Maison Law represents the victims of premises liability negligence in California, including those hurt due to the actions or inactions of security guards. Our negligent security lawyers secure support for the victims of criminal attacks from those who allowed the attack to take place. Please contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. It’s a no-risk opportunity to find out what your injury and scary ordeal should be worth and how to hold business owners and security officers responsible for your injuries.
Dangers Created by Security Officers
Businesses hire security officers and security guards to keep their customers and their property safe from criminal acts. Unfortunately, security personnel can fail in their duties to keep guests safe. In some cases, they are the cause of a violent attack and assault.
A security guard represents a business or property owner’s “duty of care” to tenants, clients, customers, and other visitors. Owners and operators are legally responsible for the safety of guests and that includes protecting them from crime and the violent acts of other guests.
Theft or a criminal or sexual assault incident may prompt a business owner to hire a security firm to provide guards. An increase in crime in the surrounding community may cause an owner to boost surveillance and security.
Unfortunately, security guards can fail in their duties to protect others from crime. They can also make poor decisions that put visitors at additional risk such as taking excessive breaks and neglecting their patrol duties. In some cases, a security guard may make an error in judgment and assault an innocent person or use too much force.
Companies, businesses, and security firms can all be liable for the actions of a security guard. These and other mistakes could leave a business financially responsible for your injuries if you are the victim of an attack:
- Hiring security personnel without proper background checks.
- Exposing customers and clients to a security guard with a violent history or a history of incompetence.
- Failure to train staff members in security measures and properly equip them.
- Failure to warn residents and their families of known safety hazards or recent criminal activity.
- Employing too few security guards to keep everyone safe.
- Not supervising a security guard properly and allowing a guard to harm someone.
These and other acts of negligence could leave the victims of crime and assault eligible for full compensation during recovery. But insurance companies for businesses won’t turn this support over automatically. A California negligent security lawyer fully investigates what happened to you and examines the security guard’s past record. This evidence is used to build a strong case that an insurance company can’t find ways to reject.
Who Is Responsible If a Security Guard Causes or Contributes to an Injury?
The liability for a criminal act involving a security guard can fall to several different parties. One thing is for sure, the burden of medical bills and lost time at work should never fall to the victims of assault.
Security guards can even participate in criminal acts and have an arrangement to help friends gain access to merchandise or victims.
Businesses can simply fire negligent employees, but victims aren’t so lucky. They may be suffering from gunshot or stab wounds. They may be recovering from a severe assault or the physical and mental trauma of a sexual assault allowed by the negligence of a security guard.
If you are hurt due to the actions or the negligence of a security guard, you would be filing a claim against one or more parties after suffering an injury, property damage, or theft.
These and other parties may be found liable and would have to provide support for your recovery:
- The business that hired the security staff
- The security company
- The security guard
Your negligent security lawyer would look into every aspect of what happened. Your lawyer must file claims with everyone responsible. This could allow you to secure funds from several insurance companies, giving you a better chance of earning enough to pay every medical bill you receive.
What Are Security Guards Allowed to Do?
A security guard’s priority should be to protect business or event staff and ensure the absolute safety of guests. Security guards can use force to defend themselves from an attack.
Generally, security guards are allowed to use reasonable force to protect others from a violent person or a criminal attack. In some circumstances, security staff are allowed to detain suspects, long enough for police to take over. Most security guards are not allowed to carry weapons.
Do I Have to Wait on a Criminal Trial to File a Negligent Security Claim?
A criminal suspect could also be arrested for what happened to you. Depending on their conduct, security guards may also be facing criminal charges. You may have been attacked by a security guard.
Your negligent security lawsuit would not depend on the outcome of a criminal trial. You could file your claim against the companies involved as soon as you were ready. You wouldn’t have to wait for the outcome of the suspect’s trial.
Contact Maison Law After a California Negligent Security Injury
If you or a loved one are harmed by the actions of a security guard or the inaction of a guard, you should talk with a California negligent security guard about your options. The security guard may face criminal charges and you may be able to hold the security guard’s employer financially responsible for your recovery costs.
Contact Maison Law to schedule a free case consultation. It’s a no-risk way to find out how to hold businesses responsible for negligent security that leads to an attack. There’s no obligation for this free case review, but if you decide we can help you earn more for your injuries, you won’t need any upfront money. We work on a contingency basis. It means we don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement check a liability insurance company provides to you and your family.
