A shooting occurred on Sunday, January 28, 2024 at an apartment on the 1500 block of Water Street near Highway 301. According to sources, there was some sort of argument that broke out around the bus stop. Sometime after the bus stop incident, armed individuals tried to kick in the door of an apartment and shot multiple rounds into it.
Two people were identified and charged with attempted murder: Mario Williams and Willie Williams. At this time, it doesn’t appear that anyone was seriously injured.
Can You Bring a Lawsuit if You Get Shot at an Apartment Complex in Allendale or Hampton, SC?
If you or a loved one gets shot at an apartment complex in Allendale, Hampton, or anywhere in the state, you may be able to sue the apartment complex for damages.
The type of lawsuit here is a “negligent security” lawsuit. This is where an injured person or the family member of a person that was killed sues an apartment complex for not having proper security in place to protect guests and visitors. The act of negligence is the failure to provide sufficient security to protect people, even though there was a history of crime at the property or in the surrounding area.
What is Negligent Security at an Apartment Complex in SC?
There are several common issues with security that lead to lawsuits in Allendale, Barnwell, Fairfax, Hampton, and Estill. Generally speaking, the apartment complex cuts corners to save money, and this puts guests and visitors at risk of getting hurt in a violent attack.
Here are some of the common issues that lead to apartment complex owners getting sued for inadequate security in South Carolina:
- Inadequate lighting in common areas
- Poor lighting in parking lots
- No security guards despite prior criminal history
- Malfunctioning entry/exit gates
- No screening for people entering the property
- Unsafe doors and windows
What Do You Have to Prove to Win a Negligent Security Lawsuit in Allendale, SC?
As with any type of personal injury or wrongful death case, you have to prove the 4 elements of negligence to be successful in a negligence security case in Allendale, SC. These elements include:
- Duty of Care: Landlords owe a duty to guests and visitors to protect them from unreasonable risks of harm. The duty to protect guests from violent crime will revolve around the foreseeability of violent crime occurring on or at the property.
- Breach of Duty: The landlord fails to implement reasonable security measures to protect guests from foreseeable violent crime.
- Causation: The breach of duty directly caused the victim’s injuries or death.
- Damages: The victim suffered damages as a result of the violent criminal attack.
