Rockford Injury Attorneys Seeking Accountability for Negligent Security or Maintenance

In the state of Illinois, all businesses and property owners have a legal obligation to keep their premises in a safe condition for invited guests. This responsibility takes many different forms, including requiring businesses to provide basic security protection and to conduct regular maintenance. When businesses fail to do so, serious injuries can occur. At Brassfield & Krueger, Ltd., our Rockford premises liability attorneys have a deep understanding of Illinois law and the personal injury claims process. If you were injured because of negligent security or negligent maintenance, please contact our firm for assistance.

Negligent Security: Explained

Businesses are legally required to provide security that is consistent with the level of security that a reasonably prudent business owner would provide under similar conditions. This certainly does not mean that every business is required to have security guards on site. The legal obligations of the business will always depend on the specific circumstances of the case at hand. For example, a small mom and pop gas station located in a rural section of LaSalle County would not be expected to hire security personnel. On the other hand, a nightclub or concert venue, where a large amount of alcohol is being sold, would be expected to hire security guards. The bottom line: When businesses fail to live up to their duty to provide secure conditions, they can be held legally liable for resulting injuries. Some common examples of negligent security include:

• Lack of security guards
• Under trained security personnel
• Inadequate staffing
• Lack of surveillance cameras and equipment
• Broken locks on doors
• Poor lighting
• Inadequate screening at entrances

Negligent Maintenance: Explained

Similar to negligent security, negligent maintenance occurs when a property owner failed to keep the conditions on the premises as safe as a prudent property owner would have done in similar circumstances. If a business owner fails to adequately maintain their property, and a serious injury occurs as a result, then they can be held legally liable for that injury. In some cases, as with broken locks on doors, negligent maintenance is itself a security issue. Though, in many other cases, negligent maintenance simply creates an unacceptable safety problem on the property. Some of the most common examples of negligent maintenance include:

• Failure to mark, lock or fence off dangerous areas
• Failure to maintain the building’s water piping and electrical infrastructure
• Failure to repair weak sections of stairs, decks, and roofs
• Failure to fix broken lights
• Failure to look after exterior areas, including removing weather-related hazards such as snow, ice, or fallen branches

Schedule a Free Consultation Today for Your Premises Liability Case

At Brassfield & Krueger, Ltd., our Rockford, IL premises liability lawyers have extensive experience handling negligent security claims. If you were a victim of negligent security, please contact our team today to set up your free, no-obligation case evaluation. We serve communities throughout Northern Illinois, including in Winnebago County, LaSalle County, Boone County, and Ogle County.