Where Do Negligent Security Incidents Happen?

Property owners have a responsibility to provide reasonable care to visitors, guests, or customers who are legally on their property. This responsibility applies to all property owners in Iowa. However, there are some locations where negligent security incidents are more likely to occur than others.

Watch for Negligent Security Incidents in These Locations

If you have been hurt in any of the following locations then you should consider the security that was provided and whether a lack of reasonable security was a cause of your injury at a(n):

1. Apartment building. Many people come and go from apartment buildings—and that can create a security risk. Landlords have a duty to provide reasonable security in common areas of the apartment building, including the parking lot and property grounds. Additionally, landlords have a duty to provide working locks and other appropriate barriers to individual dwellings to protect residents and their guests.
    
2. Bank. The large amounts of money kept in banks make them a potential target for criminal activity. Federal regulations and common law require banks to provide reasonable security for people who are lawfully on bank property. Each bank branch should comply with federal regulations, and in some cases should provide additional security to protect customers.
    
3. Bar or nightclub. The crowds that gather in bars and nightclubs and the alcohol consumed by many customers make them potential locations for fights or attacks. Bars and nightclubs are required to provide reasonable security, which could include a bouncer, crowd control measures, and other safety precautions to prevent injuries.
    
4. College or university. It is easy for anyone to walk on to a college or university campus. However, institutions of higher learning have a duty to provide reasonable security to those who are lawfully there. This could include—but is not limited to—making sure that residential halls are locked, providing adequate lighting or escorts at night, and providing other security measures.
    
5. Hotel. Hotels are busy places that are filled with strangers who are only there for a short time. This can make security challenging, but it is possible to provide reasonable security by making sure that common areas are lit, hotel room doors have properly functioning locks, and that staff are appropriately trained in security policies and procedures.
    
6. Parking lot. Parking lots are common locations for attacks and assaults, especially at night when they are often mostly deserted. Property owners have an obligation to provide reasonable security with adequate lighting, staffing, and other safety measures.
    
7. School. Iowa law requires schools to have safety and security plans. The terms of these plans may vary depending on the school’s location, size, and age of students. However, regardless of whether your child is in a rural preschool or an urban high school, you have the right to expect that reasonable security will be provided.
    
8. Store. Stores can sometimes be the scene of attacks or assaults, particularly when money is changing hands. Customers have the right to expect reasonable security in malls, large box stores, and independent boutiques.

Not all of these locations are required to have the same security measures in place to protect you from an attack or assault. Instead, what is reasonable for any given property depends on the property’s location, the property’s use, and the totality of the security measures that are in place.

What to Do If You Have Been Hurt in Any of These Places

Regardless of where you were hurt, you need to take action to protect your fair recovery of damages. You should expect that the person who attacked you will not have the financial recourse to pay for your past, current, and future:

• Medical expenses.
• Lost income.
• Out-of-pocket costs.
• Pain and suffering.

However, the property owner or the property owner’s insurance company may have the resources to pay for your damages and may be legally responsible for doing so if you can prove that your attack was made possible by negligent security.

Your time to file a negligent security case is limited. Accordingly, it is important to take action as soon as possible. You can get started protecting your rights today by learning more about how an negligent security case works in our free report, Negligent Security: What You Need to Know About It, or by starting a live chat with us at any time.