Douglas County Negligent Security Lawyer
When you visit a private property in Douglas County, you should expect the property owner to have ensured appropriate security for the premises and addressed any foreseeable safety hazards that might result in injury. If you or a loved one was victimized by a criminal act on someone else’s property, you may have grounds for a negligent security claim against the property owner. A Douglas County negligent security attorney can help you understand your legal options if necessary.
Helping Victims of Negligent Security Recover in Douglas County, CO
The Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal has years of professional experience helping our clients with all types of personal injury cases in Douglas County, including those filed under premises liability law. We know how traumatic it can be to suffer any type of criminal act, and if you believe a recent experience was only possible because of a property owner’s negligent security, we can help you hold them accountable.
You may have grounds for legal recourse against the individual who harmed you as well as the owner of the property where the incident occurred. Negligent security claims pertain to property owners’ failures to ensure reasonably safe premises and minimize the risk of lawful visitors, tenants, and customers becoming victims of crime on their properties. When they fail in this duty of care, they face liability for the resulting damages.
Building Your Negligent Security Claim in Douglas County
The first challenge you will face in a negligent security claim in Douglas County is establishing fault for your damages. While it’s true that liability falls on the individual who committed the criminal act you experienced, the owner of the property where the accident occurred is liable for their failure to maintain appropriate security measures. Examples of such failures can include:
- Failure to fix broken gates, doors, windows, and locks.
- Failure to maintain security cameras and/or properly monitor camera feeds.
- Poorly trained security guards and/or a lack of appropriate personnel.
- Broken light fixtures in stairwells, parking lots, and other spaces where crimes may occur.
These are only a few ways that a property owner can face liability for negligent security. You must prove they knew or reasonably should have known about the security issue that caused your injury to hold them accountable for your damages. An experienced Douglas County negligent security attorney can then be invaluable for helping you accurately identify all these claimable damages.
Under Colorado’s personal injury laws, the plaintiff in a negligent security case has the right to seek compensation for any economic losses they suffered from the incident. These are likely to include their medical expenses, lost income, and the cost of replacing any personal property lost in the incident. The individual who directly harmed them may face liability for some of these losses, and liability can also fall to the property owner.
You may also claim pain and suffering compensation, but state law limits this aspect of recovery in most personal injury cases. Punitive damages may also enhance your case award, but these cannot be directly claimed by a plaintiff and are instead awarded at a judge’s discretion. When you choose the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal to handle your case, we can help you understand all the variables that could influence your final case award.
Douglas County Negligent Security FAQs
Q: What Is the Negligence Rule?
A: Colorado follows the modified comparative negligence rule, meaning it is possible for more than one party to bear fault for the damages cited in a civil claim. If a plaintiff is less than 50% at fault, they can still recover compensation but lose a percentage of their case award equal to their fault percentage. If they are 50% or more at fault, they lose the right to claim compensation for their damages from any other liable party.
Q: What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Negligent Security Claim?
A: A negligent security claim is a form of premises liability claim, and premises liability falls within the extent of personal injury law. The statute of limitations is the time limit you have for filing a claim, and for most personal injury claims, it is two years from the date an injury occurred. It’s vital to connect with a Douglas County negligent security attorney as soon as possible to ensure you meet this deadline.
Q: How Much Compensation Can I Recover for My Negligent Security Claim?
A: The purpose of your personal injury claim is to hold a defendant accountable and to secure compensation for the damages they caused. The total value of your claim may include compensation for various economic damages such as property losses, medical expenses, and lost income. You may also claim pain and suffering compensation, but the state limits the amount you can receive.
Q: Will I Win More Compensation if I Hire a Douglas County Negligent Security Attorney?
A: While it’s technically possible to file your claim on your own without hiring an attorney, you face several risks in doing so. Specifically, even if you win, you risk settling for far less compensation than you rightfully deserve. Hiring an experienced Douglas County negligent security attorney to represent you increases your chance of success with your claim and the chance of maximizing your total recovery.
Q: What Will It Cost to Hire a Douglas County Negligent Security Attorney?
A: The Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal accepts personal injury clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning our firm collects a percentage of your final case award as our fee only if and when we win your case. We take no fee if our team is unable to secure compensation for you, so this billing policy removes any financial risk of paying more for legal representation than you win in compensation for your damages.
The right attorney can have a significant positive influence on the outcome of your impending case in Douglas County. The Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal approaches every civil case we accept with the goal of helping our client maximize their recovery in the shortest possible time. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Douglas County negligent security attorney and learn how we can assist you.