Our David W. Martin Accident and Injury Lawyers in South Carolina know that apartment complexes throughout the state can quickly become dangerous premises when there is a lack of security measures in place to ensure the residents, visitors, or service providers are safe.
Broken locks, poor lighting, loitering, and the general lack of security can lead to physical and sexual assaults, robberies, and other criminal activities that can lead to serious injuries or even death.
Our South Carolina personal injury attorneys work tirelessly to prove the apartment complex owner or manager failed to prevent a foreseeable attack, assault, or other actions that led to our client’s harm.
If you have been hurt or lost a loved one because of an apartment complex’s negligent security measures, contact us today to discuss your case during a consultation. We want to help.
When is an Apartment Complex Liable for Injuries or Fatalities Caused by Negligent Security?
Apartment complex owners, operators, or managers can be held liable for injuries or fatalities that occur on the premises when they had knowledge of the existence of a hazard and failed to take reasonable steps within a reasonable amount of time to prevent harm.
When assaults, attacks, or other criminal activity occurs in apartment complexes, the question becomes whether the harmful circumstances were foreseeable by the property owner or management company.
For instance, if an attack previously occurred at the apartment complex, seriously injuring a tenant or visitor, the property owner or operator would be notified of the dangerous condition.
It would then be up to the apartment complex to implement safety measures to keep another attack, assault, or other harmful circumstances from occurring on the property again.
In short, when a crime is foreseeable given the inadequacy or lack of security measures, the apartment complex may be liable for the injuries or wrongful death that resulted.
Other circumstances that may lead to the apartment complex’s liability could include:
- The lack of adequate lighting in hallways, stairwells, entries and exits, parking lots, or other public areas provides an advantage to a perpetrator
- Faulty safety measures at the time of the incident, including broken gates or locks
- Lack of maintenance records for security equipment, including video surveillance, security alarms, call boxes, gates, doors, windows, locks, or gates to ensure each was in good working condition
- A pattern or history of known criminal activity in or around the apartment complex
- Delayed or canceled security measures or upgrades to save money
- Failing to implement or upgrade existing security in response to other incidents in or around the apartment complex
- The absence of security personnel or negligent or insufficiently numbered security personnel
- Failing to conduct background checks on potentially dangerous co-tenants, contractors, or maintenance employees
- Inadequate policies or procedures for keys/entry controls that enabled perpetrators access to an apartment or other area of the premises
When our clients suffer injuries due to negligent security measures at an apartment complex, we will help build their case to prove that the property owner or operator failed to take reasonable measures to protect them.
Contact Our David W. Martin Accident & Injury Attorneys in South Carolina Today
To learn more about your legal rights and options to hold an apartment complex owner, operator, or management company liable for your injuries or the loss of your loved one, contact our South Carolina personal injury attorneys at the David W. Martin Accident and Injury Lawyers today by calling 803-258-6199 to determine the next steps to building your case for success.
We provide consultations for all personal injury cases in South Carolina, and never charge any legal fees unless we deliver a positive outcome for your unique case.