Negligent Security Attorney in Charleston

Although the property owner might not have actively committed the crime that led to your injuries, they owe you a duty of care. In other words, when you visit someone else's business or property, it is their responsibility to ensure you are safe. This does not mean hiring bodyguards to protect you; simple actions, such as installing surveillance cameras, setting up security lights, or requesting routine police patrol, could be all it takes to make a particular property safe.

But some property owners or occupants ignore these basic requirements, despite knowing that the area is prone to security threats. Some refrain from providing security because it could cost them more money, which they are not ready to spend. As a result, innocent people get hurt because the people responsible for providing adequate security did not do what was required of them.

That is the whole point of filing a lawsuit. The argument is that the insecurity incident could have been prevented by taking specific preventative steps. For example, it has been proven numerous times that armed robbers will think twice about robbing places with surveillance cameras, alarm systems, and adequate lighting. So if you get robbed and injured in such an environment due to a lack of basic security, you may have a valid negligent security claim.

Injuries caused by negligent security depend on the specific nature of the incident. In most cases, negligent security victims suffer injuries such as:

• Trips and falls
• Cuts and bruises
• Concussions
• Head, neck, and shoulder injuries
• Whiplash
• Deep cuts
• Broken bones
• Bruises

The damages you can sue for will depend on the specifics of your case. At Morgan and Morgan, we have handled numerous negligent security cases filed by individuals who have suffered different damages. In most cases, negligent security victims can recover economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages cover financial losses and expenses such as:

• Medical expenses
• Cost of hospital stay
• Ambulance costs
• Cost of medical equipment such as a Hoyer lift
• Lost wages
• Lost earning potential

You may also be able to sue for non-economic damages. Our attorneys will review your case and help determine the financial value of your non-economic damages. Examples of non-economic damages in these cases include:

• Pain and suffering
• Mental distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Inconvenience
• Embarrassment

Keep in mind that each case of negligent security is unique, and the same applies to the damages sustained. Therefore, working with an experienced attorney is important if you or your loved one has been injured due to negligent security. The attorney will review the specifics of your case and determine the damages you can claim.

You may be surprised to discover that you are eligible for compensation for additional damages other than those already mentioned here. This is because each case is different and requires a unique approach. There is no standard formula for approaching negligent security cases.

Not every injury sustained at someone else's property is due to negligent security. For this reason, it is important to know whether you have a valid case, which is why we advise potential clients to contact us for a free case evaluation. An experienced attorney will review the specifics of your case and determine how premises liability laws apply to your situation.

The attorney will consider the following elements when reviewing your case:

Duty of care: The negligent security lawyer will establish whether the property owner or occupant owed you a duty of care. In other words, they will want to find out whether they were responsible for providing security at the property.

Breach of duty of care: The attorney will determine whether the property owner neglected their duty to provide reasonable security. This only applies if the 'duty of care' element mentioned above has been proven true. To put things into perspective, if the other party did not owe you a duty of care, you cannot sue them for breaching a responsibility they did not have in the first place. This explains why it is vital to have a free case evaluation at Morgan and Morgan before proceeding with the case.

Injuries suffered: If the above two elements are true, the attorney will proceed to the third step. This step involves determining whether you sustained injuries due to the other party's breach of their duty to provide reasonable security. As expected, you cannot sue if you were not injured in the first place. In addition, while getting injured is a good sign that you may have a valid case, the case itself is incomplete without the fourth element of a negligent security claim, as discussed below.

Damages: Lastly, the fourth element will kick in. you will need to prove that you suffered damages due to the other party's failure to provide reasonable security. Remember that damages are not the same as injuries from a legal standpoint. In this context, damages are the losses you sustained due to the negligent security incident. They can either be economic or non-economic damages or even both.

Once these four critical elements are proven true, you may have a valid negligent security claim against the other party. The negligent security attorney will then walk you through the next steps, officially beginning your journey to compensation.

The steps you take after the negligent security incident could make or break your claim. This applies even if your case satisfies all the elements we discussed earlier. For this reason, it is important to know what to do right after the negligent security incident, as discussed below.

While there are many different steps you may be able to take, we will only focus on the most important. Remember, there is no specific formula or approach to such incidents. The exact steps you should take will depend on the specifics of your case, the nature of your injuries, etc.

That said, you will be in a much better position to prove your case if you follow these steps:

Seek immediate medical attention. Call 911 and request an ambulance if you have suffered severe injuries. For example, suppose you have been assaulted at a parking lot and suffered deep cuts. In that case, calling 911 is the first and most crucial step.

Collect evidence, if possible. This will depend on the unique circumstances of your case. If possible, take videos or pictures of your injuries and the surrounding areas where the incident occurred.

Gather witness information. Did anyone witness the incident? If so, collect their contact information. Their testimony could come in handy when you sue the other party for negligent security.

Seek medical attention. It is important that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. This applies even if you suffered no visible or life-threatening injuries. Your doctor will conduct several tests to determine whether you sustained injuries you may not be aware of, such as internal bleeding.

Contact a negligent security lawyer. Morgan and Morgan is the leading injury law firm in the entire nation. We will review your case and discuss the next steps when you contact us for a free case evaluation.

Because Morgan and Morgan is the country's largest personal injury law firm specializing in different kinds of cases, including negligent security, we might be able to hold the other party accountable for their negligence. Specifically, here is how we might be able to help:

Free case evaluation: We will evaluate your case for free to determine whether you have a valid claim against the other party. We will then walk you through the next steps if your case is valid.

Evidence collection: Suppose your case is valid. If so, we will review the existing evidence and help strengthen it by collecting even more to support your claim.

Determining Liability: After reviewing all the available evidence and facts, we will help determine the party liable for your injuries. However, more than one party could be responsible for your injuries. If so, our attorneys can help identify them and hold them accountable.

Damages evaluation: Our attorneys will also evaluate the damages you suffered due to the other party's failure to provide reasonable security. After assessing the damages, you will have a rough idea of the kind of compensation you may recover if you win the case.

Filing a claim: We will then file a claim with the liable party, allowing them to negotiate a reasonable settlement. We will also represent you throughout the negotiation, keeping your best interests at heart.

Filing a lawsuit: If the other party refuses to settle your case out of court, we will explore other options, including filing a lawsuit in a civil court. This will bring the case before a judge or jury.

In Charleston and throughout South Carolina, you have up to three years to file a negligent security claim. Although three years sounds like a lot of time, it is not usually enough to build a strong case, depending on when you seek legal assistance. For this reason, it is advisable to contact an attorney as soon as possible. The sooner you contact an attorney, the easier it is for them to build a strong case on your behalf. If you take too long to contact an attorney, the other party could tamper with evidence, or you may even lose track of witnesses, etc.

Negligent security cases are complicated. The last thing you want is to complicate things even more by not working with an attorney. But most people do not realize that the choice of attorney has a huge influence on their cases.

For this reason, it is crucial to work with not just any attorney; you need the best in this field. That is where Morgan and Morgan, the most prominent injury law firm in the country, comes in. We can help fight for your rights and hold the other party liable for negligence.

This is because we have powerful legal resources, a proven history of winning, and an army of competent, compassionate, and experienced attorneys committed to fighting for their client's rights.

Ready to get started with your claim? Fill out our free case evaluation form today. One of our legal representatives will review the case and contact you to discuss what to do next.