"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 Attack: Personal Injury Attorneys Protecting the Rights of Individuals throughout The State of Ohio
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Injury due to Criminal Attact because of the Absence of Security Guards in a Commercial Establishment with Known Risks: Crime Related Injury Lawyer
Experienced Premise Liability Injury Attorney providing Personal Injury representation involving Criminal Attack Injury due to Absence of Security Guards in a Commercial Establishment with Known Risks throughout the State of Ohio.
Call TOLL FREE: (800) 848-5297 today to schedule a Free Consultation with on of our Experienced Criminal Activity Personal Injury Attorneys.
Ohio Negligent Security Attorney: Assault Due to Insufficient Lighting
When a customer or visitor is violently attacked or assaulted on a business's property, the perpetrator is held criminally responsible. However, if the crime occurred because the property owner failed to provide adequate security measures—such as maintaining sufficient lighting in parking lots or common areas—the owner can be held financially liable through a Negligent Security claim.
Poor or broken lighting creates an ideal environment for criminal activity, turning a dark corner into a foreseeable trap. If you were the victim of a violent crime at an Ohio business due to a lack of proper illumination, our experienced Personal Injury Attorney team can help. We specialize in holding negligent property owners accountable for their failure to protect you from foreseeable criminal acts.
Establishing the Business's Duty to Protect Under Ohio Premises Liability
Under Ohio law, commercial property owners (of shopping centers, apartment complexes, hotels, and parking garages) owe their invitees a duty of ordinary care. This duty extends beyond fixing physical hazards; it includes taking reasonable steps to protect patrons from the foreseeable criminal acts of third parties.
The core of a Negligent Security claim based on poor lighting is foreseeability. We prove this using the Totality of the Circumstances Test, which courts apply in Ohio. This test looks at whether the property owner knew or should have known that inadequate lighting would increase the risk of crime:
- Prior Incidents: The property had a history of similar crimes (assault, robbery, theft) that should have put the owner on notice to improve security, including lighting.
- High-Crime Area: The business is located in an area with a high rate of crime, requiring a heightened duty of care and extra preventative measures.
- Broken or Insufficient Lighting: The owner was aware of broken lights in the parking lots or common areas—or the lighting was simply too dim to deter criminals—and failed to repair or upgrade them, directly increasing the risk of assault.
Proving Breach and Causation: Lighting as the Direct Factor
To win a negligent security case in Ohio, we must prove that the property owner's failure to provide adequate lighting was the direct and proximate cause of your assault and resulting injuries. The darkness must have facilitated the crime.
- Breach of Duty: The property owner failed to take reasonable and cost-effective steps, such as replacing burnt-out bulbs or installing additional high-output lighting, constituting a breach of the duty of care.
- Causation: We argue that the lack of sufficient lighting enabled the assailant to approach unnoticed or obscured surveillance footage, directly contributing to the commission of the criminal assault or attack.
- Ohio Revised Code Compliance: While no single Ohio Revised Code section dictates specific parking lot lighting levels, we evaluate the lighting against industry safety standards and local ordinances, which serves as powerful evidence that the owner failed to exercise ordinary care in maintaining a safe environment.
Evidence, Compensation, & Ohio's Statute of Limitations
Victims of criminal assault due to negligent security often suffer severe physical injuries, as well as profound emotional and psychological trauma. We act immediately to secure critical evidence that the owner was negligent:
- Light Meter Readings: Documenting the exact illumination levels (measured in lux or foot-candles) in the parking lot or common area to prove it was dangerously low.
- Crime Logs & Police Reports: Gathering records of past criminal activity on or immediately adjacent to the property to establish the required foreseeability.
- Maintenance Records: Obtaining work orders and repair logs to prove the owner was aware of the broken or inadequate lighting but failed to act.
You may be entitled to recover compensation for extensive medical expenses, lost wages, and non-economic damages, including pain and suffering and emotional distress.
The statute of limitations for most personal injury claims in Ohio (R.C. 2305.10) is typically two years from the date of the criminal assault. It is essential to contact an attorney quickly to begin the security investigation.
Contact Our Ohio Personal Injury Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one were the victim of a criminal assault or attack on commercial property due to insufficient lighting or other security failures, contact our dedicated firm.
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