When you attend an event or go to a venue, you expect the owner or manager to take the necessary steps to keep guests safe and maintain a fun atmosphere. This might mean hiring security guards to prevent fighting and other unlawful behavior. Hiring qualified security personnel costs money, and some business owners minimize costs by selecting less expensive, less experienced security guards.
If you suffer injuries on another person’s property due to a lack of security, the owner or occupant of the premises may be liable for damages. The injured party’s status can affect whether the property owner is liable. A Denver negligent security lawyer at Gerash Steiner, P.C., can review the details of your case to determine if someone is financially responsible for your losses. Contact our negligent security law firm in Denver today to talk to a member of our team.
What Is a Negligent Security Lawsuit?
Negligent security claims in Denver are based on the legal principle of premises liability. This means a property owner is responsible for accidents on their property in some situations. If a property owner provides negligent security and their negligence causes someone else’s injury, the property owner might be liable for any losses. To recover, you must prove the property owner’s negligence by showing four elements: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and harm.
First, you must prove that the defendant owed you a legal duty to act as a reasonable person under the same or similar circumstances. Second, you must show the defendant breached their duty of care by failing to implement adequate security measures. Third, you must prove that the defendant’s breach caused your injury and that the injury would not have occurred without the defendant’s breach. Lastly, you must prove that you suffered actual harm, in the form of physical injuries or property damage, because of the defendant’s negligence.
Do Property Owners Owe a Duty to Hire Security?
The owner or possessor of the property owes invitees and licensees their premises a duty to exercise reasonable care and protect them from dangerous conditions they know or should know about. An invitee is someone who enters or remains on the property at the express or implied representation that they are invited to enter, remain, or conduct business. A shopper at a grocery store is considered an invitee. A licensee is any person who enters or remains on the premises with the landowner’s express or implied consent, such as a friend or social guest. This duty is not owed to someone attempting to trespass on the property.
When there are high crime levels near the property, the property owner may need to implement security measures to protect guests who visit their property. Some locations may experience frequent altercations within the premises. In that case, the property owner may need to hire security personnel to work inside their business to prevent injuries to other guests. Large events and venues often need numerous security personnel on-site to assist in the event of a disturbance or emergency. Anytime invitees or licensees face an increased risk of being victimized or injured by being on the property, the owner or manager should increase security measures.
Examples of Security Measures Implemented by Property Owners
Colorado property owners can add security to their premises in several different ways, such as:
- Posting signs about removing valuables from vehicles;
- Installing security cameras;
- Adding a metal detector to the entrance;
- Hiring security personnel;
- Installing a security system;
- Posting notice of surveillance and security systems;
- Providing adequate lighting in walkways and parking lots;
- Erecting fencing around the premises.
Property owners may be liable for subsequent injuries when they do not implement security changes to protect guests in high-risk environments.
What If I Am Partially Liable?
You can still file a lawsuit if you bear some responsibility for your losses. Colorado applies modified comparative negligence when awarding damages in personal injury claims. Under modified comparative negligence, the plaintiff’s recovery is reduced by their percentage of fault for the accident. The plaintiff cannot recover if the judge or jury determines they are 50% or more at fault.
Contact a Denver Negligent Security Lawyer at Gerash Steiner, P.C., Today
At Gerash Steiner, P.C., we give each case the personalized attention it deserves. We carry on a decades-old Colorado tradition of providing a strong voice for those injured by another person’s conduct and upholding the legacy of the late Walter L. Gerash. Our Denver negligent security attorneys have our clients’ best interests at the front of our minds so we can secure the best outcome. We will help you recover compensation to reimburse your losses and hold the at-fault party responsible for their negligence. Contact a negligent security injury attorney at Gerash Steiner, P.C., today to schedule an appointment.