Nightlife and bar scenes are very popular places for adults to enjoy music and entertainment and are busy at almost every time of year. Of-age adults frequently go to bars or nightclubs to relax or have fun with their friends and expect that everyone around them is also having fun responsibly. No one goes for a fun night out with friends expecting their lives to be changed forever. When someone comes into a bar or other public place and starts committing violent acts you are not responsible for your well-being; the business is. Going out with your friends or family shouldn’t end with an ambulance ride to the hospital surrounded by doctors and nurses.
While the violent offender is responsible for their actions, they may not be the only party who bears legal responsibility. The business has a duty to take reasonably anticipated safety measures. Explained in Moran v. Valley Forge Drive-In Theater; Inc., Pa. 432, 246 A.2d 875 (1968)], if a store owner ignores known security risks or neglects reasonable safety measures, they may be held legally accountable for the harm that is ensued to their customers. Any possessor of land who holds entry to the public for business purposes is liable for ANYTHING that may occur on their premises.
The perpetrator responsible can be arrested, charged, and incarcerated, but does that mean justice is served? More could have been done to protect your safety and to prevent violent actions from happening. You shouldn’t have to worry about putting your life in the hands of a business who doesn’t even know their responsibilities. Some people’s lives are permanently damaged and can’t do the things they once enjoyed again because of the actions of a violent individual. Even after the violence is over and the offender is arrested, injuries and trauma to you or a loved one don’t go away, and if an establishment fails to prevent violent actions, they should be held accountable too.
Events like these cause stress, fear, anxiety, and trauma that stop people from going to public environments like this again. Businesses are responsible for every patron’s safety and well-being. Entering a bar, lounge, or nightclub requires a level of trust that you will be safe and you deserve justice if that trust is broken. At Bellwoar Kelly it’s our mission to get justice and take the actions these businesses fail to do.
You should never be responsible for the damage caused by a business’s incompetence. No one plans to become a victim of a violent act, but when it does happen, you want to make sure you can count on attorneys who are best able to help you. If you find yourself the victim of a violent crime that a business failed to prevent call Bellwoar Kelly, LLP. We have attorneys experienced in cases like these who are ready to fight for you. We are committed to holding business owners liable for cutting corners that lead to violent crimes. Call us at 610-314-7066 or schedule your free consultation today. We can’t undo violent acts, but we can hold businesses accountable for the lives they recklessly put at risk.