If you attend an event, and you suffer injuries, you may be able to hold property owners, management, or other parties liable if those injuries resulted from negligent security. Knowing more about civil liability for assaults at concerts and sporting events could help you determine what to do when injured at a venue in Chicago.
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If negligent security caused an injury at a concert or sporting event in Chicago, call Ankin Law today at 312-600-0000 to schedule a free consultation.
Who Is Liable for Assaults at Concerts and Sporting Events?
According to data from the Chicago Police Department, a recent year saw 8,039 aggravated assaults, a 20-year-high. Some of these instances involve victims who were assaulted at a concert or sporting event, which could include Soldier Field, Wrigley Field, and Wintrust Arena, among others.
In addition to criminal suits against the people directly responsible for the assault, civil liability could fall on different parties, such as:
Venue or Stadium Owners and Operators
If you were assaulted at a sporting event or concert, owners and operators could be responsible for bodily injury if they breach their “duty of care” to keep their venues safe for patrons. Like other property owners and management staff, owners and operators of stadiums and venues must provide sufficient security measures to mitigate the risk of assault and other dangers.
They might be liable for failing to install security cameras in critical locations, taking steps to prepare for events that often involve violent or rowdy crowds, negligently hiring or retaining security staff, over-serving alcohol, or engaging in other forms of negligence to enable an assault.
Event Organizers and Promoters
In premises liability cases, companies responsible for planning or promoting an event could bear liability for assaults at sporting events and concert venues. These entities must hire qualified staff, ensure effective and safe crowd control, and coordinate events with emergency services.
Security Companies
Security firms may also be responsible for inadequate security if their employees fail to act properly in the event of an instance of assault. For example, employees may fail to respond adequately to an altercation or remove disruptive individuals from crowds.
Performers or Teams
In some instances, even performers or teams might share liability for assaults at sporting events or concerts by inciting violence among the audience or encouraging generally unsafe behavior.
What Is Considered Negligent Security?
Negligent security occurs when a liable party fails to provide the security required to protect visitors, tenants, and other permitted parties on a property through reasonable measures.
There are multiple types of negligent security that could be the cause of assaults and other types of incidents:
- Insufficient maintenance, such as broken locks, leaving gates or doors open, or failing to fix fences.
- Inadequate lighting that allows for accidents or violent incidents to occur.
- Lack of security cameras or personnel to monitor certain areas.
- Malfunctioning security equipment.
- Negligent hiring practices, like failing to perform background checks or provide adequate training.
In any instance of negligent security, it’s crucial to collect sufficient evidence to prove liability, which you may be able to do with the help of an experienced negligent security lawyer in Chicago.
What Damages Can You Claim?
Following an assault or another type of incident resulting from negligent security, injury victims may be able to recover multiple types of damages, including:
Economic Damages
These damages account for all the direct financial losses resulting from injuries. For instance, you could recover damages for medical bills, lost income, loss of future earnings, and property damage.
Non-Economic Damages
You may also recover non-economic damages that cover the personal pain and suffering experienced because of your injuries. These damages include physical pain, emotional distress, trauma, disfigurement, and other personal experiences. While it is more difficult to prove than economic damages, you may be able to prove them through a pain journal detailing your experience in the days, months, or years after the assault.
Punitive Damages
In extreme cases involving gross negligence or malicious intent, injury victims may also recover punitive damages that supplement compensatory damages. These damages have the explicit intent of punishing defendants for egregious behavior, with the hope of preventing similar cases in the future.
What Do You Need to Prove in a Negligent Security Lawsuit?
In cases involving negligent security, you will need to prove liability, as you would with other types of civil liability cases.
First, you must prove that the property owner or another negligent party should have known of the risk of an assault or another form of injury on the property, owing a “duty of care.”
Additionally, you must prove that the negligent party breached that duty of care through inadequate security, that this breach led to an instance of assault or an accident and subsequent injuries, and that the victim was lawfully present on the property at the time of the incident.
For help from an assault lawyer at Ankin Law, schedule a free consultation by contacting us today.
FAQs About Negligent Security Cases
What Does Negligent Security Mean?
Negligent security refers to a legal concept involving the failure of a property owner or manager to maintain a safe environment for people on a property, often through factors like inadequate lighting and a lack of security personnel.
Is Negligent Security a Type of Premises Liability?
Negligent security falls under premises liability law, which makes people and entities like property owners or management staff responsible for injuries resulting from avoidable inadequate security.
Who Can Be Liable for Negligent Security?
Various parties could be responsible for negligent security, depending on the circumstances and the nature of the inadequate security, including property owners and occupiers, employers, landlords, property management companies, and security companies.
