Premises liability law is a law that encompasses quite a large swath of the responsibilities property owners have when it comes to keeping their properties safe. Under premises liability law there is another law called negligent security law. Negligent security law covers a violent event that includes shootings, assaults, robberies and rapes while you are on someone else’s property and not your own.

Negligent security cases often arise when customers are followed to their cars in Dollar Tree parking lots, are attacked at ATMs outside of Family Dollar stores or are physically assaulted inside any of these stores. The negligent security and premises liability laws require businesses to maintain their properties in a reasonably secure manner. When they don’t, and an attack occurs, the businesses can be held liable for the injuries suffered by their customers or visitors.

A Duty to Protect Customers

Property owners have a duty to protect their customers at all times. This includes knowing what is going on in the community surrounding their store. For example, if there have been a lot of parking lot attacks in the area it is the responsibility of the property owner to provide as much protection as possible for customers. This could include adding more lighting in the parking, hiring a security guard for the store, or hiring a security firm to patrol the parking lot. This might also include adding more surveillance cameras inside and outside the Family Dollar.

Questions to Answer After an Assault

There are a few questions that need to be answered following an assault that could fall under the negligent security law. These questions include the following:

• Was there plenty of lighting at the scene of the crime?
• Is there evidence of prior criminal activity at the store or the surrounding community?
• Did the Dollar Tree have locks on its doors that worked properly?
• Was private security hired if the area is known for crime?
• Was there a surveillance system or security system at the store?

What Must be Proven in a Negligent Security Claim?

If you have been injured at a Dollar Tree and were legally allowed to be there, you might have the basis for a negligent security claim. In order to succeed in such a claim you will need to prove the following:

• There was a dangerous hazard or condition present at the store;
• The owner of the store should have been aware of the dangerous condition;
• The owner of the store failed to take the necessary steps to remediate the dangerous condition;
• The failure of the store owner to remedy the situation led to your injuries.

Who Can be Held Responsible?

So, you’ve been injured in an attack or other event at a Family Dollar store and you want to file a claim. Who can be held responsible for your injuries? First and foremost, the store owner will likely take the majority of liability in such a case. Other entities that can be included as defendants in a negligent security claim include the property manager, any security company hired to protect the property, and the entity that occupies the property (if different from the owner).

Negligent security law is in place to protect all lawful visitors of commercial properties. When you are injured while shopping at a Dollar Tree or other dollar store you need to seek medical attention, file a police report, and speak with an experienced personal injury attorney.