New Jersey bar and restaurant owners are responsible for ensuring that certain safety precautions and security measures are in place to protect their customers and patrons from violent crimes. If they fail to do this and you become hurt, they may be considered negligent, and you may be able to hold them accountable for their negligent actions in court.
However, these types of cases can quickly become challenging as bar and restaurant owners are known to put up strong fights to defend and protect themselves from being found liable. That is why you need an experienced and skilled negligent security lawyer in your corner helping you build a strong case against the owner, addressing any problems that arise, and working endlessly to recover compensation for your current and future losses.
What is a negligent security lawsuit?
A negligent security lawsuit is a type of premises liability case. These cases usually arise when a business or property owner fails to provide a safe and harm-free establishment to their customers, visitors, or patrons. When this happens, physical assaults, fights, sexual assaults, stabbings, shootings, and robberies often take place on the business or property owner’s premises. Therefore, the goal of a negligent security lawsuit is to hold the business or property owner liable for failing to provide adequate security and to seek compensation for the victim’s damages.
Common scenarios of negligent security that could occur at a New Jersey bar or restaurant
A few common scenarios of negligent security that could occur at a New Jersey bar or restaurant include the following:
- A rowdy or disorderly patron at a bar is kicked out and returns to seek revenge and hurt other customers. He is able to re-enter the bar because there are not enough bouncers or security guards blocking the door or supervising to make sure that he does not come back inside.
- A person lurking in the parking lot enters the side door of a restaurant and sexually assaults a customer. This person was able to enter the side door because the locks were broken or did not work. In addition, there were no security cameras in this side area, and it is secluded from the rest of the restaurant.
- A patron leaving the bar is robbed while walking to their vehicle in the parking garage. The criminal is able to hide in the parking garage because there are several broken lights, making it difficult for employees and patrons to see or notice him.
- A person is abducted by another person hiding in the restroom at a restaurant. This abduction was possible because there were no security cameras or an alarm to set off in the event of an emergency, making it easy for the abductor to enter the establishment, hide in the bathroom, and leave with the person who they abducted.
When can I sue a restaurant or bar owner for negligent security?
If you suffer injuries at a restaurant or bar, it is important to remember that the property owner is not automatically at fault for the violent actions you sustained from a third party. Instead, you must be able to prove that the violent crime was foreseeable, and that the property owner failed to take the necessary security measures to protect the property and its customers and deter or prevent the foreseeable crime. If you can prove this, you can sue the restaurant or bar owner for negligent security.
However, you should keep in mind that the main defense used by restaurant and bar owners is that the crime was not foreseeable, making these cases extremely difficult. Therefore, you will need strong proof showing that the restaurant or bar is in a high-crime area, previous threats or incidents occurred at the bar or restaurant, or similar crimes happened to nearby establishments.
Do I have a deadline to sue for negligent security in New Jersey?
Most victims of negligent security have two years to file a lawsuit in New Jersey. This means that you have two years from the date that the crime took place to sue the bar or restaurant owner and seek compensation for your losses. If you wait too long and time runs out, your case will likely be dismissed or thrown out regardless of how successful it would have been. Therefore, it is highly recommended to get in touch with an attorney right away to begin discussing your case and ensuring that you do not leave much-needed compensation on the table forever.
How can a negligent security attorney help me with my case?
As mentioned, negligent security cases can be difficult and tricky. Therefore, in order to increase your chances of proving that the bar or restaurant owner was negligent and that your injuries and other losses were caused by their negligence, you need an attorney with the tools and resources to handle your negligent security case. A negligent security attorney can help you with your case by:
- Conducting their own investigation
- Determining liability
- Answering any of your questions and concerns
- Keeping you informed and updated about every step of the process
- Retrieving and collecting evidence to support your arguments
- Locating and hiring witnesses
- Calculating your damages and determining the true value of your case
- Communicating and negotiating with the bar or restaurant owner and their insurers/ attorneys
- Filing a lawsuit on your behalf and preparing for trial if necessary
The negligent security lawyers at Kwartler Manus have a solid track record for helping clients with various types of negligent security cases, including bar and restaurant attacks. Therefore, if you have experienced theft, assault, battery, or another violent crime at a bar or restaurant, you can depend on our team to help you navigate this type of case. We will listen to your experience, look over the facts and details of your claim, inform you of your legal rights and options, and help you fight for the compensation you need to gain a sense of normalcy again. Please visit our online contact page to schedule a meeting with one of our attorneys in Cherry Hill today.