How Much Security Does a Property Owner Need to Provide?

When we are crime victims, especially of violent crimes or crimes that cause us injury, we can, and should, point the finger at the criminal, as the wrongdoer who caused us injury. But when we are crime victims on someone else’s (or a business’) property, the criminal may not be the only entity liable for injuries sustained in the attack.

Negligent Security Claims

Businesses have a legal obligation to keep their property safe from outside crime, or at least, to take such steps and measures to minimize the risk of an attack, or to deter potential criminals. If they do not, they can be held liable for the criminal attack, for negligently failing to keep the property safe from crime.

But what does a property owner have to do? What measures does a property owner actually have to take, in order to safeguard people on the property from crime?

No One Solution

There is no one correct answer to this question. That’s because every situation and property is different, in the kind and nature of security that they have to provide, to ward off criminal attacks.

In some cases, a property owner may just have to take measures that constitute a deterrent to criminals. For example, well lit parking lots, or surveillance cameras, while they won’t stop an attack, may be enough to make criminals think twice before acting on that property.

In other cases, active, human security may be needed. This is especially true in highly populated areas (like concert venues or crowded nightclubs), or in areas where there may be valuable property being carried around—think of a mall parking lot, where people carry out expensive items they purchased.

Using External Sources – Experts and Statistics

In many cases, how much security is enough, is one that security experts are called into court to answer. These experts know what a certain type of property would need to have, to be considered safe from crime.

Additionally, victims injured by criminal actors can use prior crime statistics in an area. If an area or property has a history of crime, a victim can argue that crime on the property was predictable and foreseeable, and thus that the property should have had proper anti-crime security measures (or more security than it had).

Housing Complex Security

As of last year, negligent security for multi family complexes—think of condominiums or apartment complexes—changed.

The law now says that a complex is presumed to be properly secured—that is, not liable for negligent security claims—if it has in place a number of security features, that are set forth in the law. Some of those include deadbolts on units, locking windows, locking pool gates, peepholes for doors, and security cameras on site, among others.

Injured because of a criminal attack or criminal activity? Call us to schedule a consultation with the Tampa personal injury lawyers at Barbas, Nunez, Sanders, Butler & Hovsepian today to see if you can be compensated for your injuries.

Sources:

jurispro.com/category/inadequate-negligent-security-s-617/FL

flocksafety.com/articles/understanding-floridas-house-bill-837-how-multifamily-property-owners-can-stay-compliant-and-protected