Inadequate Security Attorneys in Philadelphia, PA, Fighting for Justice and Compensation for Victims of Assaults and Attacks Throughout Philly
In apartment complexes, event venues, and commercial spaces throughout Philadelphia, security matters. Providing functioning locks, alarm systems, and security personnel isn’t just a formality. Inadequate security in these spaces can put your safety and even your life at risk. After an assault arising out of these failures, the Philadelphia negligent security lawyers at Anapol Weiss can help you hold a company or organization accountable.
Your case begins with a free, confidential consultation with our compassionate legal team. As protectors of the injured and champions of justice, our premises liability injury law firm is ready to analyze every detail of the circumstances under which you suffered harm. If another party’s security failures enabled the attack against you, we can craft a claim backed by compelling evidence, expert witness opinions, and meticulous medical documentation that seeks to secure you the full compensation you’re entitled to.
Anapol Weiss’s Proven Results in Negligent Security Cases
Our team of inadequate security attorneys in Philadelphia, PA, is uniquely suited to handling these cases for you. Leading this area of practice at our firm are nationally recognized legal advocates with a history of obtaining high-value verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured clients.
Shareholder Larry Coben has devoted more than 40 years to representing people against corporations whose failures have caused catastrophic injuries and avoidable deaths. He has secured hundreds of multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements for the clients he serves, as well as leading the legal industry through precedent-setting litigation and extensive publications in legal journals.
Shareholder James Ronca is a dedicated leader in the field of personal injury law, having served as co-lead counsel in three national multidistrict litigations. Over his 30+ year career, he has routinely taken on complex cases and has a record of securing results in matters that involve challenges like multiple plaintiffs and defendants.
Shareholder Kila Baldwin has a record of success inside and outside the courtroom, obtaining numerous high-value settlements and awards in high-profile matters, often against large organizations and corporations. Ms. Baldwin’s successes have set records and been recognized by both legal industry publications and the mainstream media.
Shareholder Miriam Barish has an extensive background in litigating negligent security claims, including violent and sexual assaults in psychiatric hospitals and parking lot assaults and robberies. For Ms. Barish, protecting the rights of victims, and particularly the rights of women, is of the utmost importance.
It’s no secret that violent crime is a significant problem in Philly. In Philadelphia parking garages, hospitals, hotels, apartment complexes, sports stadiums, shopping centers, event centers, concert venues, and public transportation facilities, inadequate security can have serious and even deadly repercussions. Located in the heart of Philadelphia, Anapol Weiss has insider knowledge of the unique factors and risks that apply to commercial properties all over the city.
This perspective informs every move our Philadelphia negligent security lawyers make to hold the entities that enable criminal conduct accountable.
Can You Sue for Negligent Security if You’ve Been Attacked in Philadelphia?
When companies and organizations fail to meet their duty to provide adequate security, yes, you may be able to hold the company accountable for its failures.
There’s no disputing the wrongdoing and responsibility of the perpetrator who assaulted or hurt you, but this individual may not be the only one to blame for the harm you suffered. In negligent security claims, the facts often support the argument that the corporation’s or organization’s negligence is what allowed and enabled the criminal to harm you in the first place.
If this entity had only upheld the duty of care it owed to you by having reasonable security measures in place, the attack that harmed you would never have occurred the way that it did.
While it’s possible to sue for inadequate security in Philadelphia, you’re going to need help. These cases are complex, fact-specific, and often involve shared liability or technical evidence. The full-service support of a team of Philadelphia negligent security lawyers can mean the difference between struggling to establish the basic elements of the claim and successfully securing the compensation you deserve.
What Is Negligent Security?
When you’re a guest or visitor to a business’s or organization’s property, you generally have a right to expect some level of reasonable security to keep you safe. The level of security you can expect depends on factors such as the type of property you’re visiting and the specific risks.
Negligent security refers to instances in which the property owner fails to provide reasonable, adequate security.
A negligent security lawsuit is a type of premises liability claim, in which you seek to hold the owner of the premises liable for harms that occurred there as a result of their negligence. However, in these cases, you’re not establishing the existence of slipping hazards and similar dangers. Instead you must establish that the organization’s security measures (or lack thereof) constituted a failure to meet a duty the company owed to you and other guests on the premises.
This is a difficult element to establish under the law. You’re going to need the skills and assistance of seasoned inadequate security attorneys in Philadelphia, PA, who know how to identify evidence to support claims of inadequate security and understand the nuances of this complicated area of Pennsylvania law.
Security Failures That Could Provide Grounds for a Negligence Claim
Examples of the types of actions and inactions that, in certain circumstances, may qualify as negligent security include:
- Missing, broken, or poorly maintained fences, gates, or other physical barriers
- Poor lighting, including failures to install security lights in parking garages, stairways, and other dark places
- Lack of locks, failure to use existing locks, and faulty or ineffective locks
- Lack of security surveillance cameras or non-working security cameras
- Lack of alarm systems or malfunctioning alarm systems
- Lack of appropriate access controls to provide reasonable protection for those lawfully on the property
- Lack of security personnel or poor training that results in personnel not knowing how to respond to threats and reports of assaults or attacks
- Negligent hiring, retention, or supervision of security employees with criminal records, when these individuals attack and injure others inappropriately in the course of their employment
- Lack of alert systems, emergency call buttons, and other systems for communication and reporting of attacks
- Lack of appropriate safety procedures, including protocols to prevent visitors who mean harm to others from entering the property, evacuate visitors as needed, or otherwise be prepared to respond to attacks and emergencies
- Unreasonably slow response times following distress calls
- Failure to implement reasonable security measures based on foreseeability indicators such as prior incidents, crime statistics, law enforcement warnings, and organization policies
These and other failures to provide adequate security can occur in numerous environments throughout the city.
Examples of Negligent Security Cases: What Happens When Security Measures Are Inadequate?
Our Philadelphia negligent security lawyers can assist you with all kinds of inadequate security injury claims. We assist victims of harm such as the following, as well as their families:
- Physical assault
- Battery
- Sexual assault
- Rape
- Robbery
- Carjackings
- Shootings
- Mass shootings
- Murder
Even if the actual perpetrators of such violent crimes were in no way affiliated with the organization, the actions or inactions of property owners and security firms can contribute to these terrible occurrences.
Where Can You Expect Property Owners to Implement Security Measures?
Under Pennsylvania law, property owners and businesses owe a duty to maintain reasonably safe premises for lawful visitors. Pursuant to longstanding Pennsylvania premises liability principles, including Restatement (Second) of Torts § 344, which Pennsylvania courts frequently apply, owners may be liable when they fail to protect invitees from foreseeable criminal acts of third parties.
Our Philadelphia negligent security lawyers are prepared to assist victims injured due to negligent security in settings such as the following:
Apartment Complexes
Landlords and property managers in Pennsylvania have a duty to take reasonable security measures to protect tenants and guests from foreseeable criminal activity, particularly when there is a history of crime in or around the property.
In courts across the country, families attacked in their own apartment complexes have brought negligent security claims alleging that inadequate access controls, lack of security guards, and insufficient monitoring contributed to devastating harm. These cases have sometimes resulted in multimillion-dollar recoveries for injured victims and bereaved families.
Restaurants
Restaurants, bars, and clubs in Philadelphia must take reasonable steps to safeguard patrons and employees. This duty is especially critical when the establishment is located in an area with prior criminal activity.
The security measures that may be considered reasonable for a restaurant, bar, or club may include proper lighting, surveillance systems, and, where warranted, trained security personnel. Issues of inadequate security in restaurants are arising across the country. In one case involving a restaurant located in a shopping center with a known history of crime, allegations that management failed to provide video surveillance, security guards, or off-duty police following prior incidents led to a multi-million-dollar settlement after a fatal shooting.
Shopping Centers and Retail Complexes
Shopping center owners in Pennsylvania may be liable when they ignore patterns of criminal activity on their premises and fail to implement reasonable protective measures. Adequate lighting, functioning security cameras, patrols, and coordinated safety planning are especially critical in large commercial properties throughout the Philadelphia region.
Hotels and Motels
Hotels owe guests, who are considered business invitees, a heightened duty of care under Pennsylvania law. When hotel operators fail to secure entrances, repair broken locks, monitor common areas, or respond to prior safety incidents, preventable assaults and robberies can occur.
Parking Garages and Parking Lots
Poor lighting, obstructed sightlines, and lack of surveillance frequently make parking facilities targets for violent crime. When property owners fail to address known criminal activity or prior incidents in these areas, injured victims may have grounds for a negligent security claim.
Office Buildings
Commercial building owners and property managers are responsible for maintaining secure access points and reasonably safe common areas. Inadequate visitor screening, unlocked entrances, or malfunctioning security systems can expose employees and visitors to unnecessary danger.
Schools
Public and private schools in Pennsylvania are responsible for maintaining reasonably safe premises for students, staff, and visitors. Inadequate security protocols, failure to monitor access points, or ignoring known threats can increase the risk of on-campus assaults or violent incidents.
Colleges and Universities
Colleges and universities in Pennsylvania must take reasonable steps to protect students and staff from foreseeable harm on campus. Inadequate dormitory security, poor lighting, or failure to respond to known safety concerns can create conditions that allow violent crimes to occur.
Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities
Hospitals operate around the clock and often treat vulnerable populations, making effective security protocols essential. Failure to provide adequate staffing, surveillance, and access controls can expose patients, visitors, and employees to assault or other violent acts.
Public Buildings
Government buildings and municipal facilities must take reasonable steps to protect members of the public who enter for services, court appearances, or public meetings. When security screening, staffing, or monitoring is insufficient in light of foreseeable risks, individuals may suffer preventable injuries.
Public Transportation Facilities and Vehicles
Transit authorities and operators may be liable when they fail to provide reasonable security for passengers using buses, trains, subway platforms, and transit stations. Poor lighting, lack of surveillance, or inadequate staffing in high-traffic Philadelphia transit areas can create conditions where assaults or robberies occur.
Airports
Airports are high-traffic environments requiring coordinated and proactive security planning. While federal regulations govern many aspects of airport safety, property operators and related entities may still bear responsibility when inadequate premises security contributes to preventable harm in non-secure or commercial areas.
Sports Stadiums
Sports stadium operators must anticipate large crowds, heightened emotions, and alcohol service, all of which can increase the likelihood of altercations. Adequate staffing, crowd management procedures, and security oversight are essential to minimizing preventable injuries during games and events.
Theaters
Movie theaters and performing arts venues owe a duty to provide reasonably safe conditions for patrons attending screenings and live performances. Failure to monitor entrances, provide adequate lighting, or respond to prior safety concerns can expose guests to unnecessary risk.
Concert Venues
Concert venues often draw large crowds and extended operating hours, requiring proactive security planning and trained personnel. When venue operators fail to implement appropriate screening, crowd control, or surveillance measures, violent incidents can occur.
Fairs, Events, and Conferences
Organizers of fairs, festivals, conventions, and conferences must account for large gatherings and foreseeable safety risks. Inadequate security staffing, poor access control, or failure to coordinate with local law enforcement may create conditions that allow assaults or other criminal acts to take place.
Every party that played a role in the terrible attack that harmed you deserves to be held accountable. By filing a civil lawsuit against the company or organization whose negligence enabled the crime against you, you can pursue answers, justice, and financial compensation.
What You Can Receive: Seeking Compensation for Assaults Through Inadequate Security Claims
If your inadequate security attorneys in Philadelphia, PA, are able to establish the elements needed to prove the property owner’s breach of duty to you, you may be able to file a lawsuit and recover financial compensation for your losses.
The types of damages for which you could sue in an inadequate security lawsuit are specific to your circumstances, but they may include:
- Medical and rehabilitation expenses, including treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression that are related to the attack you suffered
- Future projected medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity due to permanent disabilities
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Permanent disfigurement
- Loss of quality or enjoyment of life
Getting the compensation you deserve requires you to skillfully present extensive evidence of inadequate security measures and documentation of your harms and losses over the course of a complex legal process.
How Anapol Weiss Can Help You
At Anapol Weiss, we guide our clients through all stages of their negligent security claims and handle every aspect of the legal process. We want you to focus solely on your recovery and your family’s well-being without the distraction of trying to manage a legal battle.
The work we do on behalf of our clients spans all stages of the claims process, including:
- Initial consultation
- Investigation of the attack and the potential defendants’ security measures
- Documentation of all facts and damages
- Filing of the claim and, if necessary, litigation
- Continuous legal representation and advocacy throughout your case
- Skillful settlement negotiations
- Preparedness for trial (if necessary)
- Resolution of your claim
The legal process can be complicated, especially in issues as complex as negligent security, but we handle every part of it for you.
Areas Our Philadelphia Negligent Security Lawyers Serve
Our negligent security law firm assists clients throughout the city and beyond, including:
- North Central Philadelphia
- South Philadelphia
- Alleghany West
- Carroll Park
- East Parkside
- Elmwood
- Fairhill
- Frankford
- Franklinville
- Germantown
- East Germantown
- Glenwood
- Haddington
- Harrowgate
- Hunting Park
- Juniata
- Kensington
- Mill Creek
- Nicetown-Tioga
- Olney
- Rittenhouse Square
- Strawberry Mansion
- University City
Turn to us for answers about potential negligent security claims anywhere in the city. We can evaluate whether a property owner’s inadequate security contributed to the crime against you and whether you have any avenues for seeking financial compensation.
Why Choose Anapol Weiss?
Over our more than 45 years of experience, the team at Anapol Weiss has become nationally recognized for its excellence in advocating for victims and giving them a voice. Our proven record of success includes landmark negligent security cases, the first of their kind, in which we successfully secured justice for victims harmed due to inadequate security measures.
We’re fully dedicated to not only getting you the maximum payout possible for your circumstances but also securing justice by holding accountable property owners whose negligence puts guests like you at risk.
To us, this isn’t just another case. It’s a crucial battle to protect your rights and the safety of the public.
Contact the Philadelphia Negligent Security Lawyers at Anapol Weiss Today for Your Free Consultation
It costs you nothing to explore your legal options and find out whether you have the grounds for a negligent security claim. At Anapol Weiss, each case starts with a free consultation and evaluation.
Our commitment to contingency fee representation means that, if you have a case, we can represent you throughout the course of your legal proceedings at no upfront cost.
If you’re ready to take the first step, contact us by phone or through our online contact form today to schedule your free consultation.