Violence is a very serious thing, and in the worst of cases, we – or our loved ones – are the victims of senseless acts of violent crime. If someone you love was shot and killed in an apartment complex in Georgia, our attorneys understand what you are going through.
We also understand that you probably have a lot of questions about the differences between the civil and criminal justice system, and whether or not you have any rights to recover compensation.
If you lost someone in an apartment complex shooting, you may have a negligent security claim against the apartment complex. Here is what you need to know:
What Is Negligent Security?
A negligent security claim is a type of civil, premises liability claim in which a plaintiff alleges that the property owner failed to execute their duty of care. The duty of care in negligent security cases is the duty to secure the premises from threats, such as invasion from intruders, thieves, and violent criminals.
If a person is harmed because of a shooting (or other type of crime), the owner of the property where the crime occurred could be held liable as a result of their failure to keep the premises safe.
What Is a Property Owner’s Duty of Care as it Related to Security?
Again, a property owner is expected to keep their property in a reasonable secure state. Depending upon the area of Georgia and the type of property, the specifics of this may vary. For an apartment complex, the following may be consider reasonable measures:
- Adequate lighting or/and motion sensor lighting;
- Locks on all individual apartment doors and locks on apartment building door;
- Security cameras;
- Fences or gates; and
- The presence of a security guard.
Essentially, a property owner has a duty to protect those on the property from foreseeable criminal acts. If the apartment building is a high crime area, then, the above steps should certainly be taken.
Recovering the Compensation You Deserve
In addition to the shooter, the property owner as well as property manager as well as security company may be liable to compensate the victim. A person is charged separately in civil and criminal court, and the cases and convictions are completely unrelated to one another.
If your civil case is successful, you may be able to recover compensation for all losses associated with your loved one’s death, including compensation for medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, lost wages, and more.
Contact Our Georgia Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Law Firm Today
Losing a loved one to an act of violence is a terrible thing. While nothing can change the past, we can help you to improve the future. When you call our Georgia wrongful death and personal injury law firm, we will go to work immediately on building your case. Your consultation with our team is 100 percent free and 100 percent confidential – reach us online to get started now.
The foregoing answer is not legal advice and is merely a general overview. You are advised to consult a lawyer to address your specific situation. Feel free to send comments or questions to: steve@aa-legal.com of Apolinsky & Associates, LLC, or call (404) 377-9191.
Photo credit: Werner Vermaak & Paul
