Are You A Victim Of Assault?
Rely on our Atlanta attorneys to help you fight for justice
At Gary Martin Hays & Associates, our professional staff understands how traumatic a violent crime can be for victims and their loved ones. Whether you're dealing with rape, sexual assault or a shooting, it takes courage to take legal action and fight for your rights. Don't hesitate to call us now: 1-800-898-4297. We have represented people just like you who have gone through horrific ordeals, and we have deep compassion for victims.
Most people realize that someone who commits a rape or sexual assault, or uses a gun to shoot another person can be arrested and may face years in prison for the crime. But in many cases, the owner of the property or the business where the assault occurred may be held liable in a civil action. The victim or families who lost loved ones may be entitled to compensation because the property owner or business was negligent - for instance, lighting may have been inadequate or security may not have been in place.
If you were a victim of a rape, sexual assault or shooting, we know you're dealing with serious trauma. You did nothing wrong, but the attack has likely turned your world upside-down. We know what to do next - in fact, founding attorney Gary Martin Hays wrote the #1 bestselling book on this subject, The Authority on Inadequate/Negligent Security Claims in Georgia. Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation.
Disturbingly, sexual assaults happen far too often. In the United States, one occurs every two minutes. That's hundreds of thousands per year - the majority of which are never reported. A rape or sexual assault can have a serious long-term impact on your life. According to the World Health Organization, victims are more likely to suffer from depression and contemplate suicide than people who were not assaulted.
According to the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, rape is the most costly of crimes. The cost of each rape is estimated at $151,423. Factors include medical costs, lost earnings, pain, suffering and lost quality of life.
Immediate psychological consequences of sexual assault include shock, denial, fear, confusion, anxiety, withdrawal, guilt, nervousness and distrust of others.
Rape Crisis Contact Information
If you have been a victim of a sexual assault, there is help and support provided to you for free.
Atlanta
Grady Rape Crisis Center
Atlanta, GA 30303
Crisis Line: (404) 616-4861
Admin: (404) 616-3521
Fax: (404) 616-5882
Duluth
Gwinnett Sexual Assault Center & Children's Advocacy Center
Duluth, Georgia 30096
Crisis Line: (770) 476-7407
Admin: (770) 497-9122
Fax: (770) 623-4218
Savannah
Rape Crisis Center of the Coastal Empire, Inc.
Savannah, GA 31412-8492
Crisis Line: (912) 233-7273
Toll free: (888) 241-7273
Admin: (912) 233-3000
Fax: (912) 232-8455
Valdosta
The Haven
Valdosta, GA 31603
Crisis Line: (800) 334-2836
Admin: (229) 244-3176
Fax: (229) 244-2647
National Hotline
Or, please call the National hotline for the organization RAINN.org. Phone number for the free hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE
In the United States, shootings result in tens of thousands of deaths and injuries each year. Gun violence is most common in poor urban areas that may attract gangs. You may live in an apartment complex that has a history of violent crimes or gang activity. If that is the case, the complex must take strong security measures to protect residents and visitors. But a shooting can happen anywhere, even in a seemingly safe apartment complex. Know your rights. Talk to Gary Martin Hays.
What to do if you or a loved one is shot or sexually assaulted?
If you were assaulted at an apartment complex, the landlord may be liable for your injuries. The following are a couple of Georgia court rulings on negligent security and premises liability:
"The general rule is that a landlord is not an insurer of his tenant's safety; however, landlords do have a duty to exercise ordinary care to prevent foreseeable third-party criminal attacks upon tenants."
- Brookview Holdings V. Suarez, 285 Ga. App. 90, 645 S.E.2d 559 (2007)
"(P)rior property crimes may give a landlord notice of possible future crimes against a person."
- Walker v. Aderhold Props. Inc., 303 Ga. App. 710, 594 S.E.2d 119 (2010)
At the Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, we have years of experience handling complex premises liability cases in Georgia, including cases involving negligent building maintenance and security. These cases can be time-intensive and difficult to prove, but our attorneys have a track record of success in getting clients the results they need.
How to show that a landlord or business owner was negligent
- Prior crimes: The apartment complex knew or should have known about a prior history of crimes in the complex. In our intensive investigation, we typically secure crime reports through the local police department.
- The defendant business owner's internal reports: We look for internal reports that have identified prior crimes in the area.
- What security practices are in place? We investigate what types of security practices the business has in place to protect the people who are invited onto its property. We often can establish a standard of care a business should use to protect others by showing what other similarly situated businesses do in the area.
- Prior victims: We examine police reports to find out if there are victims of prior crimes in the area. Sometimes we find that someone else was assaulted in the same location, and the apartment complex or business owner failed to take action to increase security.
- Security experts: We may hire experts to help us establish the defendant (the business owner or landlord) breached the standard of care by not having adequate security.
Inadequate security measures may take the form of:
- Inadequate or insufficient security staff
- Failure to adequately screen guests and visitors
- Inadequate lighting in stairwells and parking lots
- Malfunctioning door locks
- No operable security cameras or phones
Georgia premises liability law requires property owners and managers to provide safe premises for patrons and guests. Negligent security might involve improperly functioning room locks, which allows an intruder to gain access to a hotel room. Negligent security also might involve failure to prevent someone from parking in an unmonitored location where an assault might occur. When negligent security issues cause or contribute to an assault, rape or shooting, it's important for victims to act fast. Contact Gary Martin Hays & Associates at 1-800-898-HAYS right now.
We fight for the rights of sexual assault and shooting victims every day
You don't need to take on the insurance company for the apartment complex or business by yourself. At Gary Martin Hays & Associates, we recognize how difficult it can be to recover from the trauma of assault or gun violence. Each case is unique in the impact it has on the lives of the people involved. Your first step to simplify the process is to contact us today. From the insurance forms to the medical bills, our experienced staff can help you sort through the red tape and paperwork. Call 1-800-898-HAYS. There is no fee for your initial consultation. Now is the time to act.
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