What Are the Signs of Inadequate Security?
Posted in Slip and fall on September 3, 2018
Inadequate security may be grounds for a premises liability claim if it causes personal injuries or property damage. It is a property owner’s legal duty in Tennessee to reasonably prevent crimes from happening on the premises through adequate security. What qualifies as adequate depends on the situation. The criminal history of the premises, crime rate in the area, and type of building or establishment can determine how many steps one must take to fulfill this duty of care. The following are signs that a property owner is failing in this duty, and guilty of inadequate security.
High Crime Rate, Low Security Measures
Know the crime rate of the building you move into or the area you’re visiting. Do a bit of research into how often violent crimes happen there, using resources such as Nashville crime reports and activity maps. High-crime areas require security measures to match. Property owners should conduct research of their own to determine the probability of crimes in the area. Then, they should take measures to reasonably protect tenants and visitors. These measures may include:
- Hiring security guards
- Replacing locks
- Controlling who has keys
- Installing security cameras/alarm systems
- Providing adequate lighting in parking lots
- Repairing and maintaining doors and windows
- Posting signs on the property
If you know the area has a medium to high rate of crime, yet the property owner has not taken any noticeable steps toward preventing criminal activity, it is a sign of inadequate security. Work with an attorney to find out exactly what the property owner’s duties were according to the parameters of the case. Take photos of the property immediately after the crime as evidence of security negligence.
Rundown, Poorly Maintained Property
Security also depends on the fortitude of a property’s elements. A fence might keep burglars out, for example, unless it’s old and falling apart. A poorly maintained property could be a red flag for inadequate security. It is the owner’s job to schedule routine property maintenance and pay for repairs as needed. Letting land or a building fall into a state of disrepair could welcome criminals, increase the crime rate, and fail to protect residents and visitors. Look for signs of negligent property care, such as blown lights, rundown security gates, and broken windows. These could be evidence of inadequate security.
No Response to Crime Reports or Complaints
If a landlord or property owner regularly ignores maintenance requests, security complaints, or reports of criminal activity, he or she could be guilty of inadequate security. Complaints are signs that the property needs better maintenance and/or security measures. A property owner who fails to fulfill the needs of tenants or guests may not bother installing security measures or keeping up with the latest crime reports in the neighborhood. It is an owner’s duty to inspect a property for potential hazards and to take steps to prevent incidents as needed.
A Preventable Criminal Incident
If you were a guest, visitor, or tenant on someone else’s property in Nashville and you became the victim of any type of crime, consider the possibility of inadequate security. Although the law does not expect property owners to prevent all crimes, it does expect a certain level of preventive action. As the victim of assault, battery, rape, robbery, or another crime, explore your rights and potential legal options against not only the criminal, but also a negligent property owner.
Owners of establishments such as banks, hotels, casinos, and grocery stores owe higher duties of care toward visitors than typical property owners. Since they invite people onto the property to make money, the visitors are “invitees” by law. Property owners must regularly inspect, repair, and post warning signs on their properties to ensure invitee safety. Failure to provide adequate security is an act of negligence that may have caused or contributed to your crime-related injuries. Contact our Nashville personal injury attorney as soon as possible to discuss the possibility of compensation.