Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Do Mass Shootings Point to Inadequate Mall Security? (Part A)
Inadequate mall security can create a breeding ground for violent crime. If you’ve lost a loved one to a violent incident at a mall in Massachusetts, you need to know that you’re not alone or without recourse. Person-on-person attacks with money or abuse as the driving forces routinely occur in shopping centers all over the United States.
Some Say Criminals and Mall Owners Are to Blame
Recently, sensational shooting rampages indicate a new trend of violence: random victimization in retail centers for personal motives. Disturbed individuals who intend to commit suicide choose malls as the stage for their attention-seeking plots. No one can ignore incidents where many innocents are injured or killed for no apparent purpose. The confusion is heightened when a gunman takes his own life.
The family members of those who are seriously injured, killed or maimed are left to wonder who is responsible for preventing the bloodshed. By their very nature, malls attract young women, parents with small children, teenagers and seniors who enjoy walking, shopping and socializing. Most malls are unprepared for sudden conflict, and many people are physically unable to flee.
Shooters breached mall security in these recent catastrophes:
- Five killed and four injured in a Utah shopping complex
- Eight killed in a Nebraska mall
- Two killed and one wounded outside a Missouri shopping center
- Two wounded, gunman surrendered in a New York mall
In incidents where shoppers were killed, the gunmen committed suicide and would never pay for their crimes.
If you or your loved one has been injured due to inadequate mall security in Boston or Andover you should contact a Boston personal injury attorney immediately to learn about your rights and determine liability. Massachusetts has a statute of limitations that may prohibit you from filing a lawsuit if too much time has passed. Contact The Kiley Law Group for guidance on your Boston personal injury case.
Families Can Seek Damages in Premises Liability Cases
How much responsibility do property owners bear in these situations? The legal answer is, a reasonable amount. If a shopping complex did not employ surveillance cameras, strategic bright lighting or ample security personnel, the owner or management may be liable for personal injury or wrongful death.
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