Are venues doing enough to protect customers from violence?

When our readers think about premises liability, they likely remember stories about people slipping and falling on liquids in a grocery store or someone being injured by falling objects in a construction zone inside of a business. But there’s another issue that New York residents should consider, especially in light of the recent tragic shooting in Orlando. What happens if you got injured due to a lack of security?

This issue often comes up during large affairs such as rock concerts or sporting events where many people congregate in one area. It could also be an issue at a nightclub or bar, especially when alcohol is served. To some extent, it is up to the security staff to prevent foreseeable violence from happening, but what about occurrences such as the Orlando nightclub shooting?

Unfortunately, this type of violence seems to be becoming more regular lately and some businesses are doing everything they can to protect their customers. When it comes to amusement parks, for example, the industry spends some $250 million per year to keep customers safe. That bill may rise by more than $100 million in the next few years.

These businesses are trying to increase their security measures without scaring people. They may use metal detectors, undercover officers and hundreds of security cameras. The people who run the security operations at these large venues are no longer just retired cops – they are former FBI agents and those who have worked for the CIA.

The issue of safety at these venues is definitely a legal one. There have been lawsuits brought against such venues where shootings happened with various outcomes. Can a shooting or other violent occurrence be foreseen by the owners of a venue? Did the venue do enough to protect its customers? These are the types of questions that may come up during a premises liability lawsuit related to a lack of security.