More Violent Crimes This Summer in Atlanta
This summer has seen a rise in violent crime in the city of Atlanta, NBC 11 Alive Atlanta reports. This year has seen more murders than the same period in 2015. In May and June of 2015, there were 16 murders, while 2016 has seen 19 murders during the same period. The city is on track to count 100 homicides in a single year. Mayor Kasim Reed has formed a Gun Violence Reduction Taskforce called “Whiplash,” which will patrol areas of the city with the highest gun violence.
Larger Trends May Be Driving Increase in Gun Violence
The increase in gun violence and homicide may be part of a larger national trend, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. But while several large American cities saw surprising increases in violent crime during 2015, the long-term trend across the country is toward fewer murders, according to factcheck.org. Also, researchers at Kent State University found that violent crime increases during periods of warm weather.
Property Owners Are Liable for Violent Crime in Georgia
In Georgia, property owners have a responsibility to customers and guests to keep their property reasonably safe. This includes taking reasonable steps to prevent violent crime.
In order to win a lawsuit for negligence against the property owner, the victim must prove that the crime was foreseeable. This often means that there have been similar crimes in the area in the past. The measures that the property owner must take depend on what is reasonable under the circumstances. For example, it may be reasonable to install better lighting in the parking lot, or to hire private security guards to patrol the premises.
Summer Crime Wave Should Put Owners on Notice
Rising crime rates may create a responsibility for property owners to take more steps to secure their property. Georgia courts have considered evidence of crime in a particular neighborhood as evidence that a property owner could foresee similar crime happening on their property. Attorney Joel Williams has recovered over $20 million for his clients that were victims of crime due to negligent security. A notorious crime wave, like the one happening in Atlanta, should put business owners and landlords on notice that they must protect their customers and tenants against gun violence.
If the victim lives in a neighborhood with particularly serious increases in violent crime, this may be enough to hold the property owner responsible for failing to take reasonable measures to prevent the crime. Reasonable measures may include repairing locks, installing cameras, improving lighting, or installing alarms. If the reasonable measures would have prevented the victim’s injuries, the victim may be able to receive money damages from the property owner.
Get Legal Help
If you have been the victim of a violent crime, you may have the right to a money award from the people responsible. Depending on the facts of your case, you may be compensated for your injuries. Contact a premises liability attorney at Williams Elleby Howard & Easter in Cobb County today to find out more about your options.