Philadelphia Inadequate Security Lawyer

In most inadequate security lawsuits, the plaintiffs are looking to receive an award for damages from the business owner. Sometimes, they also want an injunction that forces the business owners to alter their security practices to better protect their patrons. In these scenarios, you will want to consult with a Philadelphia inadequate security attorney at Rosenbaum & Associates who specializes in this area.

Inadequate security lawsuits are also referred to as premises liability claims. The victim is claiming that something occurred on the premises of a business that could have been prevented if there had been better security in place. A case in point would be if a person who is minding their own business at a bar somehow gets injured in a fight because the bar did not have a bouncer to stop the altercation. Another example would be if a person is assaulted or robbed in a dark hallway of a motel or an underground parking lot that did not have sufficient lighting or any security cameras installed to dissuade a person from committing the assault or robbery.

An experienced Philadelphia inadequate security attorney at our firm has been successful in prosecuting a number of negligent security cases. These are often traumatic events leaving the victim with severe emotional consequences as well as physical injuries. Not all firms are willing to handle these types of cases as they are less common than the typical auto accident case and raise unique issues.

People who own businesses in Philadelphia are expected to provide their customers with adequate security to keep their premises safe. However, they are only required to provide a reasonable level of security based on their type of business. The court considers three things when deciding if a business has adequate security to satisfy their duty of care.

1. The type of business. Some businesses demand more security than others do. A restaurant or toy store would not need as much security as a bar or other establishment that serves beer or liquor.
2. The amount of crime in the area. If the area has a high crime rate, the owner needs to have more security to protect the clientele, especially if the owner is aware of the propensity for crime in the immediate vicinity. Conversely, in low-crime areas, less security is required.
3. Where the crime occurred. If the incident happened in the main entrance to a nightclub or in the pool room of a local bar, the owner is more likely to be held accountable than if it happened behind the establishment in a public area, such as an alley.

There are a number of conditions that are also factored into a decision on whether or not a company’s premises have adequate security. Physical conditions include such things as:

• Lighting
• Holes through which felons might enter the premises
• Bushes or other concealing foliage behind which felons might hide
• Noise levels
• Door locks
• Gates or other measures to deter entry

Procedural conditions include such things as:

• How often the premises are patrolled
• Incident reporting procedures
• Cash handling routines
• How the security staff manages the property
• Schedules and methods for closing the establishment
• How well the security staff has been trained

Because there are so many factors to be considered, you need to consult with an experienced Philadelphia inadequate security attorney if you’ve been the victim of lax security. Call us at 1-800-753-4257, or contact us online to schedule a free case evaluation.