What Is Negligent Security and Why Should You Know about It?

October 14, 2022 Insights

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Negligent security is a legal term used in the United States to describe a situation in which a property owner or occupier fails to take reasonable steps to protect people on their property from foreseeable harm. 

Negligent security claims can be complex, and it is important to speak with an experienced attorney if you believe you may have a claim. In this guide, we’ll go over what negligent security is and why it’s crucial for you to know about it.

What Is Negligent Security?

In general, a property owner has a duty to take reasonable steps to protect people on their property from harm. This includes protecting people from criminal activity, such as assault, rape, or murder.

If a property owner fails to take reasonable steps to protect people from harm, they may be liable for any injuries or losses that occur as a result of negligent security.

Why Is Negligent Security Important?

Negligent security is important because it helps protect people from harm. Property owners have a duty to take reasonable steps to protect people from foreseeable harm, including criminal activity. If they fail to do so, they may be liable for any injuries or losses that occur as a result of the negligent security.

This means that if you are injured or lose property as a result of negligent security, you may be able to recover damages from the property owner. It is important to speak with an experienced attorney if you believe you may have a claim for negligent security.

Examples of Negligent Security

One of the biggest dangers of not having proper security in public places is the potential for criminal activity. This can take the form of robberies, assaults, muggings, and more. 

By having a good security system in place, most of this activity can be prevented or stopped before it does too much damage. However, if a property is negligent in this regard, the consequences can be much worse. Criminal activity can spiral out of control and result in much higher damages.

Here are some examples of negligent security:

  • Improperly maintained security systems
  • Lack of security guards
  • Improper surveillance or lack thereof
  • Poor locks or other security devices

What Happens When Property Owners Don’t Take the Right Steps?

If a property owner doesn’t take the right steps to secure their property, they may be held liable if something happens on their property. This could include someone getting injured or property being stolen. The property owner could also be held liable if someone is injured or killed as a result of their negligence.

When a business is sued for an injury that could have been prevented, a security expert is often hired to testify that the business could have implemented steps to prevent the injury from occurring.

Protecting Your Property with Insurance

One way to protect yourself from potential liability is to have insurance. Property insurance can help protect you if someone is injured on your property or if your property is damaged. 

Businesses should also have liability insurance to protect them if they are sued for an injury that occurred on their property.

Conclusion

Negligent security can refer to a number of different situations in which a company or individual fails to provide an adequate level of security for those who may be harmed as a result. This can include everything from not having proper security measures in place to protect people and property, to not properly investigating potential threats.

If you want to learn more about what this entails, Circeo Law Firm can shed some more light on it. If you are looking for a negligent security attorney, we have you covered. Get in touch with us today for a free, confidential consultation.