Negligent Security Lawyer in Phoenix, Arizona

Victims of criminal activity have endured a tragic experience that affects them in many ways. Every case is different, and every victim has different needs. We take the time to learn about your experience and how your injuries, both physical and emotional, have impacted you.

Negligent security cases hold businesses and residential complexes responsible for heinous acts that could have been prevented with proper security or preventative measures.

These preventable acts include:

If you or a loved one has been a victim any of these crimes (or others), contact us today. We will review and analyze the security policies of the establishment and send an expert to the scene to conduct an investigation. The more time that passes between the incident and the expert investigation, the more likely key evidence will be destroyed.

We often feel safe in our own homes and business offices and at hotels. But did you know that most horrific crimes occur in these “safe” places? The lawyers at Snyder & Wenner, P.C., have been very successful in recovering substantial verdicts and settlements on behalf of those who have been catastrophically injured or killed due to the negligent security of apartment complexes, hotels, office complexes, and bars.

For example, in the landmark caseCochrane v. Linda Manor, we represented the family of a 17-year-old boy who was murdered in the parking lot of the apartment complex/motel where he and his mother lived. The murderer also lived there.

Several days prior to the murder, a maid who was employed by the defendant found the murderer with a shotgun in his room. He told her he had a fantasy about killing someone. She reported it to management who told her not to go into his room any longer. They did not evict him, and they did not warn the other tenants.

Our investigation revealed that there had been numerous violent and non-violent crimes on the property over several years and that the owners of the property took no action to increase security. The defendant apartment complex/motel refused to accept responsibility for their failure to protect their tenants.

At trial, the jury awarded the boy’s mother $10 million in compensatory damages. The jury also awarded her $2.6 million in punitive damages to punish the defendant for its egregious conduct and to deter other apartment complexes/motels from acting similarly. The $12.6 million award was the largest personal injury verdict ever in the state of Nevada at the time.

The negligent security attorneys at Snyder & Wenner, P.C., have extensive experience representing the rights of victims of criminal activity. Our success has resulted in attorneys throughout the country asking us to help litigate and provide trial consulting for these cases.

While victims of criminal conduct are often simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, there are certain steps you can take to help protect yourself or your loved ones from being the next victims of negligent security:

• Before moving into an apartment complex, ask the owner or landlord to provide you with the complex’s statistics on criminal conduct.
• Call your local police station to find out if your apartment complex is a hotbed for criminal activity.
• Make sure the parking lot of your apartment or business complex is well lit at all times.
• Check to see if there are security cameras on the premises, including in the parking lot, and if there are any areas that are NOT under video surveillance.
• Ask if there are patrolling security officers. If there are, ask how often they patrol and whether their patrol schedule is randomized to prevent criminals from learning the security guard’s schedule.
• Double lock your doors at night, and if you live on the first floor, do not leave your windows open.

We care about protecting our community and holding people responsible for putting money over safety. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed at an apartment complex, hotel, motel, office complex, parking lot, or bar, please contact us today. Our experienced attorneys have successfully litigated negligent security cases in Arizona, Nevada, and throughout the country involving:

For more information, please contact us today for a free consultation.

Choosing a new apartment to make your home can raise serious safety concerns for you and your family. While it is impossible to provide all of the necessary safety measures in one list, the following Apartment Safety Checklist may be helpful to ensure you and your loved ones are safe in your new home.

You may use the list to determine what safety features your complex does and does not have, and then raise any concerns to management. Keeping your family safe is of the utmost importance, and as safety advocates, we want to do everything we can to help. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you live in an apartment or condominium complex, you should expect that the owners will keep the premises safe. Parking lots, common areas, and hallways should be well-lit. It may be necessary to hire security guards for the protection of those in the apartment.

However, many property owners do not feel this way and cut costs on security and safety. This can lead to an environment where acts of violence are allowed to occur.

If a loved one has been seriously injured or killed due to an attack in an apartment complex, talk to a Phoenix personal injury attorney at the law firm of Snyder & Wenner, P.C. We have handled tough, complex cases involving issues of inadequate apartment security.

Why did this happen? For the victim and the family, that is an important question that deserves a full and complete answer. Our law firm knows how to do a thorough investigation that includes police reports, witness accounts, and a hard look at all the circumstances involved.

We prepare every case for trial. We don’t take every case, but our lawyers do take complex cases involving serious injuries when we can devote the necessary time and resources to the case. Our trial attorneys begin with a thorough investigation of the circumstances and all the evidence. We test our trial presentations so that we know what the jury needs and wants to know.

If you were a victim of violence and if the violence was made possible by negligent security, contact a law firm that has helped victims obtain the compensation they deserve for more than 25 years. The Snyder & Wenner, P.C. law firm represents clients throughout Arizona and nationwide.

Hotel and resort owners and managers can be held liable for inadequate security when their negligence causes harm to visitors and guests. Was a security guard out sick or taking a break? Was there adequate lighting in the parking lot? Was a key duplicated? Were there defective locks on a window? Negligent security helps criminals to rob or assault innocent people.

With over 30 years of experience, the lawyers at Snyder & Wenner, P.C. know how to ask the right questions, secure the evidence (including corporate documents and witness accounts), consult with experts, and develop a case strategy to explain to a jury what happened.

The hotel or resort will have lawyers. You need an attorney, too, to assure you are treated fairly throughout this ordeal. Enduring an assault and serious injury is difficult enough without being pressured to make decisions about a settlement.

At Snyder & Wenner, P.C., we believe every case deserves the time and resources that case needs. We do not take every case, but we do offer a free consultation to help you decide what to do. Contact us if you have been seriously injured because of negligent hotel security. We represent clients throughout Arizona, in neighboring states, and nationwide.

“If only …” That is a statement we hear so often when talking with the victims of violent crimes. If only a security guard had been there … If only the broken lock on the door or window had been repaired . . . If only the business had done a background check on employees … If only the school or business had made changes in security in response to earlier incidents …

There are numerous types of crimes that occur on school campuses, many of which would have been prevented had the proper safety standards been implemented. For instance, in 2012, 749,200 children ages 12 to 18 fell victim to violent crimes and assaults at school, according to the BJS.

Some categories of school and campus crimes include the following:

• Rape
• Assault
• Bullying
• Fighting
• Hate crimes
• Harassment and sexual harassment
• Being drugged
• Kidnapping
• Stabbings and shootings

For more information, please contact us today for a free consultation.

If you or your child was injured, your first step will be to contact a school and campus crimes attorney in Phoenix to determine eligibility. A lawyer who handles school crime injuries will be able to review the situation and determine what would have been done to prevent the crime from occurring.

Schools have a responsibility to provide a safe setting. Students have a right to attend school safe from foreseeable and preventable crime. Just as it is each school’s responsibility to ensure the building has working fire alarms and emergency exit plans, they also must have security plans in place to prevent needless injuries.

As long as the crime was foreseeable and preventable, victims may be able to file a lawsuit against the government or private school or campus. For instance, if the school failed to notice or investigate threats or signs of violence, the school might be legally responsible for the damages caused by resulting criminal attacks.

In some cases, plaintiffs have argued that the school did not have an acceptable security or emergency plan in place when violence was committed on school grounds. For example, if there were a history of crime at the school or in the general area, a plaintiff may argue that the school did not take appropriate steps to prevent the same or worse crimes in the future.

Other factors that might indicate a school’s liability include poor lighting at night, failure to provide security on campus or at events, and more.

If you or your child were injured in a school crime in Phoenix, consult an attorney about your case and the legal avenues through which you may recover compensation. For a free legal consultation, contact Snyder & Wenner, P.C. at (602) 224-0006 today.

In the case of a sexual assault due to lacking security measures, liability largely comes down to the issue of where the assault occurred. More specifically, while liability may fall on the property owner or landlord, it is most important to determine who the owner or manager actually is.

For example, if the sexual assault took place in a college dormitory, the responsible party may be the college itself or a contracted security company. Similarly, if the assault took place within an apartment complex or other joined housing unit, the landlord or property manager may be liable.

It is important to note that business and property owners owe a certain duty of care to all visitors, renters, and others in the area. Sexual assault on the premises may be a result of inadequate security measures, which may be a breach of that duty and may lead to damages awarded to the victimized party. Thoroughly review liability with a sexual assault inadequate security lawyer in Phoenix.

The damages victims may be awarded depend on the nature of the assault, as well as other specifics of the case. Generally, an injured party may be awarded damages for pain and suffering, any lost wages due to time missed from work, and medical bills if any injuries were incurred.

Compensation may be awarded to cover the costs of future medical bills, as well as those incurred due to treatment for psychological damage as a result of the assault.

In a claim of sexual assault due to inadequate security, the property or business owner may assert that a reasonable amount of security was in place in order to ensure visitor safety. With the help of a legal professional, you may be able to highlight the layout of the property and present security measures in order to strengthen your claim.

Common types of security measures include extra lighting, locks, video cameras, security guards, and even trimmed hedges, and the lack of any or all of these might bolster your claim.

At Snyder & Wenner, P.C., we know Arizona law and the responsibilities of property owners. We’ll help you explore liability in your case, prove inadequate security contributed to your attack, and help establish the damages to which you’re entitled.

Don’t hesitate any longer to speak with a legal professional about your case. We can help you file a claim in a timely manner to get the payment you deserve. Reach out to us today at 602-224-0006.

Dangerous premises and inadequate security measures on any type of business property can seriously endanger a person’s safety.

According to the Bureau of Justice statistics, 188,380 sexual assaults were reported in 2010. These assaults can happen anywhere to anyone if properly sexual assault security measures are not taken.

Assaults happen in areas where you would think you are safe, such as apartment complexes and even college campuses. However, these are two of the most common places where this type of victimization takes place.

Business owners have a legal duty to provide a reasonably safe environment for patrons, renters, visitors, and others to protect them against foreseeable acts of crime, including sexual assault.

The National Crime Victimization Survey by the Bureau of Justice provides statistics on the number of assault crimes that take place on college campuses across the country.

In 2009, 459 sexual assaults took place on college campuses.

Overall, 12 percent of women attending an American campus have been raped.

When adequate security measures are not implemented, criminal attacks are more likely to take place, putting residents, patrons, and guests at a higher risk of being victimized.

What is an adequate security measure depends on the situation but may include additional lighting, security locks, security patrols, security cameras, trimmed bushes and hedges, and the like.

Contact our premises liability lawyers for a free consultation regarding whether your injuries could have been prevented by proper sexual assault security measures.

With over offices in Phoenix, Avondale & Scottsdale, our team of personal injury attorneys can help you with your serious injury or wrongful death case.