It was because of a property owner’s failure to provide reasonable security that you were attacked or assaulted. Your life was forever changed by the property owner’s negligence, and you have the right to recover damages. However, damages are not automatic. Instead, you have to file a negligent security case to pursue a legal recovery.
Our negligent security lawyers have decades of experience filing personal injury actions and want to share some important information with you for free.
What to Know Before Filing a Lawsuit
In order to protect your recovery, you must understand how a negligent security case works. Specifically, you should know:
- Why you should pursue a civil case even if a criminal case is pending. A criminal case may have consequences for your attacker, but it will not result in your recovery of damages for your medical expenses, lost income, pain, suffering, and other costs.
- Whether you have the legal right to file a case. If you are an adult who was hurt then you likely have the right to file a lawsuit for damages. Similarly, you may have the right to file a lawsuit on behalf of a child or adult in your guardianship or on behalf of an estate for which you are the administrator.
- How long you have to file a case. In most cases, you have two years to file a negligent security case in Iowa. However, some exceptions do apply that will shorten or lengthen this amount of time.
- How to collect evidence. Photographs, surveillance video, and other evidence can be important to your recovery, but you need to make sure that all relevant evidence is protected.
- Whether you need expert witnesses. Security professionals, doctors, and others can provide useful information about whether the property owner was negligent or about the extent of your injuries.
- How settlements work. Settlements require negotiation. Sometimes, insurers are willing to settle for fair amounts after successful negotiations, but this is not always the case. Once a settlement is reached, it is binding and it ends your claim.
- How to start your lawsuit. A lawsuit begins when you file the required paperwork in an Iowa court.
- Whether you need an attorney. An attorney can help you file a negligent security case, settle your claim, and make sure that all of your rights are protected.
Negligent security cases are complicated and you are not expected to know how to file a lawsuit or protect your rights on your own. Instead, you have the right to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced negligent security lawyer who can help you get the recovery that you deserve.
To learn more, please start a live chat with us now or call us anytime—24/7—at 1-800-800-5678.