Under Tennessee law, commercial property owners have a duty not only to make their property safe for patrons, but also, they have a duty to take reasonable measures to protect their patrons from third party attackers if they know or have reason to know that criminal acts are foreseeable. Knowledge can be established by actual or constructive notice, depending on the facts. An inadequate security attorney can advise Knoxville residents on which type of notice may apply. For example, if a commercial property has experienced several break-ins in the past and is located in a Knoxville neighborhood known to be a high-crime area, then a duty would exist to take sufficient steps compared to a commercial property with a history of zero break-ins that is located in a low-crime area.

Negligent security claims can be asserted against a variety of property types, including shopping malls, shopping centers, night clubs, apartment complexes, office buildings, and other commercial properties. Once a commercial property owner in Knoxville is (or should be) aware of potential danger to its customers, adequate safety measures should be taken in order to protect them from harm. Below are a few signs suggesting a property owner or manager may not have acted reasonably under the circumstances:

1. Ignoring broken security gates, windows, or doors
2. Hiring incompetent security guards or none at all
3. Poorly lit parking lots, walkways, or stairwells
4. Failing to investigate suspicious activity or responding once a threat occurs
5. Lack of security cameras
6. Broken gates and fences

Inadequate security claims generally arise from the intentional acts of a third party that cause an innocent party to suffer severe injuries or even death. If you or a loved one has been victimized on a commercial property by one of the following crimes, you should contact an experienced inadequate security lawyer in the Knoxville area.

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

After any criminal attack, you should contact the police immediately. The Knoxville Police Department is located at 800 Howard Baker Jr. Boulevard and may be reached by calling 911 or 865-215-7000. Not only can the police protect against future attackers, but they also will be able to conduct an on-scene investigation and collect valuable evidence and witness statements. This can help your attorney prove liability in your civil claim for damages.