Maison Law represents victims of negligent security throughout California. We understand the hugely impactful things that can happen to you when a convenience store fails to protect your security while you’re there. This can lead to serious injuries and other harm that can last the rest of your life. Don’t hesitate if this has happened to you, contact us today for a free consultation.
Do You Need Our Lawyers?
Walking into a convenience store shouldn’t result in you getting hurt. However, it’s unfortunate to consider just how often this happens across California. At the same time, whether or not you need to take legal action is going to depend on the circumstances of your particular incident. If you suffered only minor injuries, you probably don’t need to talk with our lawyers about your options, although we would be happy to do so.
On the other hand, our team can help guide you if you experience serious injuries or a more traumatic incident–as is common in negligent security cases. Getting an initial consultation from our team doesn’t cost you anything, and it’s really important for understanding your case better. Here’s what we can do to help:
- Finding security issues – We can figure out where the security at the store wasn’t good enough, like if there weren’t enough lights, staff, or if the entry controls didn’t work well. We’ll also put together how this caused your injuries.
- Talking to witnesses – We’ll talk to people who saw what happened and can say the security wasn’t good or it wasn’t safe, which makes your case stronger.
- Checking policies – Our team will look closely at the policies and procedures in place that the store had for security. If they didn’t follow the right rules, it can show they were careless.
- Past issues – We’ll see if similar incidents have happened at the store in the past. If they have, it shows a pattern of not being careful.
- Reviewing training – We’ll see if the people in charge of security at the store were trained well. If they weren’t, it helps your case.
A wide variety of things lead to negligent security incidents at convenience stores. But in terms of the impact, it often leads to serious injuries to you or someone you care about. That’s where you need our team. We can guide you through the process of filing a claim–which starts with protecting your rights.
What Do You Need to Do After an Incident?
When something bad happens to you at a convenience store because of a lack of security, it can be incredibly scary. You may have been assaulted, robbed, or hurt in some other way. But it’s important to remember you have legal rights. More to the point, you can file an injury claim against whoever is responsible. But part of that process is going to involve what you do right after the incident happens. So to strengthen your claim, here’s what you should do:
- Documentation – Immediately after the event, try to take down all pertinent details. Report it to an employee or management of the store and make them create a report. Take photos, collect witness statements, and preserve any evidence related to the negligent security.
- Call the police – Call the police so they can respond and make an official record of what happened. This documentation can be pivotal evidence in your insurance claim.
- Go to a doctor – If you suffered injuries, seek medical care right away, either at an emergency room or urgent care. This not only addresses your health needs but also establishes a clear link between the incident and your injuries.
- Preserve any evidence – Keep any evidence related to the incident intact, such as surveillance footage, photographs, or relevant objects.
- Keep track of your ongoing damages – Keep records of financial losses stemming from the incident, including medical bills and lost wages.
Remember, time is of the essence in these situations. You’ll need to move quickly to gather evidence, file reports, and seek our help to make sure your claim is undertaken effectively. Legally, there is a two year statute of limitations to file a claim, which means you have two years from the date of the incident to file.
Liability
In terms of liability, the convenience store and its various workers are like any other business in California in that they have to keep you and other customers safe while you’re there. And to do that, the law also says that they have to take “reasonable measures” to make sure this happens, like having security cameras, adequate lighting, control of who comes in and out of the store, and similar things.
Still, this doesn’t always happen, and when these things are neglected, you can get hurt. But figuring out who is responsible for your injuries means figuring out the following:
- Breach of duty – If the store’s management or staff fail to take sufficient safety precautions, especially when they are aware of potential risks, it constitutes a breach of their duty to you.
- Predictability – If the management or staff could have reasonably anticipated negative events because of a lack of security, such as robberies or assaults, they should have been prepared.
- Causality – If the store’s failure to put adequate security measures in place directly causes harm to you, the store is liable for your injuries.
- Harm – Your injuries or damages must be clearly connected to the lack of security measures.
What Can You Get Back in a Claim?
The important thing about establishing liability is that it gives you a clear target for your claim. This means that the store, its employees, contractors, or anyone else that’s responsible for hurting you are the ones that have to cover your injuries and damages.
When you get hurt at a convenience store because of a lack of security, you typically have two options for seeking these damages: filing an insurance claim or filing a personal injury lawsuit. Obviously, these incidents can result in significant harm and losses, from physical injuries to emotional trauma. The law tries to take this into account when factoring in your damages. So, in a claim, you can potentially get the following back:
- Medical expenses and bills related to your treatment
- Costs related to the physical pain and mental anguish you went through because of the incident
- Repair or replacement costs for any damaged personal property, like your phone
- Lost income from missed work or the loss of earning potential
- Costs relating to your reduced quality of life and emotional distress
- Punitive damages, if the store or person that hurt you acted with intentional negligence
While these damages are generally available, what you’re ultimately able to get back is going to depend on several different factors, from the extent of your injuries to any percentage of fault you may have contributed to the incident (such as if you were somewhere you weren’t supposed to be on the property.) At the end of the day, though, you can turn to our experienced team to stand up for your rights and help you through the whole process.
Dedicated California Negligent Security Lawyers
Stopping off at one of the thousands of convenience stores in California is an almost daily occurrence for many people. Unfortunately, this can sometimes lead to negligent security incidents where you or someone you care about get hurt.
At Maison Law, we can help you. We’ll explain your options and give you the support you need to see your claim through. Contact us today to set up a free consultation to get the process started.
