Steps To Take After An Assault Or Injury On Unsafe Property
In the first hours and days after an incident, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure what to do. While every situation is different, there are some general steps that can help protect your health, your safety, and your ability to bring a negligent security claim later.
Prioritize Your Health & Immediate Safety
Your first priority is medical care. Even if you feel you can try to manage on your own, it is important to get checked at a hospital, urgent care, or clinic in this area as soon as you can. Some injuries, including head trauma, internal injuries, or emotional trauma, are not obvious right away. Timely treatment can protect your health and also creates medical records that document what you went through.
Report The Incident & Document What Happened
Reporting the incident is also important. If you have not already done so, consider contacting law enforcement to make a report and obtain an incident number. When the incident happened at an apartment complex, store, hotel, or other business, notify property management or staff in writing if possible and keep copies of any reports or emails you provide or receive. These documents can later support your account of what happened.
Preserve Evidence When It Is Safe
If it feels safe, try to preserve evidence of the conditions that contributed to the attack. This can include photos or video of the area, such as broken locks, dark lighting, open gates, or lack of cameras. Keep any clothing or personal items that were damaged. If there were witnesses, try to save their names and contact information. At the same time, pay attention to your emotional safety, and seek counseling or support if you are struggling.
Contact A Law Firm For Guidance
Reaching out to a law firm early can make a real difference. Our team can help you understand how to handle communications with property owners and insurers, and we can begin steps to request records or preserve surveillance footage before it is erased as part of normal system cycles. During a consultation, we listen carefully, answer questions, and explain your options so you can make informed decisions at your own pace.
What Negligent Security Looks Like In Marin County
Many people are not sure whether what happened to them counts as negligent security. In simple terms, negligent security is a type of premises liability claim. It arises when a property owner or manager fails to take reasonable steps to protect people from foreseeable criminal acts or violence, and someone is hurt as a result.
Here in Marin County, negligent security issues can occur in many settings. People may be attacked in an apartment complex parking lot, a stairwell in a condominium building, a hotel corridor, a shopping center parking area, or outside a bar or restaurant. Problems also arise in parking garages near transit, office complexes, or other busy locations where people have a right to expect basic safety measures.
Common examples of inadequate security include broken or missing locks that were never repaired, dark walkways or parking lots where lighting has not been maintained, gates that no longer close, or building entrances that are routinely propped open. Some properties have cameras that do not work or no cameras at all, despite prior incidents. Other properties ignore repeated complaints about trespassers, threats, or earlier attacks and fail to make meaningful changes.
Negligent security cases often involve a history of problems at or near the property. When owners know or should know that crime is a real risk, reasonable steps can include improving lighting, repairing locks, adding or fixing cameras, or arranging for appropriate monitoring. If they choose not to act and someone is assaulted, robbed, or sexually attacked, California premises liability law can allow the injured person to seek compensation. These cases may be brought in the civil courts that serve Marin County, where judges and juries consider what safety steps were reasonable under the circumstances.
Don’t settle for less. Fight for full compensation.
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$2,000,000 Truck Accident
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$1,850,000 Pedestrian Accident
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$1,800,000 Motorcycle Accident
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$1,750,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
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$1,495,000 Premises Liability
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$1,410,000 Premises Liability
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$1,300,000 Pedestrian Accident
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$1,000,000 Rollover Accident
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"Colby was professional, caring and listened carefully to what our son's desired outcomes were."
Our adult son was hit by a car while on vacation in San Rafael CA. We recieved the call the night before Thanksgiving 2022. We flew from MPLS to San Fransisco and got to the hospital where our son was. He was injured badly, after emergency brain surgery he was placed in a medically induced coma he woke up after three day's. We decided as a family to contact an attorney. We contacted Kuvara Law firm and talked with Colby. Colby assured us that the only interest she had was the well being of our son. She went above and beyond to navigate out of state insurance and an entire host of other issues. Our entire family would recomend Kuvara Law firm to anyone looking for representation.
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How Our Negligent Security Lawyers Build Your Case
When you contact us after an incident on unsafe property, our goal is to take as much of the legal burden off your shoulders as we reasonably can. We start by listening to your story and learning about the property, the events leading up to the incident, and how your life has been affected. From there, our attorneys work through a series of steps to evaluate and pursue a negligent security claim.
Investigating The Incident & Property Conditions
Investigation is a key first phase. We work to gather police reports, incident reports from the property, and any available photos or video. In some cases, we request surveillance footage from the property owner or their representatives. We also look for signs of prior similar incidents at or near the location, such as earlier assaults, robberies, or complaints, because a history of problems can be important evidence that stronger security was needed.
Evaluating Security Measures & Failures
We then assess the security measures that were or were not in place. This can include evaluating lighting, locks, fences or gates, key or access card systems, and camera placement. We compare those conditions with what a reasonably careful property owner might have done given any known risks. When necessary, we may consult with appropriate professionals to help analyze technical issues so we can present a clear picture of how the property fell short.
Documenting Your Injuries & Losses
At the same time, we focus on documenting your injuries and your ongoing needs. Our long standing relationships with medical providers, combined with our founder’s background as a medic, help us understand both the physical and psychological impact of what you have experienced. We collect medical records, bills, and information about recommended future care to make sure the full scope of your harm is reflected in any claim.
Dealing With Insurance Companies & Defendants
Communication with insurance companies and defense lawyers is another significant part of our work. Because Neal Kuvara previously worked as an insurance adjuster, our firm is familiar with how insurers may attempt to shift blame onto victims or downplay the role of poor security. We respond to these tactics by presenting organized evidence and by staying persistent through negotiations. Throughout, our paperless systems and structured case management help us track deadlines, documents, and follow ups so that your case keeps moving forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have a negligent security case?
In general, you may have a negligent security case if you were assaulted, robbed, or otherwise harmed on someone else’s property because basic safety measures were missing or ignored. The law looks at whether the property owner or manager knew or should have known about a risk of crime and failed to take reasonable steps to address it. Examples include repeated incidents at an apartment complex with no meaningful lighting or access control, or a hotel that ignores prior attacks in a particular hallway.
During a consultation, we review where the incident happened, what the security conditions were like, and whether there is any history of similar problems. We also look at your injuries and how the event has affected you. Our attorneys can then explain whether premises liability law is likely to support a negligent security claim in your situation. Because these cases are fact specific, getting personalized advice is often the best way to get clarity.
marin county FAQs
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When Should I Contact a Lawyer?
There is a time limit, known as the statute of limitations, for pursuing a personal injury matter. In California, the statute of limitations is 2 years for most personal injury claims (except medical malpractice, which has a 1-year statute of limitations). Generally, the clock starts to run on this time limit when you knew or should have known of the injury.
For this reason, you should schedule a free consultation with a Marin County personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. During this appointment, they will offer you legal advice on your claim, so that you can make a decision on how to proceed. If you choose to hire a personal injury law firm, they will make sure that all legal paperwork is filed on time.
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What Is a Good Settlement Offer?
Because each case is unique, a good settlement offer will vary based on a number of factors, including the nature and severity of your injuries, whether you have suffered a permanent disability, the amount of insurance that the at-fault party has, and if a fault is clear. For example, a person who suffered serious burn injuries that will never fully heal will typically receive a higher settlement offer than a person who broke their arm in an accident and who will fully recover within a few months.
During a free consultation, a personal injury lawyer can give you a ballpark estimate of the value of your case. As the case proceeds, this estimate may increase or decrease. Throughout the process, your attorney will offer you legal advice on what fair compensation might be given the specific facts of your case.
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Hurt in an Accident?
Being hurt in an accident can be devastating, causing physical injuries, emotional distress, and financial strain. For many people, the thought of pursuing a personal injury matter is overwhelming. Our law firm is here to help.
Based in San Rafael, Kuvara Law Firm has law offices throughout Northern California, including San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Vallejo, Fairfield, and Redwood City. For more than 40 years, our team has provided aggressive representation to injury victims, working hard to help our personal injury clients get the maximum compensation.
To learn more or to schedule a complimentary consultation with a seasoned Marin County personal injury lawyer, give us a call at (628) 240-1014 or fill out our online contact form.
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Past & Future Medical Bills
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Call Kuvara Law Firm (628) 240-1014
We handle all personal injury cases on a contingency basis. We only ask for payment if we are successful in getting you compensation.
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Bringing a Unique Perspective To The Table Meet Founder & Attorney Neal Kuvara
Our personal injury law firm was founded more than 50 years ago by attorney Neal Kuvara. Neal’s experience goes beyond representing injured victims in personal injury claims.
- Neal served as a medic in the Army, and he has a unique understanding of the medical elements that are at play in personal injury cases.
- Neal also worked as an insurance adjuster, so he knows firsthand the tactics insurance companies use.
Our team uses this unique perspective to our clients’ advantage when handling personal injury claims in California.
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¿Cómo Saber Si Usted Tiene Un Caso?
Llámenos al (628) 240-1014 o llene nuestro formulario de revisión de caso. Nuestras oficinas se encuentran en San Rafael, San José, San Francisco, Oakland, Walnut Creek, Sacramento, Redwood City, San Mateo, Newark, Vallejo, Stockton, Fairfield, Santa Rosa, y Pleasanton.
Compensation In A Negligent Security Claim
After an assault or violent incident on unsafe property, many people face mounting costs and a real disruption to their everyday lives. A negligent security claim is one way to seek financial recovery for those losses. The specific compensation available will depend on the facts of your case, the strength of the evidence, and how California law applies to your situation.
Types of compensation that may be available include:
- Medical expenses for emergency care, follow up visits, physical therapy, and medication.
- Counseling or therapy costs related to processing trauma, anxiety, or depression.
- Lost wages if you missed work, and in some cases reduced earning capacity if you cannot return to the same kind of work.
- Pain and suffering related to physical pain and ongoing limitations.
- Emotional distress, such as fear, sleep problems, and difficulty feeling safe in everyday situations.
Talk With A Negligent Security Lawyer Marin County
If you were assaulted, robbed, or seriously injured because a property in or around Marin County was not kept reasonably safe, you do not have to navigate the aftermath on your own. Speaking with a negligent security lawyer Marin County can help you understand whether the property owner or manager may be held accountable and what compensation may be available.
To schedule a free, confidential consultation with our team, call (628) 240-1014 today.