Is anyplace safe?
Sadly, that question gets asked all too often across the country after a mass shooting event.
A regretful tally of all the places where these shootings have taken place includes churches, movie theaters, and schools. The latest tragedy occurred at the Bite of Seattle event that took place at the Seattle Center and left 3 people dead and a toddler in critical condition.
According to initial reports, this was a shooting that happened between two young assailants, with the innocent victims being caught in the crossfire.
Could this have been prevented?
That is another question that is always asked after these types of events, and it is a legitimate question. Venue owners and event operators have an obligation to keep visitors reasonably safe. Although they can’t prevent incidents like this, they are required to provide certain levels of security to help reduce the risk of these incidents occurring.
When the owners and operators fail to provide that security, it can become an actionable cause. That is when you need to involve an experienced Seattle negligent security lawyer.
There’s reason to believe that this incident could lead to a lawsuit.
What Does Negligent Security at Public Spaces Look Like?
In the aftermath of the investigation, the Seattle police chief resigned.
Additionally, the operators of upcoming events around the city are boosting their security. Those are indications that the security provided at the Bite of Seattle might have been lacking.
What does negligent security at public Seattle spaces look like? The first issue is visibility.
When you go to an event, can you actually see security personnel on patrol? Of course, security can’t be everywhere at once, but there should be one security guard for every 50 to 100 people in attendance.
The Bite of Seattle draws around 400,000 people over three days. Following the formula, there should have been 1,333 security guards working the event. Anyone who is considering filing a premises liability claim would first ask about the number of security guards hired for the weekend. You would also have to ask if there was any screening to get into the event.
For instance, were there any metal detectors at the entry points that could have screened out weapons? When you go to a game at Lumen Field or T-Mobile Park, you have to pass through metal detectors. Were those present at the Seattle Center?
If there was security present, you also have to ask if that security was properly trained.
Are they able to effectively intervene in a dangerous situation? Are they armed? Or were they just “bodies in a security windbreaker?”
Foreseeability and Crime Rates Near the Seattle Center
A property owner or event planner needs to understand the risk of crime to their potential patrons. This speaks to the issue of foreseeability and whether similar violent or property crimes previously occurred on or near the grounds.
You can look at the overall crime rates provided by the Seattle Police Department to clearly see that the Seattle Center does indeed have an escalated crime rate. According to data, there are 57 crimes per 1,000 committed throughout the Seattle area. When you plan an event that is going to draw large crowds, you have to take those crime rates into account.
Proving Liability After a Violent Incident
In a mass shooting event, there will be a thorough investigation conducted by the Seattle Police Department. It might also involve the FBI and other federal agencies. That’s actually a good thing because it will mean a lot of attention will be focused on the security and what went wrong.
To prove liability after a violent incident, you have to track down who was responsible for hiring the security in the first place. As part of your personal injury claim, your attorney will conduct their own investigation into the hiring of the event’s security.
There could be a lot of blame. The event planner might have relied on the security company, who in turn might have hired personnel who weren’t properly trained and weren’t up to the job. In that scenario, both parties could be named in a civil complaint.
While the police continue their investigation to hold the shooters accountable, anyone who was injured is entitled to seek a remedy. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Justin R. Boland, PLLC can help with that pursuit. These types of events generate a lot of attention, but that shouldn’t distract the victims from seeking justice.
If you’ve been injured at a public venue, you owe it to yourself and your family to explore all your options for compensation.
