With crime surging, many New Yorkers are feeling unsafe again. They see stories on the news of people attacked in grocery stores, parking lots, and shopping malls. And they wonder if they will be next. Sadly, no one is completely safe in Queens or in any of the other boroughs.
Property owners can make things worse by failing to install adequate security measures based on the history and likelihood of crime. At the Law Offices of Gary E. Rosenberg, P.C., our firm has helped many people injured in violent attacks due to negligent security. These are confusing cases to bring, so hiring an experienced Queens negligent security attorney is the right move to make.
How Our Queens Negligent Security Attorney Can Help
Many clients call us unsure about what to do. They are confident the prosecutor will bring charges against the defendant, but they have high expenses stemming from the attack.
The good news is that you might be able to bring a lawsuit against the property owner. To help build a case, our office can:
- Coordinate with the police to uncover information about the attack
- Perform an independent investigation, if necessary, to collect evidence
- Document the security installed on the premises
- Work with doctors and specialists to better understand your injuries
- Analyze the history of crime in the area
- Negotiate a settlement with the property owner for injuries sustained due to negligent security
Our clients are usually traumatized after an incident, suffering serious bodily injuries in addition to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They must commit all resources to their recovery and don’t have the time to research how to bring a claim for compensation. This is where our Queens negligent security attorney can be a big benefit.
Compensation for Violent Attacks
We can assist anyone who is injured by:
- Assault
- Battery
- Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
- Rape or sexual assault
- False imprisonment
Compensation should cover all out-of-pocket expenses, as well as harder-to-define losses caused by the incident. Victims are often struggling with painful injuries which need immediate medical care. This care is necessary to help a person improve as much as possible.
Attorney Rosenberg has helped countless people secure compensation for:
- Medical care
- Future medical expenses
- Lost income
- Loss of future income
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
Documenting Negligent Security
A major question in these cases is whether security was negligent. No business or landlord can 100% guarantee that you won’t be attacked, and New York law doesn’t require the impossible. Instead, the state requires that property owners keep the property “reasonably” safe.
The type of security needed will depend on the circumstances. However, some common security measures include:
- Fences or locked gates
- Security cameras
- Adequate lighting
- Locks on doors and windows
- Properly trained security staff
Determining what security a business should install requires looking at many factors. For example, we might investigate the history of crime in the area and at the establishment specifically. If a bar is in a rough part of Queens, they need more security than if it is in a safe, residential neighborhood.
Similarly, we analyze whether the crime was foreseeable. A parking lot without lights is virtually inviting someone to be victimized by theft, for example.
We also need to know whether there were complaints about the person who attacked you. Someone might have been skulking around the halls of a motel. If a guest complained to the front desk, then staff should have investigated. If they instead ignored the complaint, then there is powerful proof they were negligent.
Lastly, we might look at what security is employed by similar businesses in the area. This provides some evidence of what other businesses have considered being sufficient.
Defendants We Have Sued
The most common negligent security claim involves situations where our clients were customers of the business where they were hurt. We have brought negligent security claims against:
- Stores
- Shopping malls
- Stadiums
- Colleges or universities
- Amusement parks
- Restaurants and bars
- Hotels or motels
- Movie theaters
- Apartment complexes
- Banks
In these situations, it is clear that the defendant owes all customers or clients a duty to use reasonable care in keeping them safe. If you were a trespasser, by contrast, then the owner might not have any duty to protect you from crime.
Suing Your Attacker
We can also bring a lawsuit against the person who attacked you. They are fully responsible for the injuries they cause, and you might seek damages in a lawsuit.
However, the perpetrator might lack the assets to pay full compensation. Therefore, adding a business defendant for negligent security is very helpful. Businesses should have liability insurance that covers people injured on their premises due to negligence, and we can analyze whether you are covered by this insurance policy.
Deadlines for Bringing a Negligent Security Claim
Many victims are reeling after an attack. It is understandable if you don’t immediately begin thinking of filing a lawsuit. Nevertheless, New York gives accident victims tight deadlines that they need to meet, and in most cases, the deadline is three years from the attack.
However, if you were attacked in a government building, you have even less time—90 days, in most situations. This means you should quickly seek out professional legal help. Any delay can undermine even the most valid claim.
Our negligent security attorney is prepared to do whatever it takes to seek compensation following an attack. This might mean quickly filing a lawsuit in court while continuing to negotiate a settlement.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Queens Negligent Security Attorney
The Law Offices of Gary E. Rosenberg, P.C. is standing by to assist anyone victimized in a preventable crime. The best way to promote public safety is to bring a legal claim against an establishment that has closed its eyes to violent crime. Don’t let other people become a statistic.