Business owners have a legal duty to take reasonable security precautions. Unfortunately, inadequate security can often allow violent crimes like assaults, robberies, and shootings to occur. If you were attacked on someone else’s property in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, call McIntyre Law at (405) 917-5200 today. An experienced Oklahoma City negligent security lawyer can help.
Our award-winning law firm has recovered over $900 million for injury victims and their families. We have over 165 years of experience between us. Call our office today if you were injured in an attack on someone else’s property.
Why Should I Trust McIntyre Law To Handle a Negligent Security Claim in Oklahoma City?
Negligent security cases are always complex. These cases can involve complicated questions about the crime itself and whether the property owner provided adequate protection. Our Oklahoma City personal injury lawyers at McIntyre Law are dedicated to fighting for injury victims like you. We’ve succeeded in recovering hundreds of millions in settlements and jury verdicts.
For our success in and around Oklahoma City, OK, we’ve been recognized within the legal community, including by:
- The National Trial Lawyers, with a “Top 100” rating
- Avvo, with a perfect-10 “Top Attorney” rating
- Super Lawyers
- The American Association for Justice
You deserve an attorney who is passionate about helping you get every ounce of justice the law has to offer. Call our Oklahoma City personal injury attorneys today to schedule a free consultation.
What Is Negligent Security?
Premises liability laws impose certain duties on business owners. They’re required to take reasonable steps to maintain safe property conditions. When visitors are injured, they can be held liable for failure to satisfy this duty.
That duty extends beyond fixing hazards that could cause slip and fall accidents and other injuries. It also includes a duty to install adequate security to prevent reasonably foreseeable criminal attacks.
Who Can Be Liable for Negligent Security in Oklahoma City?
Premises liability duties extend to all property owners. Typically, a business is responsible in a negligent security case.
Examples of responsible parties can include:
- Colleges and universities
- Bars, restaurants, and clubs
- Office buildings
- Retail stores and shopping centers
- Parking lots
- Parking garages
- Hotels
- Entertainment complexes
- Apartment complexes
- Schools and daycares
- Pawn Shops
- Sports venues
- Buildings and public spaces owned by government entities
When these and other business owners ignore their basic duties, innocent people can get hurt.
How Much Is My Oklahoma City Negligent Security Case Worth?
The value of a negligent security claim depends on the circumstances of the attack and the extent of your resulting losses. Important factors may include:
- The type and severity of your injuries
- Your recovery timeline
- Any permanent or long-term disability you suffer
- Your financial costs
- Your pain, suffering, and trauma
- The nature of the attack
- Long-term impacts on your earning capacity
No two cases are exactly the same. Once our lawyers review the facts, we can give you a better idea of your case value.
What Types of Compensation Should I Expect By Filing a Negligent Security Claim in Oklahoma City?
If you were injured because a property owner failed to provide adequate security, you may be entitled to compensation for both the financial and personal consequences of the incident. The damages available in an Oklahoma City negligent security claim generally fall into two categories: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover direct financial losses, including:
- Current medical bills
- Anticipated future medical treatment costs
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Lost wages if you missed time at work
- Reduced earning potential
- Mental health treatment
- Property damage
Documenting these damages through receipts and records will create a strong foundation for your economic damages award.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are your “pain and suffering” damages. They often include:
- Physical pain
- Mental trauma
- Anxiety and fear
- Depression
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Scarring
- Damage to relationships
- Loss of consortium in wrongful death cases
Proving non-economic damages isn’t so straightforward. Still, these damages are often significant in cases involving violent criminal attacks.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer for a Negligent Security Case in Oklahoma City?
Initially, it won’t cost you anything. You can hire our Oklahoma City negligent security attorneys at McIntyre Law by signing a contingency fee agreement.
Your attorneys’ fees come directly from your settlement or verdict. We’ll deduct a pre-agreed-upon percentage once your case is over. Of course, you won’t pay anything until we recover compensation.
Can Shared Fault Be Relevant to a Negligent Security Case in Oklahoma?
It’s always possible that the defense could try to blame you. They might claim that you, yourself, failed to use reasonable caution to keep yourself safe.
Oklahoma has a modified comparative negligence with 51% bar to financial recovery. You only lose your right to damages if you were mostly responsible. If you share some fault, but less than the defense, your damages are reduced proportionately.
Common Injuries Involved in Oklahoma City Negligent Security Cases
Our attorneys in OKC represent clients with all types of injuries, including:
- Broken bones
- Facial injuries
- Gunshot wounds
- Stab wounds
- Concussions
- Deep lacerations and scarring
- Severe bruising
- Nerve injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Internal bleeding and injuries
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Fatalities in the most severe cases
Many victims of violent attacks often suffer significant mental and psychological trauma. The fear and anxiety that you feel are real. Our attorneys will also fight to recover compensation for these non-tangible injuries, which can often last well after your physical injuries have healed.
Our Negligent Security Attorneys in Oklahoma City Handle All Types of Cases
Negligent security cases often involve harm caused by:
- Assault
- Sexual assault
- Firearm violence
- Aggravated assault
- Carjackings
- Robberies
- Bar fights
- School shootings
If you or someone you loved was hurt in an attack, you don’t have to stand by and accept that it was a random act of violence. Many attacks can be prevented. If a business owner cut corners and ignored their duty to provide adequate security, we can help you prove it.
What Must I Prove To Recover Compensation Based on Negligent Security in Oklahoma?
Typically, negligent security cases hinge on the fact that the property owner failed to take commonsense security precautions. The idea is that reasonable precautions would have prevented a foreseeable crime.
Two basic elements are involved in negligent security cases:
- The crime was reasonably foreseeable, creating an unreasonable risk of harm
- The owner failed to install adequate security to prevent the crime
Each element has its own set of complications.
How Can Negligent Security Allow Criminal Attacks To Occur in Oklahoma City?
The question in most negligent security cases is: what security precautions would have been adequate? The answer varies from situation to situation. What constitutes “adequate security” at a sporting event will differ from “adequate security” at a daycare center.
Some common causes include:
- Broken or missing locks, fences, and gates–failing to secure entrances gives criminals easy access
- Inadequate lighting–poorly lit parking lots, stairways, hallways, or corridors create opportunities for crimes
- Lack of security cameras and systems to deter criminals and preserve evidence of crimes
- Failing to install metal detectors when the risk of gun violence is documented and reasonably possible
- Failing to properly train staff–a well-trained staff can respond to threats of violence and monitor the property to prevent crimes
Our lawyers conduct a thorough investigation when you hire our team. We’ll interview employees, consult other businesses in the area, and even bring in experts to testify about the types of security measures that would have been effective in your case.
How Do I Prove a Crime Was Reasonably Foreseeable To Win a Negligent Security Case in Oklahoma?
Property owners aren’t responsible for preventing all crimes. They’re only legally responsible if the crime was reasonably foreseeable.
Many different types of evidence can be relevant to proving that a crime is reasonably foreseeable, including:
- Crime maps of the area
- Evidence that similar crimes have occurred in the neighborhood
- Evidence that the type of business involved tends to attract criminal activity (i.e., liquor stores, pawn shops, nightclubs)
- Evidence about the types of clientele attracted to the business
- Evidence that the business itself had been targeted before
- Evidence about the property itself, such as unlit alleys or parking lots that could attract criminal behavior
There is no cut-and-dry answer. Like all personal injury cases, negligent security cases hinge on the facts. Regardless of the situation, it’s always a smart idea to consult a lawyer. Once we’ve evaluated the facts, we can dig in and help protect your rights.
Your consultation is always entirely free, and there’s never any obligation to move forward.
How Long Do I Have To File a Negligent Security Lawsuit After an Attack in Oklahoma?
The statute of limitations in Oklahoma gives you just two years to file a lawsuit. The two-year clock starts on the date of the attack. Limited exceptions exist. It’s best to consult an attorney quickly. Your consultation is free, so there’s really no reason to wait.
Call an Experienced Oklahoma City Negligent Security Lawyer for a Free Case Review Today
Our team at McIntyre Law is here to answer your questions. If you were attacked on someone else’s property in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, call us today. An experienced Oklahoma City negligent security attorney can review your case for free.