Jackson, MS Apartment Complex Safety

For a Jackson apartment complex owner to be held liable for the actions of a third party attacker, the actions of the attacker must have been foreseeable. This means that the apartment complex knew, should have known, or had sufficient reason to suspect that criminal acts could or were likely to happen.

Several circumstances can lead to a higher degree of probability of a criminal attack occurring on the premises. First, the complex may be located in a high crime area. Next, similar crimes may have taken place at the complex itself. In addition, if the property manager received direct threats or complaints from a tenant, there may be a duty to act appropriately. Management may also need to take action if they are on notice of attempted break-ins or if adjacent properties have a history of criminal incidents. These cases can be highly fact-specific, meaning liability must usually be established through expert testimony.

Once an apartment complex owner in Jackson is (or should be) aware that there is a possibility and/or probability of third party attacks, proper safety measures must be taken in order to protect residents. Below is a list of potential inadequate security signs to look for:

1. Poorly maintained parking lot or walkway lighting.
2. Broken security gates.
3. Incompetent security or the lack thereof.
4. Broken locks on windows or doors.
5. Lack of security cameras.
6. Failure to respond in an appropriate time once a threat occurs.
7. Failure to investigate suspicious non-residents on the property.

Inadequate security claims mainly revolve around the criminal actions of a third party, and they usually produce serious and permanent injuries. If you have been injured by one of the following, you should discuss your situation with an experienced apartment complex safety lawyer in Jackson:

1. Murder
2. Assault and battery
3. Burglary
4. Stabbings
5. Sexual assault or rape
6. Kidnapping
7. Arson
8. Carjacking

In addition to causing potentially severe injuries or death, criminal acts can also produce traumatizing effects on victims and their families. Many times, the criminal charges levied against the third-party attacker are not enough to properly compensate the victim since the criminal may not have the resources to provide the proper recovery you deserve for expensive medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. However, if the apartment complex did not provide adequate security measures to prevent these attacks from happening in the first place, you may be able to assert a claim against the owner or property manager.

If you suspect that a crime has occurred at a property where you live or where you are visiting, you should contact the Jackson Police Department. It is located at 327 East Pascagoula Street, and it can be called at (601) 960-1234. The Police Department consists of four precincts with about 430 officers and 250 civilians. The area that the JPD serves covers about 120 square miles and nearly 200,000 people.