When you go to a business or another public facility, such as a grocery store or a parking structure near a shopping mall, you expect to be safe. The last thing on your mind will be that you could be harmed in some way because the property owner failed to install surveillance cameras or adequate lighting, or to hire enough security guards to keep visitors safe.
If you were injured because a property owner, manager, landlord, or other responsible party failed to take appropriate steps to protect visitors to their property from criminal activity, you could be entitled to compensation. You need a negligent security lawyer in Myrtle Beach from Jebaily Law Firm.
Contact us today for a free consultation so we can review your situation and explain your legal options for seeking full compensation.
How a Myrtle Beach Negligent Security Lawyer Can Help
After you have been hurt because of negligent security on someone else’s property, you may wonder how to get the money you need for the harm you suffered. You need a negligent security attorney near you. Just contact Jebaily Law Firm, and we can:
- Investigate the accident
- Gather and preserve evidence
- Identify all potentially liable parties and sources of insurance
- Handle all communication with the at-fault party and their insurer
- Assess the full value of your claim
- Send a demand letter to the insurance company
- Negotiate for a fair settlement
- Take your case to trial if no settlement is possible
When you work with Jebaily Law Firm, you get the benefit of our combined 100 years of experience in helping injured people seek the compensation they deserve. We are attorneys who fight with determination and passion for our injured clients. We are committed to providing the highest level of care for our clients and serving them with dignity and respect.
Our law firm has obtained millions of dollars in settlements and awards for our clients over our 50-plus years, but we are most proud of the kind words our clients have written about their experiences in working with us. For example, one of our past clients wrote:
“Awesome group to work with! The entire staff is friendly and always willing to answer any questions!! Give them a call!” – Dustin S.
You do not have to worry about how much it will cost to hire us. You will pay nothing up front when you engage us to represent you. Our fees will be calculated as an agreed-upon percentage of your settlement or award. That means we have as much at stake in the outcome of your case as you do. If you do not get paid, neither do we.
What Steps Should You Take After a Negligent Security Incident in Myrtle Beach?
After you have been the victim of a negligent security incident in Myrtle Beach, you can take steps to protect your health and your claim for compensation. You should:
- Report the incident to the property manager
- Call 911 and get emergency services on site, if required
- Seek medical treatment and follow all your doctor’s recommendations
- Attend all medical follow-up appointments
- Ask witnesses for their contact details and request statements
- Take videos or pictures of the scene of the accident
- Stay off social media
- Keep copies of all documentation related to the case, including receipts, medical records, and repair estimates
- Write down what happened as soon as you get home, so no details fade from memory
- Contact our experienced Myrtle Beach negligent security accident lawyers
How Long Do You Have to File a Negligent Security Claim in South Carolina?
In most cases, people injured in negligent security accidents in South Carolina have 3 years to file a lawsuit against the property owner or manager whose negligence caused their injuries. Some circumstances may extend the deadline or require a shorter notice period. Consult our Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyers as soon as possible to get started on your case.
Where Do Negligent Security Incidents Commonly Occur in Myrtle Beach?
Negligent security incidents related to foreseeable criminal acts happen in a large number of locations in Myrtle Beach, including:
- Amusement parks
- Apartment complexes
- ATMs and banks
- Bars and nightclubs
- Big box stores
- Convenience stores
- Daycare centers
- Department stores
- Events and public gatherings
- Gas stations
- Hotels and motels
- Parking lots and garages
- Sports arenas
- Supermarkets
- Swimming pools
What Types of Compensation Can You Recover in a Negligent Security Case?
You can seek compensation for all your related injuries and losses through a personal injury claim. You could get money for your:
- Medical expenses, both present and future
- Lost income, including wages, tips, bonuses, and commissions
- Lost future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- PTSD
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement
- Permanent impairment
- Property repair or replacement
Challenges Victims Face in Negligent Security Cases and How to Overcome Them
Having a lawyer who knows how to prove negligent security cases represents you is imperative in your pursuit of compensation. Inadequate security cases are challenging, and insurance companies will do everything they can to minimize or deny your claim.
Some examples of challenges that arise in proving a negligent security case can include proving that:
- The property owner had a legal duty to provide a safe environment through adequate security measures
- The property owner breached that duty, perhaps by failing to install adequate lighting or security cameras
- The breach caused you to be harmed
- The harm was reasonably foreseeable, which can require evidence of prior crimes
- The security breach led directly to your injuries, which may require expert testimony
- Any emotional distress you suffered was directly related to the incident
Contact Us for a Free Negligent Security Case Review in Myrtle Beach
Have you or someone you love been hurt in Myrtle Beach because a property owner failed to keep their premises safe or provide adequate security? If so, you could be entitled to compensation through a premises liability claim.
You should never try to handle a negligent security lawsuit on your own. Premises liability cases often require detailed evidence and expert testimony. Our experienced attorneys who handle premises liability and other personal injury cases in Myrtle Beach have the skills and knowledge required to build a compelling case that shows you deserve compensation for your losses.
Contact our office today for a free consultation with an experienced negligent security lawyer in Myrtle Beach to learn more about how we can help.
Negligent Security Lawyer FAQs
Negligent Security Lawyer
Can a business be held responsible for criminal acts committed by someone else?
A business may be held responsible when a foreseeable crime occurs on its property due to a security failure. Negligent security claims often hinge on whether the property owner knew or should have known about prior crimes, safety risks, or dangerous conditions that increased the likelihood that the property would be the site of criminal activity. If the business knew or should have known about such risks and failed to take reasonable steps to protect visitors, it may be liable for injuries caused by criminal acts.
How do I prove a negligent security claim?
Proving a negligent security claim requires you to show that the property owner owed you a duty of care, that they failed to provide appropriate security, and that their failure contributed to your injuries. That may involve showing that the crime was foreseeable based on prior incidents, complaints, or known dangers on the same property.
What evidence is important in a negligent security case?
Various types of evidence may be useful for showing what the property owner knew and whether a more attentive approach to security could have prevented the incident that caused you harm. Some types of evidence you may gather include:
- Police reports and prior crime records
- Security camera footage
- Incident reports from the business
- Witness statements
- 911 calls or other emergency records
- Photos of lighting, locks, gates, or cameras
- Employee training records
- Company security policies
- Maintenance requests or complaints about unsafe conditions
How long does a negligent security case usually take?
How long a negligent security case takes to resolve depends on the unique facts of the case – particularly the severity of the injuries and the extent of the investigation needed – and on whether it settles or goes to trial.
Some negligent security cases may be resolved in several months. Others can take longer if the business or its insurer disputes liability or if multiple parties are involved. An attorney from Jebaily Law Firm can help you understand the possible timeline after reviewing the evidence and determining the full impact of your injuries.
How much does it cost to hire a negligent security lawyer?
The negligent security attorneys at Jebaily Law Firm work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing up front, and we get paid only if we recover compensation for you. Our fees are deducted from the amount recovered, so you never pay us out of pocket. We can review our fee agreement and answer any questions you may have during your free initial consultation.
How can a lawyer investigate a negligent security case?
Jebaily Law Firm will look beyond the criminal incident itself and review what the property owner knew or should have known before it happened. We can gather police reports, prior crime data, surveillance footage, incident reports, maintenance records, witness statements, and other evidence. We can also inspect the property for security risks like broken locks, poor lighting, missing cameras, unsafe entrances, or a track record of ignored complaints.
In some cases, we may also enlist security consultants to help evaluate whether the business used reasonable safety measures. Our goal is to show whether stronger security might have reduced the risk of harm and whether the owner failed to act sooner.
