Were you recently physically assaulted, sexually assaulted, or the victim of another violent crime at a business in Clearwater, Florida? You may have the right to recover compensation – but you’re not just limited to filing a lawsuit against your attacker.
The business or owner of the premises could also be liable for your injuries if they didn’t have appropriate security to keep you safe. The experienced Clearwater negligent security lawyers at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, can help you fight to get the compensation you deserve.
For more than two decades, Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, has been a leader in personal injury litigation in Clearwater and throughout the greater Tampa Bay area. We’re aggressive, award-winning trial attorneys with a proven ability to take on powerful businesses and force them to accept responsibility for their actions.
As a result, our clients have been awarded millions in life-changing monetary awards from cases like product liability, premises liability, Clearwater construction accidents, worker’s comp cases, child injuries, bicycle accidents in Clearwater, and more.
Don’t let the property owner or business sidestep their responsibility to keep you safe. Hold them accountable for their negligence by enlisting the help of our respected litigators. Contact our law office in Clearwater, FL, at (727) 493-4418 to set up a time for a free case assessment today.
How Our Clearwater Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With Your Negligent Security Case
How can you prove that you got hurt because of negligent security? What level of security was necessary, given the circumstances of your case? How can you respond when the owner refuses to acknowledge that their shortcomings put you in harm’s way? What if they try to blame you for instigating the attack or getting hurt?
Don’t try to find the answers to these (and other) important questions on your own. After all, you’re going to be facing powerful adversaries – including corporations and insurance companies. Give yourself an edge by letting our experienced Clearwater personal injury attorneys handle your negligent security case.
We’re relentless in the pursuit of justice on behalf of our injured clients. When property owners don’t take appropriate steps to protect you, we’ll fight to make sure that they’re held fully accountable for the consequences of criminal activity on their premises.
Spend time focused on your recovery while our top-rated Florida trial lawyers:
- Thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the criminal incident in which you were injured
- Identify what, if any, security measures existed at the time of the incident
- Determine what security the owner should have implemented given the reasonable foreseeability of the type of crime that occurred
- Gather evidence that can be used to strengthen your claim for damages, including crime maps, crime reports, specific instances of criminal activity on the premises or in the neighborhood, security at other businesses nearby, video footage, medical records, and more
- Aggressively negotiating the terms of a settlement offer with the business, their insurance carrier, and other parties on your behalf
- Prepping your case for trial in the event that you don’t receive a fair settlement
Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, represents clients on a contingency fee basis. There’s no out-of-pocket cost to hire our law firm unless we win or settle your negligent security case.
Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of having our top-tier legal team in your corner. We offer a free initial case evaluation, so call for help now.
What Is Negligent Security?
In Florida, negligent security claims fall under the umbrella of premises liability. Property owners and businesses don’t just have to protect invited visitors and guests from slip and fall hazards. They also have to protect against reasonably foreseeable acts of crime.
When is a crime “reasonably foreseeable,” and what types of security are needed to satisfy the duty of care owed under the law?
Reasonably Foreseeable Criminal Activity
Several factors should be considered when assessing whether crime is reasonably foreseeable:
- The specific geographic location of the business or property
- The specific purpose of the business or property
- The history of crime at the specific location and in its general neighborhood
For instance, it might be reasonable to forecast robberies at a jewelry store in a crime-ridden part of the city. Similarly, sexual assaults might be reasonably foreseeable at a nightclub or bar with a history of similar problems.
On the other hand, you might not expect a grocery store in the safest part of Clearwater to be the target of many violent or sexually-based crimes.
Appropriate Security Measures
So what types of security does a property or business need to have in place? Ultimately, it depends on how foreseeable crime is and what type of crime might be forecasted.
While every situation will be different, appropriate security measures might include:
- Door locks
- Deadbolts
- Surveillance cameras
- Signs indicating that premises are under video surveillance
- Limiting signage on exterior windows
- Limiting cash on hand, particularly during late-hour operations
- Installing a heavy-duty safe
- Hiring bouncers or security guards
- Adequate lighting on the premises and in surrounding parking areas
- Training staff on conflict management and how to diffuse dangerous situations
- Security systems
Florida law has certain requirements for convenience stores that are open between the hours of 11 PM to 5 AM. This applies to stores that primarily sell groceries and/or gas. These types of businesses are particularly susceptible to crime and must take affirmative steps to protect their customers and employees.
What Do I Have To Prove To Win My Negligent Security Claim in Clearwater, FL?
When you file a negligent security claim in Clearwater, Florida, you’ll have the burden of proving:
- The property owner or business owed you a duty of care because you were lawfully on the premises
- You were the victim of or injured because of criminal activity on the premises
- This crime was reasonably foreseeable, given the business’s purpose and location, as well as the history of crime in the area
- The premises suffered from inadequate security to protect you, which reflected a breach of the owner’s duty of care to you
In other words, you got hurt in a criminal attack because of the property owner’s failure to implement appropriate security measures. As a result, you’ve suffered damages for which the owner is liable.
What Types of Damages Can I Get in a Negligent Security Lawsuit?
The property owner could have kept you safe, but their inadequate security put you in harm’s way. You shouldn’t have to bear the cost and burden of your injuries on your own. Fortunately, you can file a claim for compensatory damages against the owner.
Compensatory damages fall into two categories.
Economic damages are awarded to make up for the financial losses you experience, including:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Funeral costs
Non-economic damages help to compensate for the physical and emotional trauma you experience, such as:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Physical disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
- Embarrassment
- Damage to reputation
- Reduced quality of life
Our negligent security attorneys in Clearwater will actively work to ensure that you’re fully compensated for all of your injuries and suffering. We’ll coordinate our efforts with respected specialists and experts, particularly when it comes to assessing what your negligent security claim is worth.
Helping You Fight To Recover Compensation For All of Your Injuries
Criminal violence can have catastrophic consequences, and Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, is here to help you seek compensation for all of your resulting trauma.
- Broken bones
- Facial injury
- Eye injury
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Paralysis
- Back injury
- Amputation
- Nerve damage
- Sprains and strains
- Chest injury
- Catastrophic injury
- Wrongful death of a family member
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our award-winning personal injury attorneys near you in Clearwater for help. You’ll only have a limited time to seek compensation for a negligent security claim.
What’s the Statute of Limitations for Negligent Security Lawsuits in Florida?
In Florida, the statute of limitations for most negligent security lawsuits is two years. However, you may have four years to file your claim if your injury occurred before 3/24/2023.
You will lose the ability to assert your legal rights and recover compensation if you don’t take action before time runs out.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Trusted Clearwater Negligent Security Attorney
Did you recently suffer catastrophic injuries or experience the death of a family member because of criminal activity at a business in Clearwater, Florida? You may have the right to recover compensation for your losses and suffering. The experienced Clearwater negligent security lawyers at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, can help you fight to get every cent you deserve.
Since 2001, we’ve been fighting to hold businesses in Clearwater accountable when their inadequate security puts our clients in harm’s way. We’ve won millions of dollars in settlements and jury awards for those clients in the process.
Give yourself every opportunity to win your negligent security case. Call our law office in Clearwater, FL, to set up a free consultation and begin your fight or compensation today.
Visit Our Law Office In Clearwater, FL
Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyer – Clearwater
600 Bypass Dr Suite 224-D
Clearwater, FL 33764, USA
Phone: (727) 493-4418
Hours: Open 24 Hours Daily
