Apartment Security Attorneys in Chicago, Illinois

Whether they live in a rented apartment or private condominium, Illinois residents expect to be safe from violent crimes in their homes. They certainly don’t anticipate that they will fall victim to violence at the hands of an employee of their housing complex.

When residential management companies fail to perform necessary background checks on employees with access to master keys, they can put residents in harm’s way. Failure to provide other security measures can also expose residents to the threat of third-party criminals.

The premises liability attorneys of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. are knowledgeable about the legal responsibilities and liabilities of apartment complexes and condos that provide inadequate security for their residents, resulting in criminal violence.

For a free consultation, contact our Illinois injury lawyers today in Chicago or Waukegan at 312-372-1227.

Criminal Activity and the Duty of Property Owners

Companies that own, operate and maintain Illinois apartments and condos owe their residents a duty to take reasonable steps to shield them from foreseeable criminal activity. One of the most fundamental duties landlords and management companies owe their residents is to avoid employing maintenance workers, office managers, superintendents or other workers who have a violent or criminal background.

It is very important for apartment and condo organizations to run background checks on any workers who have access to master keys that unlock individual units or allow them to gain entry to other places that are not open to the public. If they fail to run a background check on an employee, the company could be held liable for negligent security if the employee later commits battery, strong-arm robbery, rape, sexual assault, murder or another violent crime on a resident.

In addition to protecting residents from the criminal acts of employees, companies that manage apartments or condos must also implement reasonable security measures to stop foreseeable criminal activity perpetrated by third parties. The level of security that must be in place varies according to the amount of crime generally experienced in the surrounding neighborhood, as well as the property’s own criminal history.

Some security measures that an apartment or condo manager might be required to implement include:

You could be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, psychological trauma, pain and suffering and more if it is shown that the apartment or condo management company was negligent in failing to provide adequate security.

It is important to document any security deficiencies as soon as possible after a crime occurs. You should also avoid discussing the security aspects of the crime with anyone other than the police. For a full investigation of the potential for a negligent security case, contact a qualified Illinois apartment and condo security attorney such as the ones at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C.

Contact Our Illinois Property Injury Lawyers

To learn more about our qualifications and experience, or to learn about the merits of a case concerning an injury caused by negligent security at an apartment complex or condominium development, please contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. today for a free, no obligation consultation. Our firm has convenient office locations in downtown Chicago and Waukegan, Illinois. We also have a network of lawyers across the nation to assist you with your case. Contact us today at 312-372-1227.