Slips, Trips, Criminal Attacks, And Why Victims Often Overlook Negligent Security

When someone is hurt on another person’s property, the immediate thought is often, “I slipped,” or “I was attacked.” But many victims don’t realize that their injury might not just be the result of a wet floor or an aggressive criminal. It could also stem from negligent security. To understand your rights, discuss this legal concept with a Baltimore personal injury lawyer.

When Unsafe Premises and Security Failures Overlap

Negligent security falls under Maryland’s broader premises liability law, which requires property owners and managers to keep their premises reasonably safe for lawful visitors. While traditional premises liability focuses on physical hazards (uneven walkways, poor lighting, or broken handrails) negligent security addresses the failure to prevent foreseeable criminal acts.

This means that if a business or property owner knew (or should have known) that crime was likely to occur on their property and didn’t take steps to prevent it, they could be held responsible for the harm that results.

It’s common for victims to view slip and fall injuries and criminal attacks as completely different issues. In reality, these incidents often overlap. For instance:

• A dimly lit stairwell not only increases the risk of a fall but also provides cover for a mugging or assault.
• Malfunctioning security gates may allow unauthorized individuals to enter a residential complex, leading to theft or violence.
• A poorly maintained parking lot with hidden hazards or no surveillance cameras could contribute both to accidental injuries and to criminal activity.

In each of these situations, both the hazardous condition and the lack of adequate security play a role in the harm suffered.

Why Victims Often Overlook Negligent Security

After an injury or attack, most people focus on immediate physical harm rather than the property owner’s role in preventing it. Victims often assume that a slip was their fault or that a criminal act was simply bad luck. However, in many cases, these events were foreseeable and preventable with proper safety measures.

Businesses and property managers have a duty to anticipate risks, especially in areas where crimes have occurred before. When they fail to take such precautions, victims have the right to seek compensation for their injuries and losses.

To prove negligent security, a victim must show that the property owner knew or should have known of potential dangers and failed to act. This often involves gathering evidence such as crime reports, maintenance records, surveillance footage, and witness testimony.

Whether you slipped and fell, were assaulted in a parking lot, or suffered harm in another unsafe environment, don’t overlook the role negligent security may have played. An experienced Baltimore personal injury lawyer with a background in negligent security can help uncover this information and build a case demonstrating how a lack of reasonable safety contributed to the injury.

Is it time for you to hold a property owner accountable? Share the details of your situation with the skilled legal team at Iamele & Iamele, LLP. Your safety matters and when others fail to protect it, the law provides a path to justice. Contact us to book a confidential consultation.