Realizing that you’ve been issued a false sense of security can feel like the ultimate betrayal. Companies and organizations all over the world hire private security firms to protect their patrons, and rightfully so. Yet, when these groups fail as hard as they’re known to fail, it can leave people vulnerable to the dangers of the world. The exact things that security is supposed to protect from are exactly the things that end up harming victims when the forces fail to act appropriately. Human error is an unfortunate fact of life, but that doesn’t mean it’s acceptable. Anybody who is harmed in any way from the negligence of a security agency in any capacity should be entitled to compensation for their pain and suffering.
There is no shortage of ways to find yourself in harm’s way when security fails to protect you. Without anyone to protect you, you may be surprised how quickly a seemingly innocent situation turns south. If you are walking in a parking lot outside a bank and the security guard is texting on their phone, you could easily be robbed or assaulted for your valuables, and the security forces would be none the wiser. These acts are simply unacceptable – if they aren’t there to protect the public every second of their shift, then why are they there at all?
In a study of over 1,000 negligent security cases, there was shown to be a wide array of crimes that resulted in bodily or mental harm. In 42% of cases, assault and battery were shown to be the main outcome as a result of a lack of protection. For 26% of the cases studied, the negligent security forces resulted in a victim getting sexually assaulted while nobody protected them. As if these cases weren’t horrific enough, then there is the ultimate injustice – in 15% of cases, a wrongful death was claimed. As they go down the list, 9% of cases resulted in robbery, 4% resulted in an instance of false imprisonment, and another 4% fell into a category with all the other crimes which included instances of grand theft auto, arson, and home invasions.
While the location of a crime scene can inherently be anywhere people are, there are more common locations that security seems to fall flat. What sets these types of claims apart is the sheer amount of places that they could possibly take place. As opposed to more niche types of injury claims, a negligent security claim has the potential to take place anywhere a security team was supposed to be protecting a client. This could be somewhere as obvious as a bank or somewhere as personal as a private birthday party. Wherever security is hired, there is an opportunity to drop the ball, resulting in life-altering injuries of effects on a victim.
The most common locations that these types of claims are made are at hotels, stores, malls, apartments, and restaurants. This can happen for a number of reasons. The more people are concentrated in one area, the more likely that security will fail to adequately protect each and every person against an instance of imminent danger. At the same time, places with more valuables are also at risk. In the eyes of criminals and ne’er-do-wells, if there is a reason for security, there is a reason to try to work around it.
It is widely known that most security forces are not trained in the nuances of law enforcement or military training. They are simply normal, average, everyday citizens who put on a shirt with a logo on it, hook a taser and a flashlight up to their belt, and try to do the best they can so they can keep their job. The fact of the matter is that many security companies are solely there to make people feel safe when the truth would make them feel far from it.
With so much money to be made in the securities business, many entrepreneurs jump at the chance to start their own firm. In fact, studies show that over 40 billion dollars were brought in by security companies in 2019 so far. While these statistics do show some of the more official agencies, it does display just how valuable this market is. Unfortunately, that much potential for income can result in people cutting a whole lot of corners.
More times than not, your average security guard will not receive adequate training or supplies to stop the kinds of attacks they may be faced with. As a result, the victims are virtually left to fend for themselves while the companies remain blissfully unaware or blissfully unable to help due to legal limitations. Many times, besides the lack of experience, these firms find themselves outsmarted and outgunned. Some agencies do not have the means nor permits to carry firearms. As a result, they could find themselves holding a can of mace to the face of a robber armed with a submachine gun. This is just poor planning, and the victims are the ones suffering the consequences of these negligent and unqualified security companies.
Here at Blase Inzina Injury Attorneys, we thoroughly believe you should be properly compensated if you have been harmed during an incident of negligent security. If you believe the security force to be at fault for your pain and suffering in any capacity, we will do everything in our power to get you the recognition and compensation you deserve. As these types of cases can be very tricky to file and win, it’s important that you have the right team by your side when you make your case. Ultimately, average attorneys simply do not have the know-how or experience to handle nuanced cases like these. We do, and we will stop at nothing to get justice for our clients.
Nobody has the right to trick you into a false sense of safety only to take you away from the things you love the most. You can rest assured knowing that our 15 years of experience in this field gives us an ideal opportunity to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Further, if you need it, we can also help you file for social security disability to help you get through this difficult time. At the end of the day, we will do everything in our power to let your voice be heard. You shouldn’t have to suffer for not doing anything wrong. To find out more about what we can do to help, give us a call today at (337) 347-7177 to speak with one of our experienced attorneys.