St. Petersburg Negligent Security Lawyer

Were you injured due to a criminal act on someone else’s property in St. Petersburg, FL? Could it have been avoided through the application of adequate security measures? If so, you may be able to hold the property owner responsible for your financial losses and mental trauma. 

A St. Petersburg negligent security lawyer at Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys can help you obtain compensation for your physical and emotional injuries. Our legal team has over 25 years of combined experience protecting injured victims and advocating for fair financial recoveries in litigations such as St. Petersburg premises liability, St. Petersburg bad faith insurance, medical malpractice, wrongful death and more.

We’ve acquired millions of dollars for our past clients since we opened our doors in 2018. We’re prepared to pursue a premises liability claim against the negligent property owner or their insurance company and get you the compensation you need and deserve. 

Call us at (727) 933-0015 or reach us online to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced St. Petersburg personal injury lawyers. We’ll discuss your attack, injuries, and legal options. 

How Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys Can Help With a Negligent Security Claim in St. Petersburg, FL

How Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys Can Help With a Negligent Security Claim in St. Petersburg, FL

As the victim of a violent attack in St. Petersburg, Florida, you are likely suffering from painful injuries that require medical treatment. However, many people fail to realize the emotional impact of a traumatic event like an assault. You may need years of therapy to work through your psychological damage.

You should be fully compensated for these and your other losses – but unfortunately, your attacker probably won’t be able to cover the total cost of your damages. If the owner of the premises could’ve prevented the attack by implementing safety features, they may share financial responsibility. 

Our St. Petersburg premises liability lawyers at Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys will help you identify the liable parties and seek the outcome you deserve. 

If you hire our law office for help with your negligent security claim, we’ll: 

  • Independently investigate the criminal act and identify the safety features that were in place (or lack thereof)
  • Determine what types of security measures were reasonable under the circumstances
  • Gather evidence – including surveillance footage, eyewitness statements, proof of past criminal activity in the area, and more – proving your case
  • Negotiate with the property owner or their insurance company for a fair settlement 
  • Represent you in court if we fail to settle for a fair amount 

Contact our personal injury law firm today to discuss your negligent security case with an attorney during a free initial consultation.

What Is Negligent Security?

Under Florida premises liability law, property owners must take reasonable steps to keep their social guests (licensees) and customers (invitees) safe from harm. 

Most people associate this duty with preventing things like slips and falls. However, it also includes a requirement to provide adequate security to protect visitors from reasonably foreseeable violent acts. For example, businesses operating in high-crime areas must take reasonable precautions to keep customers safe from criminal acts on the premises. 

Some security measures an owner may implement could include: 

  • Providing adequate lighting around the premises
  • Installing security cameras and security systems
  • Installing locks, gates, and fences where appropriate
  • Hiring security guards, officers, bouncers, or door attendants to secure the premises
  • Training employees on how to de-escalate violent situations or respond to criminal acts
  • Warning visitors of the likelihood or risk of criminal activity 

If an owner fails to uphold their responsibilities and someone is attacked on their premises, they can be held liable for the resulting damages. Whether a property owner implemented appropriate and reasonable safety features will depend on the circumstances, such as whether criminal activity is common in the area and the type of establishment. 

Negligent security cases might involve:

Contact our experienced premises liability lawyers in St. Petersburg to discuss the criminal act that injured you and the compensation you can seek. 

Who Could Be Liable for Negligent Security? 

If your assailant is caught, they will likely face criminal charges. You can pursue a separate civil claim against them for damages. 

However, you may also have a case against the property owner if they failed to take adequate measures to keep their premises safe. Why would you take legal action against the property owner? For one, your attacker may not have the financial means to pay your claim. Additionally, they may never be located if it was a random act of violence. 

You might have a valid premises liability claim if you were injured in any of the following locations: 

  • Bar 
  • Nightclub
  • Restaurant
  • Grocery store
  • Retail business
  • Apartment building
  • Office building
  • Hospital
  • Nursing home
  • School, university, or college
  • Daycare center
  • Entertainment venue
  • Hotel or motel
  • Parking lot or garage
  • Pawnshop

The owner or anyone responsible for maintaining the premises might bear liability if their lack of security contributed to your attack. Our St. Petersburg premises liability attorneys will evaluate the facts of your case and identify anyone who could share liability. 

How Do I Prove My Negligent Security Case in St. Petersburg, Florida? 

The elements of negligence in a negligent security case are as follows: 

  • Duty of care: The property owner owed you a duty of care. If you were on the premises legally – such as if you were a guest or customer – the owner was responsible for maintaining their property in a reasonably safe condition. The extent of their duty depends on why you were visiting the property. Property owners typically do not owe you any duty of care if you were trespassing. 
  • Breach of duty: The property owner breached their duty of care by failing to provide adequate safety measures. 
  • Causation: The property owner’s lack of security directly led to your attack, and your injuries were a foreseeable consequence.
  • Damages: You sustained damages, such as physical injuries and emotional trauma. 

Whether the property owner breached their duty of care is often the most difficult element to prove. It will require a fact-specific evaluation of different considerations, such as the level of crime in the area, the type of business, and the likelihood of the establishment attracting criminal activity. 

How Much Is My St. Petersburg Negligent Security Case Worth?

There’s no way to give an exact figure without knowing the specifics of your case. 

The following factors will affect your negligent security claim: 

  • The seriousness and nature of the criminal attack
  • The severity of your injuries and how they impact your ability to work and enjoy life
  • Whether you’re expected to fully recover
  • The expenses you’ve incurred, including medical costs and lost wages
  • The emotional impact of the attack
  • The nature of the property owner’s failure to provide security
  • The property owner’s liability insurance policy limits

We’ll gather evidence to put a dollar value on your negligent security case. Call our premises liability attorneys in St. Petersburg to get started. 

What Types of Damages Are Available in Negligent Security Cases in St. Petersburg?

Negligent security victims in St. Petersburg can pursue compensation for the full extent of their losses. 

After falling victim to a violent crime, you will likely incur financial costs, known as your economic damages. They might include: 

  • Medical expenses, such as bills from your emergency transportation, hospital stay, surgery, and medical treatment 
  • Future healthcare costs, such as rehabilitation and physical therapy
  • Mental health counseling 
  • Out-of-pocket expenses, such as childcare or travel costs
  • Lost income and benefits 
  • Reduced earning capacity

You may also sustain personal losses due to the trauma of the attack, known as your non-economic damages, including: 

  • The development of mental disorders, such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression 
  • Diminished quality of life 
  • Pain and suffering 
  • Disfigurement
  • Scarring
  • Permanent disability or impairment 

Our personal injury attorneys in St. Petersburg will work to identify and calculate every loss you suffered. Our paramount goal is to make you whole again and hold property owners responsible for their negligence. 

Our St. Petersburg Negligent Security Attorneys Will Help You Recover Compensation for All of Your Injuries

A violent criminal act can cause a range of injuries, including: 

Emotionally disturbing events like assaults can also lead to long-term psychological trauma, which may manifest as shock, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, fear, or depression. Our St. Petersburg personal injury attorneys will fight to recover compensation for all of your injuries – physical and emotional.

What Is the Deadline To File a Negligent Security Lawsuit in Florida?

Florida law implements statutory deadlines that give injury victims limited time to file civil lawsuits. 

Victims of negligent security will typically have two years from the incident date to file a personal injury lawsuit against the property owner. In the past, the deadline to file a negligence claim in Florida was four years. However, by an update in the law on March 24, 2023, the deadline was cut in half. Therefore, if you were injured after that date, you’ll need to meet the two-year deadline.

If you tragically lost a loved one, you have two years from their date of death to file a wrongful death case.

Don’t miss the statute of limitations that applies to your case, or you’ll lose the right to pursue compensation. The best way to preserve your ability to file a claim is by speaking with an experienced personal injury lawyer in St. Petersburg. 

Schedule a Free Case Assessment With Our St. Petersburg Negligent Security Lawyers

If you were assaulted or attacked on someone else’s property in St. Petersburg, FL, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and suffering. The legal team at Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys is here to help you hold the property owner accountable. 

Contact our law office today to schedule a free consultation with our experienced St. Petersburg negligent security attorneys. We’ll discuss your options and help you maximize your financial recovery. 

Visit Our Personal Injury Office in St. Petersburg, FL

Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys
700 7th Ave N Suite B St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 933-0015

We are available 24/7 to take your call; contact us today.

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