Have you been the victim of an assault or another violent crime in Buffalo, New York? Did you get hurt on someone else’s property? Did the owner lack security measures that could have prevented the attack and kept you safe? If so, don’t hesitate to call O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers at (716) 222-2222.
The property owner might be liable for your injuries, and our Buffalo negligent security lawyers are here to help you get the financial accountability you deserve.
For 13 years, injury victims in Buffalo, NY, have turned to us when they need help the most. We’re award-winning New York trial lawyers with over 84 years of combined experience and a proven ability to take on tough cases and win. Our personal injury case results speak volumes, with tens of millions in damages recovered.
Don’t let a negligent property owner off the hook for your injuries and suffering. Contact our Buffalo law office and discover how we can help you make things right. Your first consultation with a Buffalo negligent security attorney is free.
How O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Helps Victims of Negligent Security in Buffalo, NY
Even though you may have the right to seek compensation for injuries sustained at a business in Buffalo, New York, the road to recovery won’t be without its challenges. You can expect the property owner and their insurance company to dispute your allegations and work hard to avoid paying you compensation for your medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering.
The best thing you can do to win your negligent security lawsuit is to hire an experienced Buffalo personal injury lawyer to represent you.
Choosing O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers means working with litigators recognized as Legal Elite of Western New York and Super Lawyers for unparalleled client satisfaction and unrivaled case results. We know our clients face an uphill battle when taking on powerful property owners and corporations, and we’re here to level the playing field and force the results that are deserved.
When you turn to us for help with your negligent security claim, our Buffalo personal injury lawyers will:
- Evaluate the property owner’s security measures and determine where they fell short
- Coordinate an independent investigation into the circumstances of your case
- Gather evidence needed to support a successful legal claim for damages
- Work closely with expert witnesses throughout the claims process
- Craft and file your negligent security claim with the local Erie County court clerk
- Engage in meaningful negotiations with the property owner and other parties as we work to secure a top-dollar settlement agreement on your behalf
- Be available to answer your questions and offer advice whenever you need it
- Reject unreasonably low settlement offers and pursue much better results at trial, if necessary
You were attacked. Your injuries might have been prevented if the owner of the premises had better security measures in place. Our Buffalo negligent security lawyers want to help you hold them accountable for the suffering their negligence has caused. We’re so confident we can make a difference in your life that we’ll take your case on a contingency fee basis. We won’t get paid until we recover compensation on your behalf.
Call our law office in Buffalo, NY, today to discuss the details of your negligent security lawsuit. There’s no charge for your initial case review.
What is Negligent Security?
Property owners in Buffalo, New York, assume a responsibility to protect guests and visitors who enter the premises. This involves way more than protecting against slips and falls. It also requires owners to take reasonable steps to protect against reasonably foreseeable acts of criminal violence that could pose a threat to visitor safety.
Put more plainly, property owners have to have adequate security measures in place to protect those who are explicitly or implicitly invited onto their premises.
When a property owner neglects to put appropriate security into place and a visitor is injured as a result, the owner can be liable for resulting damages.
What Type of Security Measures Are Adequate?
It depends. What’s appropriate for one business might be overkill for another, yet not enough for a different establishment.
It really depends on:
- The type of business that’s operated
- The history of criminal activity at the business
- The amount of cash the business typically has on hand
- The neighborhood in which the business is located
The more likely it is that a business could be the target of criminal activity – including but not limited to robberies, assaults, vandalism, or arson – the more expansive its security measures should be. So, a pawn shop, gas station, or bar that’s open into the late hours of the night in a crime-prone part of Buffalo would likely require more substantial security than an upscale boutique or restaurant in a low-crime part of the city.
Depending on the particular business, appropriate security measures might include:
- Door locks and bolts
- Surveillance cameras
- Signs indicating the premises are under surveillance
- Security guards
- Lockboxes for excess cash on hand
- Window guards
- Floodlights in parking lots and alleyways
- Alarms
Businesses should conduct regular risk assessments to understand the potential threat of criminal activity and adjust security appropriately. Not only does negligent security put workers and visitors at risk, but also opens the business up to liability when someone gets hurt.
How Do I Win a Negligent Security Case?
Negligent security lawsuits are a matter of premises liability based on the tort of negligence. Essentially, you need to prove that the owner of the premises where you were attacked was negligent when putting security measures into place, and as a result, you were the victim of a criminal attack.
Specifically, you need to prove:
- The property owner owed you a duty of care because you were lawfully on the premises
- The owner’s chosen security measures were inadequate given the business’s location, purpose, and history of crime, which breached the duty of care owed to you
- The subpar security measures were a direct and proximate cause of your injuries, and
- You’ve suffered damages
Put another way, you would likely have escaped injury if the property owner/business had better security in place, because they would have thwarted the criminal act.
What is My Negligent Security Lawsuit Worth?
Again, it depends. Everyone is different. Everyone will suffer different injuries and have their lives changed in different ways when they’re the victim of a criminal assault.
However, several factors will play a part in determining how much your personal injury claim might be worth:
- What injuries have you suffered?
- Can you still work?
- Are you temporarily or permanently disabled?
- Has your earning capacity changed?
- How old are you?
- What steps did you take to mitigate your damages?
- Are you being accused of provoking your attacker?
The more you know about the value of your negligent security case, the better prepared you’ll be to negotiate a favorable settlement. Call O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, and trust our Buffalo negligent security attorneys to help you fight for maximum recovery.
What Types of Damages Can I Win With a Negligent Security Lawsuit?
When you sue a business in Buffalo, New York, for negligent security, you can seek economic damages and non-economic damages for:
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost wages and earnings
- Diminished earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Nursing care
- Rehabilitation
- Funeral expenses if negligent security leads to a customer’s wrongful death
- Chronic physical pain
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement
- Embarrassment
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
Punitive damages can also be awarded if a negligent security lawsuit goes to trial and a jury determines that a property owner’s conduct was grossly negligent or intentional.
How Long Will I Have to File a Negligent Security Lawsuit in New York State?
You’ll have three years from the date of an injury or two years from the date of a wrongful death to seek compensation through a negligent security lawsuit in New York State.
Once the applicable statute of limitations expires, you’ll lose the ability to hold a Buffalo property owner accountable for their inadequate security measures.
Don’t lose out on valuable compensation. Call O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers for help as soon as you can after you’ve been attacked. Our personal injury attorneys in Buffalo are available to take your call 24 hours a day.
Contact Our Buffalo Negligent Security Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Property owners have a responsibility to protect consumers and guests. When they cut corners on security to save costs, they have to be held accountable. Not only does filing a negligent security lawsuit give you the opportunity to get compensation, but it also helps to protect others from suffering the same fate.
O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help you make the most of your negligent security claim
Our Buffalo negligent security lawyers are backed by over 84 years of collective experience. We’ve successfully recovered tens of millions in damages for our clients. Today, we’re ready to be your most diligent advocate, too.
Contact our law office in Buffalo, NY, today to begin with a free consultation.