"When I was injured due to inadequate security at a retail center in Columbus, I felt completely lost. This firm quickly stepped in, investigated the facts, and held the property owner accountable for their negligence. They treated my case with dignity and professionalism, securing a settlement that covered my medical bills and lost wages. I highly recommend them for any crime-related injury on someone else's property."
Injury Due to Criminal Assault: Personal Injury Attorneys Protecting the Rights of Individuals throughout The State of Ohio
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Criminal Assault Injury due to Insufficient Lighting at an Apartment or Business: Crime Related Injury Lawyer
Experienced Premise Liability Injury Attorney providing Personal Injury representation involving Criminal Assault Injury due to Insufficient Lighting at and Apartment or Businesses throughout the State of Ohio.
Call TOLL FREE: (800) 848-5297 today to schedule a Free Consultation with on of our Experienced Criminal Activity Related Personal Injury Attorneys.
Ohio Negligent Security Attorney: Assault Due to Insufficient Lighting
A violent criminal assault on a business's property—such as a parking lot or common area—is often facilitated by the owner's failure to provide adequate safety measures. Insufficient lighting creates prime conditions for crime, turning areas meant for safe passage into dangerous, unmonitored zones.
In Ohio, property owners have a legal obligation to protect you from foreseeable criminal acts. If you were injured in an assault or attack that occurred because of negligent security, our experienced Personal Injury Attorney team specializes in holding these property owners and managers financially accountable under Ohio's premises liability laws.
Foreseeability and the Duty to Protect Under Ohio Law
Under Ohio premises liability, commercial property owners (known as possessors) owe their customers and visitors (invitees) a duty of ordinary care. This duty extends to warning or protecting invitees from the criminal acts of third parties if the owner knows or should know that there is a substantial risk of harm on the premises.
Ohio courts determine this critical element of foreseeability using the Totality of the Circumstances Test. We use this test to prove the property owner was negligent in failing to maintain sufficient lighting:
- Prior Incidents: Documented history of similar violent or non-violent crimes on or immediately near the property should have put the owner on notice to improve security, including lighting.
- Property Characteristics: The specific design of the property, such as isolated corners, blind spots, or the nature of the business (e.g., late-night operations), makes assault more likely.
- Broken or Poor Lighting: The owner had actual or constructive knowledge that the lights in the parking lot or common area were broken, insufficient, or poorly maintained, directly increasing the risk of attack.
Proving Causation: The Role of Insufficient Lighting
To succeed in a Negligent Security claim in Ohio, we must prove that the property owner's failure to provide sufficient lighting was the direct and proximate cause of the criminal assault. The darkness must have measurably increased the risk of the attack.
- Breach of Duty: We argue the owner failed to take reasonable precautions—like replacing burnt-out bulbs, installing high-output fixtures, or following industry-standard light levels—constituting a breach of the duty of care.
- Criminal Facilitation: The lack of proper illumination provided cover for the assailant, making the area less visible to patrols, witnesses, and potential surveillance cameras, thereby facilitating the criminal assault.
- Industry Standards: We utilize expert testimony to show that the lighting levels fell below accepted security and safety standards, proving the owner's negligence was a failure to exercise ordinary care.
Evidence, Damages, & Ohio's Statute of Limitations (R.C. 2305.10)
Victims of criminal assaults often face devastating physical injuries, long-term emotional distress, and extensive financial burdens. We work quickly to secure critical evidence before conditions can be altered:
- Crime Statistics and Police Reports: Gathering official documentation of the incident and past crimes to establish foreseeability under the Totality of the Circumstances standard.
- Light Surveys: Conducting detailed light meter readings at the scene to prove the illumination levels in the parking lot or common area were dangerously low.
- Maintenance Records: Obtaining work orders, repair logs, and inspection reports that prove the owner knew the lighting was defective but failed to fix it.
Under Ohio law (R.C. 2305.10), the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is typically two years from the date of the criminal assault. You are entitled to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and profound non-economic damages, including pain and suffering and emotional trauma.
Contact Our Ohio Personal Injury Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one were seriously injured by a criminal assault due to insufficient lighting or other negligent security at an Ohio business, contact our dedicated legal team for specialized help.
Call TOLL FREE: (800) 848-5297 today to schedule your Free Consultation.
Contact Us Today!
Office:
5000 Arlington Centre Blvd.
Columbus, OH 43220
Call: TOLL FREE: (800) 848-5297
Contact Us Today!
Office:
5000 Arlington Centre Blvd.
Columbus, OH 43220
Call: TOLL FREE: (800) 848-5297
What Our Clients Say
After prolonged exposure to toxic mold at my workplace, I started experiencing severe health issues. Proving the connection to the business's negligence felt impossible until I hired this firm. They were brilliant, connecting my health problems to the landlord's failure to address water damage. They gave me my health and my life back by securing a significant settlement. For mold-related injury cases, they are unparalleled."
"My accident at a poorly maintained apartment complex pool in Dayton was terrifying. I suffered a serious head injury. This law firm was incredible; they immediately started investigating the pool's safety records and maintenance log. Their work resulted in a successful claim against the property management. If you've been injured at a pool in Ohio, you want this firm on your side."
"The defective stairs at a restaurant in Toledo caused a significant knee injury. The property owner initially refused to pay, but this firm took on the challenge. They brought in experts to show the code violations and built an undeniable case. Thanks to their legal expertise, I received a fair settlement that allows me to focus on my recovery. They truly excel with cases involving unsafe property conditions."
"My child was tragically bitten by a dog at a neighbor's property in Akron. Navigating the aftermath and dealing with the owners was incredibly stressful. The team at this law firm was compassionate yet fiercely effective. They understood Ohio's dog bite laws thoroughly and fought to ensure my child received the necessary medical care and compensation for their trauma. They are the best dog bite attorneys in the state."
"I had a terrible slip and fall accident on a wet floor at a grocery store in Cincinnati that led to a serious fracture. The store tried to deny responsibility, but this firm's meticulous preparation and dedication proved the store's negligence. They were communicative throughout the entire process, making a stressful situation much easier to handle. Choose them if you need a top-notch slip and fall lawyer."
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PH: TOLL FREE: (800) 848-5297 • OFFICE LOCATION • 5000 Arlington Centre Blvd. Columbus, OH 43220