The holiday season can mean a spike of criminal activity. In fact, between Thanksgiving and the end of the year retail crime jumps 30%, and muggings as well as thefts and burglaries also increase.
If you are shopping, ticking errands off of your holiday list, or just enjoying the season, it’s important to stay alert to your surroundings and to use common sense to stay safe. It’s also important to remember that property owners have an obligation to ensure that lawful visitors to their property stay safe.
If you own your own business, for example, and there is an increase in crime in your area, you owe it to your customers and employees to ensure that you take the proper steps to keep everyone safe. There are many things that property owners can do to keep customers, visitors, and employees safer:
- Issue alerts for any criminal activity in your business area
- Make sure that doors and windows are secure and in good condition
- Hire off-duty police officers or other professionals to patrol the area
- Ensure that parking areas, entrances, and other areas are well lit
- Use and install a security system to prevent break-ins, thefts, and other crime
If you are injured because of a mugging, attack, or other unlawful activity, keep in mind that you may have a legal claim. If the attack took place on private property, and the property owner was negligent in providing you with a safe space, you may have a civil claim against the attacker and against the property owner.
Deciding to bring about a legal claim against the property owner can be difficult. Perhaps the business owner is someone you do a lot of business with or have come to know. Perhaps you are hesitating in filing a claim because criminal charges already been filed in the case. Or, perhaps the attacker was never found and you’re not sure whether you have a claim.
In these and other cases, it is important to consult with a personal injury attorney in Hollywood or your community if you’ve been injured in an attack. Regardless of what happens with criminal charges and regardless of whether the attacker is found, you may have a claim. If a property owner was negligent and their negligence led to your injuries, you have may have the right to pursue legal action. Pursuing your claim can be important in making sure that safety changes are instituted so that others aren’t injured. It can also help you secure compensation so you can pay for medical bills and the other expenses you may face after sustaining a serious injury.
The attorneys at Flaxman Law Group understand that being seriously injured in an attack can be difficult. It’s why our legal team is always compassionate and professional. If you have been injured in Hollywood or anywhere in South Florida, contact our law offices for a free, no obligation case consultation.