A negligent security claim can throw a business into chaos. While one of these lawsuits can cause damage to a business’s reputation, it can also be quite costly if a large judgment is handed down against the business and its owner. So, if you’re facing one of these negligent security claims, then you need to know what you can do to protect your interests moving forward.
The “reasonably foreseeable” standard
Before an individual can succeed on a premises liability claim stemming from criminal activity that occurred on your property, he or she will have to prove that the crime in question was foreseeable and that you failed to act reasonably to prevent customers from being harmed. This can be a difficult standard to get your hands around, but your first step should be speaking with witnesses who can help give you context, whether that context is good or bad for you case.
Interviewing witnesses
To thoroughly develop your claim, you need to speak with all potential witnesses. This includes employees who were working the night of the incident, police officers, those involved in the incident, and any maintenance personnel who were responsible for maintaining or repairing safety features of the premises, such as locks and lighting. You should try to interview these individuals as quickly as possible, too, given that employees leave companies with relatively high frequency, which can make it challenging to track them down later on.
Build the best defense possible under the circumstances
Skillfully interviewing witnesses is just one aspect of your liability defense, and it can be key to you addressing reasonable foreseeability and the steps that you took to keep patrons safe. But to maximize your chances of success, you need to take a holistic approach to your case. This means preserving documentary evidence, obtaining 911 calls, and gathering crime data from the surrounding area. It can be a challenging process overall, but it’s necessary if you want to maximize your chances of obtaining the outcome you desire.