You and your friends may decide to go to a local bar to have a few drinks and catch up on new events happening in your lives. However, bars are unfortunately known to be one of the most common places for fights, robberies, sexual assaults, and other violent crimes. Even though this information may come as little to no surprise to you, bar owners are still required to take certain security measures to protect their customers and patrons from these foreseeable crimes.
If you have been hurt while at a local bar, you should consider consulting a Philadelphia negligent security attorney from Kwartler Manus at your earliest convenience. We will investigate your incident and injuries, go over your legal rights and options, help you gather compelling evidence, and advocate for the financial recovery you need and deserve to get your life back on track again.
What types of crimes usually result from negligent security in Philadelphia bars?
While bars can be places where people go to watch sports, have a few drinks, enjoy conversations, and have a laid-back evening, violent crimes may occur if the bar owner fails to take reasonable steps to prevent or deter these situations. Here are a few crimes that usually result from negligent security in bars:
- Fights or physical assaults
- Theft, robbery, or burglary
- Rape or sexual assault
- Carjacking
- Shootings
- Stabbings
- Homicide or wrongful death
Examples of security that the bar may have been lacking which could have contributed to your injuries
If you were injured in a crime committed by a third party at a bar, there is a strong possibility that both the crime and your injuries could have been prevented if the bar owner installed or maintained more security. These are some examples of security that the bar may have been lacking which could have contributed to your injuries:
- Bouncers or security guards
- Street, building, or parking lot lights
- Security or surveillance cameras
- Working and secure locks
- Gates or fences
- Repaired and working windows and doors
- Bars on the windows
- Trained staff or employees
- Supervision of customers or employees
- A working security system and alarms
How do I establish fault for my negligent security case?
Establishing fault for a negligent security case can be very difficult and complex. While the person who committed the crime and caused your injuries is likely liable, the bar owner can also be held liable if there is proof that they were negligent in their security measures. In order to establish fault against the bar owner, you must prove these five elements:
- Duty of care: The bar owner owed you and other customers or patrons a duty of care, which was to keep you safe and harm-free while on their premises.
- The crime was foreseeable: The crime that was committed by a third party was foreseeable. This means that the bar is located in a high-crime location, has experienced threats recently or in the past, or other similar crimes have taken place nearby. Therefore, the bar owner should have reasonably known that a future crime was possible.
- Breach of duty: The bar owner breached their duty of care by failing to take security measures to protect you and other customers or patrons.
- Causation: There is a direct link between the bar owner’s negligence and your injuries. This means that if the bar owner had taken certain steps to improve the security at the bar, your injuries likely would not have happened.
- Damages: You suffered damages due to the crime, such as injuries, medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
What evidence do I need to prove that the bar owner was negligent in security?
When it comes to proving that the bar owner was negligent in terms of security, you will need to gather strong and supportive evidence to demonstrate this negligence. The following are forms of evidence that may be able to help you prove and demonstrate this:
- Photos
- Videos
- Surveillance footage
- Your police report
- Bar records
- Previous incident or police reports
- Eyewitness statements
- News articles showing incidents occurring nearby
- Expert witness testimony
What type of damages can I recover after a bar attack?
If negligent security leads to a bar attack, you may be eligible to recover damages for:
- Medical bills: This includes emergency room visits, hospitalizations, surgeries, prescriptions, doctor office visits, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and more.
- Lost income: If you are out of work due to your injuries, you may be able to recover compensation for the income you lost.
- Pain and suffering: This includes physical pain, mental distress, emotional trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, depression, loss of quality of life, and more.
- Property damage: If your vehicle is damaged in the crime, you may be able to recover compensation to repair or replace it. This is common if a shooting or car theft occurs.
If you have been injured at a local bar and believe negligent security was the cause, the Philadelphia negligent security lawyers at Kwartler Manus are here to help. We know and understand that you are going through a tough time and the last thing you want to do is deal with a difficult legal case. However, when you work with our team, we will do everything we can to ensure that the process remains as smooth and stress-free as possible for you. Please contact our firm to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today. We look forward to meeting you at our Center City Philadelphia location soon!