
Georgia Premises Liability For Criminal Acts – Negligent Security
Sadly, it’s not hard to imagine being the victim of a crime on someone else’s property. After all, most of us spend time away from home every day, whether for work, shopping, or entertainment like eating out or going to the movies. But what happens if the landowner (maybe the office park, shopping mall, or restaurant) didn’t take steps to keep its property safe from criminals — steps that could have prevented you from becoming a crime victim?
It’s unfortunate, but there is a lot of violent crime in today’s world. In 2011, the most recent year for which statistics are available, there were thousands of violent crimes committed against people in Georgia. Among the crimes that were investigated or reported there were:
- More than 500 murders.
- More than 2,000 rapes.
- More than 12,000 robberies.
- More than 21,000 aggravated assaults.
If you or a family member has been the victim of such a crime, you know what it can cost. In addition to incurring medical bills and other expenses, victims of violent crime often suffer serious and long-lasting emotional trauma that naturally follows a physical attack in which the victim was hurt and feared being permanently injured, or even worse, killed.
You might think there’s nothing you can do. Even if the criminal were to be caught and arrested, it’s doubtful that person has anything of value, so it makes little sense to go after the criminal in court to recover fair compensation for your injuries.
But that might not be your only option. Under Georgia premises liability law, in many instances property owners can be liable to people on their property when a third-party criminal attack was foreseeable. Foresee ability depends upon the history of criminal activity on the property and in the nearby area.
If similar crimes occurred at the same location previously that should have alerted the property owner to a potential security problem, but the owner failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the crime from recurring, then he may be liable for the victim’s damages.
Contact the Atlanta Inadequate Security Attorneys At The Poe Law Firm Today
The Poe Law Firm represent injury victims on all types of premises liability claims, including negligent security claims by crime victims. We’re proud to offer our clients the individual attention available from a small firm, along with the seasoned and passionate representation necessary to get results in even the most difficult cases.
If you think you or a loved one might have a negligent security claim, contact personal injury lawyers Jim and Matt Poe today to be advised of your legal rights. We serve injury victims in Atlanta and other surrounding areas of Georgia. We’ll schedule a free consultation to discuss your case, and what you can do to protect your legal rights and your family’s financial security in the aftermath of a violent crime. Contact the experienced lawyers at the inadequate security law firm The Poe Law Firm today to discuss your concerns. We can be reached by telephone or by using our convenient online contact form.