Boynton Beach Negligent Security Lawyer
In Florida, a property owner can be held financially liable when someone is injured on the premises due to a safety hazard that the owner knew about–or should have known about–and failed to take reasonable action to protect the victim. This principle extends to intentional acts committed by third parties, such as assault or even murder. In these cases, a Florida court can find the property owner was negligent in failing to take reasonable security measures to protect members of the public against such crimes.
If you or a family member have been the victim of a criminal act, the Boynton Beach negligent security lawyers at Steinberg Law are here to help. We can investigate all of the circumstances surrounding your incident, including a detailed examination of what security measures were in place, or not in place, and whether that was negligence on the part of the property owner. And if negligent security was a factor, we will represent you in seeking full compensation for your injuries and other losses.
When Is a Florida Property Owner Liable for Criminal Activity?
Negligent security falls within the scope of Florida premises liability law. This body of law holds that an owner is liable to invited guests and other lawful visitors to ensure the premises is kept in reasonably safe condition. This does not mean that the owner is always responsible when someone is harmed on the property by a third party committing a deliberate or criminal act. But premises liability does attach if certain conditions are met, such as:
- there was a known history of prior criminal acts on or near the property;
- the harm suffered by the victim was predictable or reasonably foreseeable given the property’s location and prior incidents; and
- the owner failed to implement reasonable security measures despite the known risk to members of the public.
A common example of negligent security involves an innocent party injured when a fight breaks out at a South Florida nightclub. If the club–and the neighborhood as a whole–has a reputation for such fights, the club’s owner is effectively on notice that they need to hire bouncers and other qualified security personnel to ensure the safety of their patrons. The club owner cannot simply throw up their hands and say people enter the facility at their own risk.
Contact Steinberg Law Today
There have been some substantial changes to Florida’s negligent security laws in recent years. One key change is that if a case goes to trial, the judge or jury must consider the relative fault of the third party who committed the criminal act in addition to any negligent security on the part of the defendant. This change was expressly designed by the Florida legislature to reduce the potential exposure of property owners for security incidents.
That said, the law does not let such property owners off the hook. So if you have been injured due to an intentional act committed on a commercial property, residential property, or public space, it is best to speak with an experienced Boynton Beach negligent security lawyer as soon as possible. Contact Steinberg Law today to schedule a consultation.
