Atlanta Apartment Shooting Victim Attorneys

Representing Victims of Apartment Shootings

If you’ve been shot at an apartment complex, you may have a claim against the complex’s owner and complex management company for your life-altering injuries.

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If you’ve been shot at an apartment complex, you may have a claim against the complex’s owner and complex management company for your life-altering injuries.

Owners and managers of apartment complexes and other properties have a legal responsibility to keep the premises safe for tenants and their guests.

If the apartment complex owner or manager fails to do so, a tenant or guest who is shot or attacked as a result can file a civil lawsuit against the owner or manager.

A poorly managed apartment complex with malfunctioning locks, inadequate lighting, damaged security gates or fences, no security guards, no surveillance cameras, or other security issues can be liable for damages resulting from an apartment shooting.

An experienced crime victim lawyer can help determine if you have a claim and advise you of your options after the initial free consultation.

Unsafe Apartment Complexes

In addition to shootings, common examples of crimes that occur at unsafe apartment complexes include:

Murder
Armed Robbery
Robbery
Sexual Assault and Rape
Carjacking
Assaults
Stabbings
Forced Entry Break-ins
Automobile Theft
Automobile Break-ins

Criminals who prey on victims at apartment complexes take advantage of poor or non-existent security such as:

A burned-out light bulb can turn a breezeway or stairwell into a perfect opportunity for a criminal
Dark parking lots and unfenced areas can aid both the entry and escape of criminals
Inadequate locks on doors and windows can allow criminals to break into an apartment and leave little or no trace showing how they got in
The absence of security guards and surveillance cameras can embolden criminals and eliminate any concern that they might be stopped or caught.

Some apartment complex owners and managers may take steps to improve safety, such as installing security cameras, hiring security guards, increased lighting, and other preventive measures. Others choose not to take these precautions, which can lead to terrible or tragic consequences. Apartment complex owners and managers who fail to respond to and deter crime through security measures may be negligent and liable to crime victims for injuries on their property.

What Damages Can be Recovered in an Apartment Shooting Claim?

Many different types of damages can be claimed when a crime victim has been physically and emotionally injured by gun violence. Some damages will not be covered by insurance and must be paid out-of-pocket.

The costs and expenses that a crime victim may experience due to being shot depend on the extent of injuries sustained, the length of hospital stay, surgeries and follow up treatment, physical therapy, and other factors. Where the shooting occurred is one of the most important facts for determining whether a premises liability claim exists under Georgia law.

To successfully bring a claim, injured victims’ attorneys have to prove their case. Negligence claims require proof of several elements: duty, breach, causation, and harm. Some facts that are important to prove these elements include showing that:

The victim had the legal right to be present in the apartment complex,
The property owner or manager failed to keep the apartment complex safe by providing adequate security measures
The failure by the property owner or manager allowed the shooting to happen
The shooting victim suffered injuries and damages.

Expenses the shooting victim or their survivors can recover may include:

Medical bills
Lost wages
Rehabilitation costs
Funeral expenses in a wrongful death case

If an individual dies as a result of an apartment complex shooting, the victim’s family may hold the manager or property owner accountable through a wrongful death lawsuit. Although no amount of money can bring the deceased back, surviving family members can recover compensation for the value of the life of the deceased. In addition to funeral costs, other recovered expenses may include medical bills incurred before death, lost earnings, and damages for the pain and suffering experienced by the deceased before death.

Reaching out to an Atlanta shooting victim attorney and developing a strong attorney-client relationship may help victims as they decide whether to pursue a claim or not.

The Atlanta premises liability lawyers at Deitch + Rogers are passionate about fighting for crime victims’ rights. Schedule a free consultation today.

Can an Apartment Shooting Victim Attorney Atlanta GA Help with Your Case?

An apartment shooting case can be quite complex. Often the shooter is not worth pursuing in a civil case since they may not be covered and are not in a position to pay any award granted.

In such a case, it may be possible to institute a claim against the property owner or manager. This is more difficult as they are one step removed from the actual shooting. All the facts need to be carefully considered and weighed up before proceeding.

We may use various types of evidence to prove your case such as:

Eyewitness accounts can verify your statements
Close circuit camera footage of the premises ad the event
Emails and written communications which show that the owner had prior knowledge of security issues
Photographs of the conditions at the premises which evidence unsafe conditions
Inspection records from various sources

If you decide to institute a claim, you have two years from the date of the incident within which to do so. After that, your claim expires.

An experienced negligent security lawyer should be well equipped to deal with the assessment of your case and any negotiation proceedings.

FAQs Asked by Apartment Shooting Victims

Common questions include the following:

What Should You Do If You Are a Victim of an Apartment Shooting?

Stay calm and assess the situation. You should not panic and risk your own life. The first thing you should do is to call the police. Make sure you give them as much information as possible about the shooting, including:

Location of the incident
Number of shots fired
Number of shooters
Whether there is still an active shooter

You should also ask for help from any nearby residents who might have a phone or car that can be used to call 911.

It is also important to find out if anyone else needs help in your building or if there are people who need medical attention outside your building. If other people require medical attention, call 911.

Do You Have Rights as an Apartment Shooting Victim?

Georgia law is not always clear about the rights of victims injured by gun violence in an apartment. However, property owners must ensure that the apartment complex is safe and may be expected to provide security such as security cameras or security patrols.

If there is known danger or generally dangerous conditions and the property owners have failed to keep the premises safe, you may have legal options if you are injured.

Is the Apartment Shooter Liable for Damages?

The shooter is liable for damages if they are negligent or reckless. The shooter could be negligent if they knew of the risk and disregarded it or if they acted in a way that showed a disregard for other people’s safety.

Deitch + Rogers has helped countless victims throughout Georgia pursue claims resulting from shootings, assaults, rapes, or other violent crimes occurring at apartment complexes or other properties with inadequate security.

If you or someone you know needs serious violent injury help after being a victim of an apartment shooting or other violent crime, contact us today or call us at (770) 394-9000 for a free consultation.

If the incident occurred due to insufficient security measures or the negligent property owner cut corners, they could be financially liable for damages. Contact an experienced attorney at Deitch + Rogers to find out.

See how we can help today.

Please call (770) 394-9000 to schedule a free initial consultation, or contact our lawyers directly through the email form.

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