every case is unique, it is impossible to estimate the average worth of a Lakeland wrongful death claim. However, a negligent security attorney from our firm can calculate your damages and determine the value of your case. 

If you or a loved one suffered the impacts of an assault or attack, you should move quickly to protect your legal rights. While you may have four years to file a negligent security lawsuit in Lakeland, the timeline can be shorter in some instances, for example, if you are suing a government entity. Surviving family members of a deceased victim only have two years to file a wrongful death claim, starting from the date of the death.

The sooner you contact a negligent security attorney, the sooner they can start to gather evidence, build your case, and fight for the compensation you deserve. On the other hand, waiting too long and missing the state deadline could prevent you from pursuing and receiving any compensation.

Generally, the business or individual responsible for a property is liable if an individual gets killed or injured in a negligent security attack or assault. However, depending on your specific case, there could be other responsible parties, such as:

• Security firms
• Homeowners’ or condominium associations
• Hotel management
• School administration
• Store and gas station managers
• A government entity
• Landowners
• Restaurant managers

Since you could have several defendants in your claim, consider consulting a Morgan & Morgan Lakeland negligent security lawyer to walk you through your options and move forward with a legal claim.

You could, in some circumstances, file a personal injury lawsuit against your attacker, providing they are identified. However, you may not be able to recover any damages from an individual that is unlikely to have the means to compensate you. Therefore, filing a lawsuit against the criminal that hurt you or your loved one may not be worth it.

On the other hand, a property owner is typically covered by insurance, meaning a recovery can be much more likely when victims hold the business or individual who owns the premises accountable.

You could sue a negligent security company and seek damages. However, suing a third party rather than the property owner can be tricky. Unlike the premises owner, a security firm is not usually responsible for ensuring the safety of guests and patrons of a property. The security firm primarily has a duty of care toward the property owner.

However, if the property owner and security firm have a contract that holds the company liable for lax security, they may be on the hook for victims’ damages. A security firm could be exposed to legal claims in the following cases:

• Unqualified and untrained security guards
• Impaired guards due to alcohol or drug use
• Negligent supervision of security personnel

However, when a lawsuit happens, the property owner and security firm may hotly contest liability for victims’ damages. Retaining an attorney can be critical in complex negligent security claims. Morgan & Morgan’s negligent security lawyers can identify all liable parties in your claim and hold them accountable for your losses.

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Lawsuits can effect change by holding property owners responsible for negligent security and motivating other businesses to implement measures that keep visitors safe. While there are no one-size-fits-all security installations, business owners can take general steps to tighten security in and around their premises, including:

• Putting up warning signs for visitors
• Lighting properties and outside areas adequately
• Maintaining locks, gates, and fencing
• Installing security cameras and alarms
• Hiring qualified and trained security personnel

While recommended security measures are property-specific, even simple improvements such as locks on doors and windows could help to avoid injury and deaths in Lakeland.

Negligent security attacks can occur on private and public properties, including airports, government offices, parking garages, and other locations. Therefore, you could have legal recourse against the state or local government. However, filing a negligent security lawsuit against the government can be challenging as different regulations, deadlines, and laws may apply.

Claimants typically have to notify the relevant government agency with a written “notice of claim” before they qualify for a legal claim. There may also be caps on the compensation a victim can receive. Since such claims can be tricky to litigate, consider working with an experienced negligent security lawyer in Lakeland if you want to sue a government entity.

Going it alone with a negligent security claim can be frustrating and exhausting, especially if you have to stand up to a well-known business and a team of lawyers. A negligent security lawyer in Lakeland knows the applicable laws and has handled similar claims to yours. They can:

• Determine whether you have a case
• Identify the liable party or parties
• Calculate your damages
• Negotiate with the defendant and their insurer
• File a lawsuit and fight vigorously for what you deserve at trial

Having an experienced attorney by your side will also reduce stress and leave you free to focus on healing from your ordeal.

Every law firm has its own fee structure. Although some personal injury lawyers do not charge attorney’s fees upfront, they may ask clients to pay for legal expenses, such as court filing fees, deposition expenses, and other costs.

Morgan & Morgan never charges clients a dime upfront. We work on a “no-win-no-fee” basis, meaning we do not charge you anything out of your pocket and only get paid if we win your negligent security case and recover compensation. Moreover, first consultations are always free and can allow you to determine your options and next best steps.

Experiencing a violent crime or assault, or losing a loved one in this way, can stay with you forever. While receiving compensation cannot turn back the time, it could help you access the best medical and counseling care, helping you recover from the incident.

Morgan & Morgan is dedicated to protecting injured victims and their families. We can fight those responsible for causing your injuries and losses or the death of your loved one. Get in touch with us today to find out how we could help you get justice.