According to the statistics of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, from 2013 to 2014, the crime rate in the State of Florida has decreased 3.6%. This is the most recent official statistic. However, crime still exists and anyone can be a victim of it. In Florida, cases where one is bringing a lawsuit against a business after they’ve been assaulted by a third party are often referred to as “negligent security” cases. This is a type of premises liability dealing with civil redress for crimes and violent acts. Here, the victims hold the owner or tenant of the property where a criminal injury is inflicted liable because of inadequate security measures or negligent selection/retention of security personnel.
For example, you are a guest in a hotel. You parked your car in the hotel garage or parking lot. In the middle of the night, you realize you forgot something in your car, and while you are getting such item, someone assaults you, stealing your car and leaving you unconscious near death. Your family wants to find out who did this to you, but when they go to the hotel “security manager”, they face the awful truth that the hotel did not have security cameras installed in the parking lot.
If this was yours or a loved one’s case, here are our recommendations of the steps you should take following this awful incident.
Contact the authorities. Call 911 or any other reasonable authority source at the first safe moment you have to do so. This is the first step in order to ensure the assailant will be captured and brought to justice. Once authorities arrive, they’ll talk to you and gain as much information as possible. Try to be descriptive, even though it may be hard to talk about the incident, but it is important to have a detailed police report.
Gather as much information as possible. While on the scene with the presence of police officers, collect the names, numbers and even addresses of people around who may have saw the attack or have more information. Having the contact information of these people as well as the people who were with you immediately after starts a strong case foundation from the start. Also, if possible, take photographs of your injuries, the damages to your property and the scene of the crime.
Seek medical attention. If you are the victim, it is important to take care of yourself and get checked out. If your injuries are severe, request medical assistance, when you contact the authorities. Even if you do not think your injuries are severe, you should consult your family doctor or go to an emergency room as soon as possible. Some injuries do not manifest themselves immediately after the incident. Additionally, the medical records will be part of the evidence to be used in your case.
File Complaints with the Property Itself. Within the next 24-48 hours following the incident, it is important that you reach out to the business, property owners or homeowner where the crime occurred, and make them fully aware of the incident. When it comes time to file a claim through this venue’s insurers, you’ll need to have legitimate data to back it up.
Contact a negligent security lawyer. Negligent security cases can be quite complex, thus is wise for you to contact a specialized lawyer that understands the legal aspects of your case and will help you receive a just compensation for your injuries. Attorney Jonathan Friedland and his team handle all types of negligent security cases throughout the state of Florida, including Boca Raton, Homestead, North Miami, South Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Pembroke Pines, Hialeah, Kendall, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach. Call the Miami personal injury attorneys today and let our family take care of your family.