Were you injured on someone's property due to negligent security and you’re wondering if you are entitled to compensation?
Our injury lawyers provide insight on Texas’ average negligent security settlement amounts.
In 2020, murder and non-negligent manslaughter rose by 29.4% in the U.S. compared to 2019.
And in the first half of 2021, these crimes increased by another 16% over the same period in 2020.
According to the Council on Criminal Justice, aggravated assaults also increased by 9% and gun assaults by 5% in this same period. With violent crime on the upswing in the U.S., negligent security threatens everyone.
When negligent security results in tragedy, the business owner or landlord who failed to provide security or employed security personnel who failed to do their job should be held responsible.
People injured because of negligent security have a right to negligent security settlements. How much compensation someone is entitled to depends on each case’s unique facts.
If you were a victim of an injury brought on by negligent security, keep reading to learn about negligent security verdicts and settlements.
Negligent Security Settlements
Negligent security falls under a type of law called premises liability.
Under the concept of negligent security, the person who runs the business or owns the property where an attack occurs may be liable for injuries if proper security is negligent or lacking.
Negligent security settlements have increased but can vary greatly.
While property owners are not liable for every crime or injury on their property, they may be liable for a negligent security claim if a victim can establish that the property owner or manager failed to exercise “reasonable care.”
In other words, if the owner or manager could foresee the harm and still failed to employ reasonable security measures to protect visitors, they are likely liable.
Because no two negligent security injuries and accidents are the same, when it comes to negligent security and liability cases, negligent security settlements vary.
However, a victim can generally expect to recover economic and non-economic damages. Economic compensation often includes the following:
- Present and future lost wages;
- Medical expenses, including doctor, hospital, and prescription medicine costs;
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation;
- Property damage; and
- Other out-of-pocket expenses.
Non-economic awards often include damages for pain and suffering, psychological and emotional trauma, and loss of enjoyment of life.
These damages are typically harder to quantify than economic damages, but in negligent security cases, they can be every bit as damaging.
Factors that Impact Negligent Security Verdicts and Settlements
There are many factors that impact negligent security verdicts and settlements. These include:
- The type and nature of the incident in question,
- The severity of a victim’s injuries,
- The complexity and length of any required medical treatment,
- How long will the injury will keep a victim from working, and
- If the area is known for crime and injuries.
Texas also follows a comparative negligence model. This means that if there was any fault on a victim’s part, the settlement award might be reduced by the percentage the victim was liable for their injuries.
If a jury finds the victim more than 50% at fault, they will not be entitled to a settlement. However, if a victim is 50% or less at fault, they can keep their settlement award minus their percentage of liability.
As an example, if a jury awards a victim $100,000 but finds them 30% at fault, they would get $70,000.
Contact the Law Firm of Aaron A. Herbert Today
At the Law Firm of Aaron A. Herbert, we are not afraid to use aggressive legal strategies or go to court to pursue the maximum compensation for your negligent security claim.
Our lead attorney Aaron A. Herbert prides himself on forging long-term relationships with his clients and always takes the time to tailor the firm’s services to each case.
We believe in accountability and will work tirelessly to ensure that the parties that caused your injury are held responsible so that you get the settlement you deserve.
Contact us today at (214) 200-4878. We offer free consultations and don’t take a fee unless we win.