BOSTON NEGLIGENT SECURITY ATTORNEY

Negligent security is a legal concept that holds an individual or entity liable for damages or injuries incurred on their property due to a lack of reasonable security. This legal concept falls under premises liability.

Negligent security incidents come in different forms. Here are a few examples:

• Failure to provide security cameras
• Lack of alarm systems
• Faulty door locks
• Failure to provide security guards
• Providing untrained and underqualified security guards
• Failure to set up clear warning signs to warn the public of security hazards

It's important that you know the steps to take if you believe that you or your loved one was injured due to negligent security. Here are some quick tips to guide you:

Call 911

You'll need to call 911, especially if the incident involves a crime. For example, if someone broke into your apartment complex and attacked you or your loved one, such an attack is considered a crime. In addition, the decision to call 911 could come in handy later when you file a negligent security claim or lawsuit against the liable party.

This is because when you call 911, the officers responding to the scene of the crime will write a report detailing the following:

• Description of the incident
• Nature of injuries sustained
• How the incident occurred
• Time, date, and location of the incident
• Witness accounts
• Any other relevant information

Remember to request a copy of the incident report from the police. You may also obtain another incident report from the individual in charge of the property. For instance, if the incident occurred at a grocery store, request a copy of the report from the store manager, supervisor, security officer, or owner.

Collect Evidence of the Incident

If possible, take pictures and videos of the dangerous condition that led to your injuries. In addition, consider collecting the contact information of any witnesses to the incident. Their testimonies could be crucial when you file a lawsuit against the responsible party.

Seek Immediate Medical Attention

You should see a doctor even if you feel fine after the incident. For example, if you slipped and fell due to missing handrails at the mall, you'll need to request an ambulance. This decision could save your life. But that's not the only benefit of seeking immediate medical attention after such an injury.

When you get injured due to someone else's negligence, seeking medical attention helps establish the existence of your injuries. Secondly, it allows medical professionals to offer treatment or recommend specialists who can handle the nature of your injuries. Thirdly, the doctor will write a medical report describing the nature of your injuries, the kind of treatment required, and any other relevant information. This report comes in handy later when you file a claim or lawsuit against the liable party.

Do Not Accept Liability

Do not accept responsibility for the incident, even if you are partly at fault. Instead, focus on getting the medical attention you need after the injury.

Do Not Sign Anything

When you get injured due to someone else's negligence, and they know they're responsible for your injuries, they will likely want to settle the case out of court. Specifically, they might ask you to sign a settlement agreement. But this is never a good idea, especially if you do not have an attorney. We will discuss this in detail shortly.

Contact a Negligent Security Attorney

Boston is home to many personal injury law firms that offer legal representation for victims of negligent security. So if you or your loved one has been injured due to another party's failure to provide adequate security, a negligent security attorney might be able to fight for you.

The decision to hire a negligent security attorney can significantly impact your case. Here's how such an attorney might be able to help:

Deciding Whether You Have a Case

The first and most important thing during the negligent security claim process is to ensure you have a valid case. That is exactly why Morgan and Morgan provide a free case evaluation. When you fill out our free case evaluation form, one of our legal representatives will review your case to determine whether you have legal grounds to take action against the other party. And if your case is valid, they will guide you on the next steps forward.

Identifying the Liable Party

To file a negligent security lawsuit, you must identify the party responsible for your injuries. An experienced negligent security attorney in Boston can help identify the liable parties. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you might be surprised to discover that more than one individual or entity is responsible for your injuries.

Collecting Crucial Evidence Against the Defendant(s)

Once negligent security lawyers have identified the parties liable for your injuries, they will collect crucial evidence to strengthen your case. They will also review existing evidence to ensure it is strong enough to win the case.

Assessing Injuries and Damages

The primary reason for filing a negligent security lawsuit is to obtain compensation for the injuries and damages you or your loved one sustained. A seasoned Boston negligent security lawyer can help assess your injuries and damages and estimate the amount of compensation you may be able to recover.

Explaining the Do’s and Don'ts of Such a Case

Whatever you do while pursuing your claim could impact your case. For instance, the defendant could monitor your social media activities, hoping to find a reason to dismiss your case. Your attorney will tell you what to do or avoid if you find yourself in such a situation.

Creating a Legal Strategy to Pursue Your Negligent Security Case

One of the greatest benefits of working with negligent security lawyers is that they can help create the right legal strategy for your case. This is because negligent security cases are complex, and how you choose to approach them could greatly influence the trajectory of the case.

Filing a Negligent Security Claim or Lawsuit

This process usually involves lots of paperwork, strict deadlines, and other complex rules. The last thing you want is to have your case dismissed because you failed to follow the rules or you missed an important deadline. However, you should not be worried about that when you work with an experienced negligent security attorney. Since they specialize in these cases, they know the rules and requirements of filing a claim. And if the liable party won't settle out of court, then filing a lawsuit might be the only remaining option.

It is always advisable to seek medical attention as soon as possible. In fact, most legal experts recommend seeking medical attention immediately if you have suffered life-threatening injuries and no later than 14 days after the incident if you did not suffer any significant injuries. Failure to seek medical attention gives the other party a good reason to dispute your claim and dismiss your case. 

Even though you might have a valid negligent security case, your actions after the injury could determine whether or not you are eligible for compensation. Here are some common defenses the other party might use to dismiss your case:

• You took too long to seek medical attention, meaning your injuries were not that serious  
• You were not at the property legally
• You do not have sufficient evidence to prove your case
• Your social media activity invalidated your claim
• No one but you knew about the incident
• You were partly or wholly responsible for the injury

The term “negligent security claim” refers to seeking compensation from an insurance company for their insured's negligence. Most of these cases are settled out of court. However, if the insurance company refuses to settle the case out of court, your attorney might recommend filing a lawsuit, which brings the case before a judge or jury.

The kind of evidence required will depend on the specifics of the case. That said, some common examples of evidence used in these cases include:

• Security camera footage
• Witness statements
• Photos and videos of the scene
• Police reports
• Medical reports
• Expert opinions

The statute of limitations for negligent security cases in Boston is three years from the date of the injury.

When looking for a negligent security attorney in Boston, or anywhere across Massachusetts, consider the following key factors:

Resources: You need an attorney with powerful legal resources to fight for you. If the attorney or law firm does not have access to such resources, chances are they will conduct shoddy investigations into your claim and settle for less than you deserve.

Results: A law firm or attorney with proven results gives you peace of mind knowing they will not use your case as an experiment.

Experience: How long has the attorney been practicing personal injury law in Boston? That is one of the most important questions you must ask during the initial consultation with the attorney.

There is no doubt that Boston is home to many negligent security attorneys. But if you are looking for an attorney who ticks all the right boxes, Morgan and Morgan is the law firm to contact.

We are the largest personal injury law firm in the United States, boasting powerful resources to fight for you. Our law firm has been serving clients from coast to coast for over three decades.

And if you need to see our results, you will be glad to discover that we have helped our clients recover more than $30 billion as compensation for different injuries caused by negligence.

Do not suffer in silence—our compassionate and competent attorneys might be able to fight for you. Fill out our free case evaluation form today to get started.