Columbus Negligent Security Lawyers
Fighting for Central Ohio victims when property owners fail to protect you from attacks
Property owners in Columbus owe a duty of protection to the people they invite onto their property. This duty applies to the possibility of assaults and other attacks in addition to protecting invitees from slips and falls. Property owners, especially in places where money is likely to be exchanged or there is a history of prior attacks, must take affirmative steps to protect the people who lawfully use their property. Property owners who know that physical harm to customers is a distinct possibility, have a duty to help ensure your safety.
At Soroka & Associates, LLC, our Columbus negligent security lawyers fight for anyone who is attacked or killed while rightfully on the property of any property. We conduct extensive discovery (questions and answers) to help show a property knew or should have known that assaults on their property were likely. Our lawyers file personal injury claims when property owners are negligent about their security. We demand compensation for all your financial losses and personal suffering.
How can we help?
- What is negligent security?
- What are common examples of negligent security in Columbus?
- What steps should owners take in Columbus so that attacks don’t happen?
- How do your Columbus attorneys fight for negligent security victims?
- How does a criminal case affect my civil claim?
- What’s the value of my Columbus negligent security claim?
- Do you have a negligent security lawyer near me?
What is negligent security?
Ohio premises liability law includes negligent security. Negligent security means that property owners can be liable for injuries that customers and visitors suffer if the property owner failed to take reasonable steps to protect their safety while on the property. What’s reasonable – what steps the property owner should have taken – depends on many factors such as the location of the property and the likelihood of physical attacks:
- Some of the locations where owners should anticipate attacks or assaults include supermarkets, shopping malls, apartment complexes, office buildings, parking lots, parking garages, government offices, worksites, schools, banks, public transportation, entertainment venues, and other similar locations.
- The likelihood of physical attacks increases if there is a history of any prior assaults on or near the property. Places where money is exchanged increase the possibility of attacks on a person who holds or has access to the cash.
What are common examples of negligent security in Columbus?
Some examples of attacks that may occur while you’re out shopping, visiting an office, or participating in a community activity include:
- Acts of violence such as muggings, assaults, stabbing, and any violent act including a weapon.
- Sexual assaults.
- Any attempt by an assailant to take your money or valuables.
- Horseplay by teenagers or young adults.
- Illegal acts based on the use of drugs or alcohol.
What steps should owners take in Columbus so that attacks don’t happen?
Owners of private and public property can take many steps to reduce the risk of an attack. Common steps include:
- Providing extra lighting so that customers can see and so that criminals know they can be identified.
- Installing security systems such as video cameras, alarms, and automatic door locks.
- Installing fences and other barriers so only people rightfully on the property can enter the property.
- Hiring security guards.
How do your Columbus attorneys fight for negligent security victims?
At Soroka & Associates, our Columbus personal injury lawyers understand how to file negligent security claims and what evidence is needed to support those claims.
If you are attacked or assaulted while on someone else’s property, we:
- Investigate how the attack happened. Our investigation includes examining the location of the incident and speaking with any witnesses. Often, we speak with the police called to the scene after the assault is reported.
- Determine who had the responsibility to protect your safety. The defendants may include more than just the owner of the property. Responsible parties may include a lessee or landlord, parent companies, maintenance companies, and security companies. Property owners are generally liable for negligent security attacks if they knew attacks were likely or if they should have known (if they had just done a little investigation on their own) that attacks were likely.
- Review your reason for being on the property. Negligent security claims in Central Ohio require that you had a right to be on the property. Generally, if you were invited onto the property to benefit the owner (such as buying supplies or just partaking in some service offered by the owner), you have the right to file a premises liability claim. You can also file a claim if you had the right to be on the property but weren’t there to buy anything. You cannot file a claim, however, if you were trespassing at the time of the assault or attack.
- Review what steps the owner could have taken to prevent the attack. As discussed above, there are many safety measures owners can take to protect customers and visitors that aren’t expensive or unreasonable – especially in light of the pain and suffering and other damages just one attack can cause a victim. Our Columbus negligent security lawyers conduct extensive discovery to show that basic steps could have prevented your injuries.
Often, we request documents that show whether there were any prior attacks or complaints about the lack of adequate security on the property.
How does a criminal case affect my civil claim?
Often, after an assault or robbery, the police will investigate what happened. If the attack was intentional, the assailant may be charged with a crime. We coordinate your civil case with the prosecutor’s criminal case.
Normally, the criminal case will proceed first. The evidence obtained during the criminal case can help your civil negligent security claim. If the defendant is found guilty, the conviction may be used if you file a civil complaint against the defendant. Sometimes, the defendant may be required to pay your medical bills as part of any criminal sentence. Our attorneys are happy to explain more about your particular case.
What’s the value of my Columbus negligent security claim?
If you have injuries due to a negligent security claim, the responsible defendants should pay the following personal injury damages:
- Your medical bills – current and future
- Any loss of income – current and future
- Your pain and suffering
- Compensation for any scarring or disfigurement
- Compensation for any other damages, such as the loss of function of a body part
- Personal property damages, such as any money or valuables that were taken by the assailant
Do you have a negligent security lawyer near me?
Our Columbus office is located at 503 South Front Street, Suite 205. We’re easy to find. We’re near I-71 and Rt. 23. If you are unable to meet us at our office, we do make arrangements to meet ill and immobile clients at their homes or other locations.
Talk to an experienced Columbus negligent security lawyer today
At Soroka & Associates, we understand how traumatic it is to be attacked when you shop, visit someone, participate in a community program, or enter the property of another for any reason. It’s frightening to think the property owner could have helped you and did not. Our Columbus negligent security lawyers fight to show how the property owner breached its duty of care to protect you. We work with your doctors to show all your economic and human losses.
To assert your rights, call us at 614-918-4078 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. Our lawyers represent premises liability victims on a contingency fee basis.