When you are on someone else’s property, your safety is not guaranteed. However, property owners do have an obligation to act as a reasonable property owner would in protecting patrons from harm. One way that a property owner could become liable for injuries incurred on their property is if they did not provide adequate security, and someone was injured in an attack. If you were injured in an attack in an area with inadequate security, an Illinois personal injury lawyer can review your case and advise you if you have a legal cause of action against the property owner.
Negligence is The Standard in Cases Involving Security
Like every other personal injury case, liability depends on a finding of negligence. The property owner does not have to be perfect. Instead, they must act reasonably under the individual circumstances. You have the burden of proof to show that the property owner departed from the standard of care in your case.
When a Property Owner May Be Held Liable
In order for you to win a negligent security lawsuit, you would need to prove that the property owner knew, or should have known, of a dangerous condition, and they failed to take reasonable steps to protect you from harm. For example, if an establishment is in a high-crime area, or there has been a previous incident on the property, the owner would be charged with knowledge. The key is that the attack must have been foreseeable.
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