Property owners in Dundalk, Maryland, have a responsibility to protect you from foreseeable acts of violence and crime. If you get hurt because they don’t have appropriate security measures in place, you can take legal action and demand compensation for resulting medical expenses, lost wages, and distress. The experienced Dundalk negligent security lawyers at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers want to help you fight for the monetary justice you deserve.
Since 1977, we have been dedicated advocates for injury victims and families in Dundalk, Baltimore County, and throughout the state of Maryland. We have over 80 years of combined experience handling complex personal injury disputes and an undeniable ability to help our clients win life-changing results.
We’ve recovered millions of dollars from insurers, employers, corporations, and government agencies. Discover what kind of an impact we can have on your life, too. Contact our law office in Dundalk today at (410) 837-2144 to get started. Your first case evaluation is free.
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How WGK Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help If You’ve Been Injured Due To Negligent Security in Dundalk, MD
While you may have the right to sue a Dundalk business or property owner for injuries you’ve suffered on their premises, the process of getting compensation might not be easy. Expect the owner to fight back against your claim at every turn. If you want to force meaningful results, you’ll need to hire an experienced Dundalk personal injury lawyer to advocate for you.
Choosing WGK Personal Injury Lawyers means working with a family-run law firm that’s genuinely invested in improving the lives of its clients through effective legal representation. We’re award-winning Maryland trial lawyers who’ve been recognized by the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys, The National Trial Lawyers, and the New York Times for excellence in personal injury litigation.
If you’ve been injured because of negligent security, we’ll be there to take on the owner of the premises and fight for the financial award you deserve; we will:
- Carefully investigate the circumstances of your negligent security case
- Determine what security measures the property owner should have had in place to protect you from the kind of injuries you’ve suffered
- Gather and assess critical pieces of evidence during the discovery process, including crime reports, crime statistics, police reports, medical records, surveillance footage, and photographs
- Interview eyewitnesses to the criminal attack and depose other parties with relevant information
- Hire trusted expert witnesses to collaborate with us as we build your claim
- File your negligent security claim with the insurance company and/or local Baltimore County court clerk
- Calculate what your negligent security lawsuit is worth
- Seek a substantial settlement offer during negotiations with the defense
- Argue your case at trial if the defense refuses to take responsibility for your injuries and suffering
We know that a brutal criminal attack can be devastating and costly. We don’t want you to skip asking for the legal help you need because you’re afraid you can’t afford it. Our negligent security attorneys in Dundalk represent clients on contingency. You’ll pay nothing until we win compensation for you.
Ready to get started? Don’t hesitate to contact our Dundalk, MD, law office to set a time for a free, no-obligation case assessment. We’re here to answer your call 24 hours a day.
What is Negligent Security?
Under Maryland’s premises liability laws, property owners have a responsibility to protect you from known or foreseeable dangers on their premises. This doesn’t just mean they have to protect you from slip and fall hazards. Owners also have to have appropriate security measures in place to prevent reasonably foreseeable acts of crime.
What type(s) of security does an owner have to have in place?
It varies from one business to the next and is dependent on many factors:
- Where in Dundalk is the business located?
- Does this business have a history of criminal activity?
- What’s the crime rate in the neighborhood?
- What type of business is it?
- Does the business keep a lot of cash on hand?
Depending on the answers to these questions, a business might need to invest in:
- Automatic door locks
- Deadbolts
- Flood lighting in parking lots and walkways
- Security and/or bouncers
- Surveillance cameras
- Turnstiles
- Signs indicating that the premises are under constant video monitoring
- Staff training in de-escalation tactics
An upscale restaurant in a low-crime part of Dundalk will need to invest in less intense security measures than a nightclub, pawn shop, or convenience store in parts of the city that see higher rates of crime. It’s all relative.
At the end of the day, it’s important to consider what types of security measures are best suited for each individual business. If an owner lacks what’s necessary, they can be liable if an invited guest or visitor is injured or killed because of criminal activity on the premises.
What Do I Have to Prove to Win a Negligent Security Claim?
Like other types of premises liability cases, negligent security is a matter of negligence. If you get hurt or experience the wrongful death of a loved one because of a Dundalk business’s inadequate security measures, you’ll have to prove the owner was negligent.
Specifically, you must prove:
- Duty: the owner had a legal obligation to have reasonable security measures in place to protect you from foreseeable criminal activity
- Breach: the owner’s security measures were inadequate given the business’s location, the local crime rate, and other specific factors
- Causation: you were injured in a criminal act as a direct and proximate result of the owner’s inadequate security measures
- Damages: you’ve suffered damages
Essentially, you have to establish that the criminal activity wouldn’t have been able to unfold – and you would have avoided getting hurt – if the owner had taken more appropriate steps to install necessary security measures. Instead, their lack of care caused you to get hurt because of a senseless act of violence.
What Damages Can I Get If I Win My Negligent Security Case?
If a Dundalk business’s negligent security measures cause you to get hurt, you’ll have the opportunity to seek compensatory damages through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
Compensatory damages can include two different awards: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are paid to cover the costs, expenses, and losses that are related to your injuries, such as:
- Current medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing care
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Lost wages and income
- Diminished earning capacity
Non-economic damages can also be awarded to help offset the trauma, suffering, and life-changing effects you experience as the victim of a senseless act of violence, which might include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Temporary or permanent disability
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Loss of companionship
- Mental anguish
- Disfigurement
- Reduced quality of life
- Embarrassment
Don’t expect the business to offer you the full value of your negligent security claim right off the bat. Rather, expect them to downplay your injuries, shift liability, and fight you at every turn. Our Dundalk negligent security attorneys will not let these tactics go unanswered.
We’ll start working on your legal strategy as soon as you hire our law firm. Working with experts, we’ll build a compelling claim that clearly demonstrates your losses, proves liability, and forces meaningful settlement negotiations. If the owner doesn’t make you a fair offer, they’ll have no choice but to go head-to-head with our top-rated litigators at trial.
Can I Get Compensation If I’m Blamed For My Injuries in Maryland?
No. Maryland’s pure contributory negligence laws will prevent you from recovering any compensation if you’re assigned liability for your recent injuries. Sharing just one percent of the blame will be a total bar to recovery.
So, it’s very important to dispute any claims made by the property owner that you played any role in getting hurt.
What is the Statute of Limitations for Negligent Security Lawsuits in Maryland?
Whether you’ve been injured or suffered the wrongful death of a family member, Maryland law generally gives you three years to file a negligent security lawsuit.
The statute of limitations starts running on the date you’re injured, or your family member dies from their injuries.
If you miss the filing deadline, you will forfeit the right to seek compensation from a negligent business or property owner in Dundalk.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Dundalk Negligent Security Lawyer
A business in Dundalk was negligent. You don’t have to struggle with the consequences of an assault, sexual assault, or other serious crime on your own. Call WGK Personal Injury Lawyers and discover how our Dundalk personal injury attorneys can help you fight for the accountability you deserve.
Since our founding, we’ve helped clients win tens of millions in jury verdicts and private settlements. Now, we’re prepared to invest 80+ years of collective experience into your negligent security claim, too.
We provide a free consultation, so contact our Dundalk law office to get started now.