Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC can help you if you’ve been injured in a negligent security accident in Louisville. No matter where you go in Louisville, your safety and security is always a priority. And when that gets overlooked—or worse, ignored—you can easily find yourself in a situation where you get hurt. Our team can help you through it. Set up a free consultation today.
Why a Lawyer Makes Sense After a Negligent Security Accident
After being injured because of a security problem in Louisville, it’s not only painful, but confusing and scary. Even if your physical injuries are minor, the emotional and psychological impact is usually much worse. And it can last well after the initial incident.
If that’s what you’re going through, a lawyer starts to make sense. That’s where our Louisville negligent security team can:
- Take a close look at what happened and why it happened.
- Explain your legal options in plain language.
- Gather and preserve evidence before it disappears.
- Look into whether the property owner knew—or should have known—about security problems.
- Investigate whether there were previous crimes or incidents at the property.
- Figure out who may be legally responsible for what happened.
- Handle the back-and-forth with insurance companies and their lawyers.
Most importantly, we try to make the process easier on you and your family. You’ve already been through enough. You shouldn’t also have to spend your time chasing down evidence or arguing with an insurance company.
Information That’s Helpful After a Negligent Security Accident
Obviously, information is going to be at a premium after a negligent security accident. The problem is that it takes a bit more than just showing you were injured somewhere. You have to think about the fact that whoever was in charge either knew about security problems or should’ve known about the potential for something to go wrong.
However, that’s not all on you to show, especially right there at the scene. Your first priority is calling 911 and getting police and EMTs to the scene. From there, you’ll want to try to get a few basic things to help you later, like:
- Pictures and videos of the area where the incident happened
- Pictures of broken locks, gates, doors, lights, cameras, or other security problems
- Contact information for anyone who saw what happened or were aware of past issues
- As much information as you can about the property owner, business, or property manager
That’s about as much as you need to worry about at the scene. Once police get there, answer their questions and give them as much information as you can about what happened. Then, once things settle down In the days and weeks after, you’ll start seeing other things come in that can help you, such as:
- Medical records and bills
- A copy of any police or incident report
- Information about any security company or security guards working at the property
- Photos showing how your injuries progress
- Records of missed work or lost income
- Notes about your pain, emotional distress, sleep problems, or other changes in your life
- Statements from witnesses
- Police reports and other records related to the incident
- Surveillance footage or other video
- Evidence of previous criminal activity or security incidents at the property
Remember, you don’t need to try to get everything on your own. Don’t try to push through injuries and pain to track down everything. Our team can help fill in any gaps, especially when it comes to who’s responsible.
Who’s Responsible for a Negligent Security Injury?
One of the biggest questions after an attack or other violent incident on someone else’s property is, “Who’s actually responsible for this?” The first instinct is to look at the person who committed the crime. That’s about as clear as it gets, and criminal charges are meant to help address that.
However, negligent security is a civil claim, which means that responsibility is based on negligence. And with negligence, you have to look at a few key questions:
- Was the property owner responsible for keeping the property reasonably safe?
- Were there known security problems at the property?
- Had similar crimes or incidents happened there before?
- Was the area poorly lit?
- Were doors, gates, locks, or other access points broken?
- Were security cameras missing, broken, or not monitored?
- Was security personnel reasonably necessary given the circumstances?
- Did the property owner have a chance to address the problem before you were injured?
That’s a big ask, but ultimately, your security is the responsibility of certain people and groups throughout Louisville. So when something goes wrong and you get hurt, that could bring in:
- Property owners
- Businesses and their management
- Property management companies
- Landlords
- Security companies and personnel
- Maintenance contractors
- Other companies responsible for safety or security
So yes, these cases aren’t always as simple as pointing to one broken light or a missing security guard. The circumstances matter a lot, but it doesn’t change your options.
What Are My Options After a Negligent Security Accident?
With negligent security, it’s pretty easy to figure out how it can lead to you being injured. But that changes when it actually happens and you’re left with questions about how you’ll pay your bills, go back to work, and generally move forward with your life. That’s where the claims process comes in. Just like other accidents, you can get financial help through:
- Filing an insurance claim
- Filing a lawsuit
Many negligent security claims start with an insurance claim against the property owner’s or business’s insurance company. This can sometimes resolve the case without going to court. But don’t assume the insurance company is going to offer you everything you should get.
If the insurance company won’t make a fair offer—or if the losses from your injuries are bigger—you might need to file a lawsuit. That takes more time and effort, but it also gives you a chance at fuller “damages” relating to your:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Current lost income or a loss of future earning ability
- Repair/replacement costs for damaged property, like your clothing, shoes, or valuables
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Wrongful death expenses in fatal incidents
Because negligent security cases can involve both physical injuries and significant emotional trauma, it’s important to look at the full impact the incident has had on your life—not just the medical bills you have today.
Where Do Negligent Security Accidents Happen in Louisville?
The difficult thing about negligent security cases is that they can happen just about anywhere. But when you really look at it, these kinds of things tend to happen in the same types of places throughout the city, like:
- Apartment complexes and residential properties
- Hotels and motels
- Restaurants and bars
- Shopping centers and retail stores
- Parking lots and parking garages
- Gas stations and convenience stores
- Nightclubs and entertainment venues
- Office buildings
- Grocery stores
- Banks and other businesses
The security problems can also look very different from one case to another. Poor lighting in a parking lot, a broken security gate at an apartment complex, a malfunctioning lock at a hotel, or a failure to deal with repeated criminal activity could all become important depending on the circumstances. No matter what, though, you don’t have to try to do it all yourself.
Kaufman & Stigger Can Help After a Negligent Security Accident in Louisville
When you’ve been injured because someone failed to take reasonable security measures, your focus should be on recovering—not trying to figure out who was responsible for the property or dealing with insurance companies.
At Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, our Louisville negligent security lawyers can handle the legal side while you focus on getting better. We’ll look at what happened, investigate the property and security conditions, and help you understand your options. Set up a free consultation today.
