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Property owners have an obligation to ensure that the premises are safe for guests, visitors, or anyone else who has a right to be on the property. In addition to guarding against slip and fall accidents, this includes making a reasonable effort to make sure that the premises are secure. Reasonable security measures will depend on a number of factors, including the location and nature of the property. As a result, it can be difficult to prove that the property owner was negligent. However, if you have been assaulted or otherwise injured due to inadequate security, an experienced Billings premises liability attorney can evaluate your case and determine whether you have a claim.
Apartment and Hotel Security
Apartment complexes, hotels, and other residential properties may have an obligation to keep you safe from assault or other intruders. This could include hiring security personnel in high-crime areas or, at a minimum, ensuring that access to the premises is secure. Broken locks, unsecured entries, malfunctioning security cameras, or other insufficient security measures could constitute negligence.
Bars, Nightclubs, and Concert Venues
There are unique security concerns wherever alcohol is sold. These establishments should take steps in protecting their patrons from others who become dangerously intoxicated. Security guards and bouncers should actively monitor the crowd to ensure that no one is behaving inappropriately, and should promptly remove misbehaving patrons from the premises. The establishment should also guard against weapons, drugs, and alcohol being brought onto the premises from outside. They may also need to provide additional security if located in a high-crime area.
Sports Venues
Sports venues also tend to serve alcohol, but even if they don’t (such as at a high school), the establishment should make sure intoxicated patrons are not allowed to enter or are promptly removed. They should also guard against weapons being brought onto the premises. Finally, security personnel should be on the lookout for taunting or other behavior that can lead to a violent altercation.
The Unique Challenges of Negligent Security Claims
When someone is injured at one of the places discussed above, the owner of the facility is not likely to admit that they were at fault. As a result, they will not be willing to turn over evidence that they were negligent in guarding against the risks that led to your injury. A Billings premises liability attorney can help you gather the evidence that you need to build your case.
In addition, the property owner may have contracted with a security company and claim that it was their negligence that led to your injuries. In turn, the security company may claim that they warned the owner of the risk but the owner declined to pay for additional security. This kind of finger-pointing can be difficult to unravel, but a Billings premises liability attorney can determine who should be held accountable.
Reach Out to a Billings Premises Liability Attorney at Ragain & Clark
If you have been injured due to negligent security, the good news is that you do not have to pursue your claim on your own. Billings premises liability attorney Jim Ragain has decades of experience helping people get fair compensation for their injuries. Call us today at 406-651-8888 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation to discuss how we can help. We have office locations in Montana and Wyoming for your convenience.
