Security guards are a key safety feature of many malls, gyms, and even people’s apartment complexes. They provide peace of mind and a sense of security to a number of people and are heavily relied on for the safety of others. The role of a security guard is to ensure that the lawful visitors to the place to which they are providing their services to, are kept safe from any types of attacks or injury.
In South Carolina, shops, nightclubs, apartment complexes, and other sites where visitors need to be kept safe, have a duty of care for their clients and must provide adequate security. If they fail to do this, they can be guilty of negligent security, which could result in serious injury, and even death.
What Is Negligent Security?
There are several ways in which an establishment in South Carolina can be found guilty of negligent security. As previously mentioned, security guards are an integral part of any security system. If these guards themselves are negligent in their tasks and do not do their job properly, then this is negligent security.
Negligent security can also be due to the security features of a building itself. For example, inadequate security lighting can create an unsafe environment for people as they may be unable to see properly in the dark. This can be easily avoided if the lighting is set at a proper standard that creates a safe environment.
Similarly, defects in the building’s security system such as broken alarms or locks can create opportunities for serious security breaches. The security system is meant to alarm and alert users when something is amiss to mitigate the impacts of a security breach, so it is extremely dangerous if they are not working properly, and can potentially have dastardly effects.
What Happens When There Is Negligent Security?
If an establishment’s security is negligent, then they are opening their clients up to potentially being exposed to extremely dangerous situations. The most common types of incidents resulting from negligent security are assault, rape, robbery, and even homicide.
These incidents are most likely in commercial properties such as big box stores, banks, bars, malls, and service stations. Users of these spaces often do so under the impression that the property owners will provide adequate security, which is why it is imperative to have proper measures in place.
How to Know If You’ve Been the Victim of Negligent Security
Sometimes it is not easy to know if an injury that you suffered was the result of negligent security. In South Carolina, several elements will be examined to determine this. Firstly, it will be examined whether the property owner owed a duty of care to you. Depending on the type of property, certain laws and regulations may mean that they have a duty of care for your safety while using their space.
It is then necessary to determine if they breached that duty. This can be shown through practical means such as broken security cameras, or through the absence of a security guard. Finally, you need the means to prove that this breach caused you an injury. If you can tick all these boxes, then it is likely that you have been the victim of negligent security.
We Can Help You
If you have been the victim of negligent security, you may be able to gain compensation for any injuries you have sustained. At Allen Law, our attorneys have experience in a wide range of cases and understand the physical and mental trauma that someone’s negligent security can cause you. If you have been the victim of negligent security, do not wait to call us today at (843) 882-5005 to speak to one of our friendly and experienced premises liability attorneys.