Houston Boy, 11, Injured in Shocking Apartment Shooting While Taking Out Trash

Apartment Shooting in Houston: Importance of Safety Measures and Legal Assistance

An apartment shooting of an 11-year-old boy occurred in southeast Houston while the boy was taking out the trash at an apartment complex near Briar Forest Drive and South Kirkwood Road. This incident highlights the importance of implementing adequate safety measures at apartment complexes and the responsibility of property owners to provide a secure environment for their residents.

Apartment Shooting Case in Texas

If you or someone you know has been involved in a similar situation, it is crucial to seek legal assistance from a personal injury lawyer. In Texas, victims of apartment complex violence may be eligible for substantial compensation in a negligent security case. A negligent security case consists of four elements that must be proven by the victim: a duty to protect, a breach of that duty, a causal connection between the breach and the harm suffered, and damages.

In Texas, a negligent security case is a type of personal injury case that arises when a person is injured on someone else's property due to inadequate security measures that failed to prevent the injury. To establish a successful negligent security case in Texas, the following elements must generally be present:

1. Duty of care: The property owner or manager had a legal duty to provide reasonable security measures to protect visitors or tenants from foreseeable criminal acts.
2. Breach of duty: The property owner or manager failed to fulfill their duty of care by failing to provide adequate security measures, such as failing to install proper lighting, security cameras, or security personnel, or failing to fix broken locks or windows.
3. Foreseeability: The property owner or manager knew or should have known that there was a likelihood of criminal activity occurring on the property due to its location, past criminal activity, or other relevant factors.
4. Causation: The failure to provide adequate security measures was the direct cause of the plaintiff's injuries.
5. Damages: The plaintiff suffered actual damages, such as physical injuries, emotional distress, medical expenses, lost wages, or other financial losses, as a result of the inadequate security measures.

If all of these elements can be proven, the plaintiff may be entitled to compensation for their injuries and losses resulting from the property owner's negligence.

Firouzbakht Law Firm's website has lots of information about apartment shooting cases in Texas.

Legal Assistance

If you are seeking legal assistance for an apartment complex shooting case, the Firouzbakht Law Firm provides legal counsel to victims of apartment complex violence and can be reached at 832-779-8018.

Firouzbakht Law Firm has a well-deserved reputation for their exceptional legal representation in cases involving apartment shootings. With their extensive knowledge and experience in this very difficult area of law, they have consistently achieved outstanding results for their clients. Their skilled attorneys understand the complexities of these cases and are committed to providing personalized attention to each client, ensuring that their rights are protected and justice is served. Through diligent investigation, strategic negotiation, and aggressive litigation, Firouzbakht Law Firm has successfully secured substantial compensation for victims of apartment shootings, helping them to move forward with their lives. Their track record of success in this area is a testament to their unparalleled expertise and dedication to their clients.

Apartment Complex Violence

This incident highlights the ongoing issue of gun violence in Houston across Texas. It is crucial to prioritize the safety and well-being of our communities, particularly children. Enforcing stricter gun control laws, increasing resources for mental health services, and investing in community programs that address the root causes of gun violence can prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.

In conclusion, the tragic apartment complex shooting in Houston highlights the urgent need for implementing proper safety measures in apartment complexes and the responsibility of property owners to provide a secure environment for their residents. If you or someone you know has been a victim of apartment complex violence, it's crucial to seek legal assistance from a personal injury lawyer experienced in negligent security cases. The Firouzbakht Law Firm is available to help victims of apartment complex shootings in Texas and can provide the legal counsel and support needed to pursue justice. Don't hesitate to contact them at 832-779-8018 as soon as possible.

Examples of Negligent Security in Apartment Shootings

So, what contributes to the violence in an apartment building? Below are some of them. 

• Bad or No Security: Leasing agents often entice people by promising or implying adequate security to protect tenants and their properties. This is often false, and those who have only safeguard the residential property and not the occupants. 
• No-Working Security Gates: Most property owners are like insurance companies when it comes to releasing funds. They would rather keep their money than use it to improve their property. This is why most housing units with violent crimes are often without working gates. A non-functioning security gate is an open invitation for criminals to stroll right in. But when a building owner cares about tenants' lives and personal property, they spend money maintaining the security gates. 
• Failure To Carry Out Background Checks: Most criminals are repeat offenders, meaning there's a trail of paperwork to follow to know their offense. Failing to carry out background checks before signing a lease agreement gives room for criminals to live among law-abiding citizens. It means that a person convicted of assault can carry out future assaults in their apartment building if landlords fail to carry out their due diligence. 
• Failing To Warn Tenants About Other Attacks and Crimes: A landlord has a duty to inform prospective tenants of their building's criminal history if it has one. All hazardous conditions must be in the lease term to enable a person to decide if they want to go ahead with the agreement. In practice, property owners neglect this duty, and unsuspecting individuals move in and become crime victims. 
• Unsecured Apartments: When a rental unit stays vacant for a long period, criminals tend to use it as a hideout. To prevent this, a landlord must securely lock up all vacant spaces to prevent them from becoming a ground for any form of violence.

Can Tenants Sue Apartment Complexes for Emotional Distress and Discrimination after Apartment Shooting? 

Violent acts often lead to emotional distress for the victims, and the law recognizes this. Thus, if a landlord's action or inaction led to a crime that caused severe emotional distress or upset, the tenant can sue. However, not every apartment shooting has an element of emotional distress. 

A landlord would only be liable for emotional distress in one of the following instances: 

• The emotional harm resulted in physical harm like heart trouble. 
• The landlord's negligence did not lead to physical injury but caused severe psychological trauma.

Furthermore, tenants can sue landlords for discrimination. A discriminated tenant can file a civil action against the property owner with the help of an attorney. 

Compensation for Victims of Apartment Shootings

In Texas, damages that a victim of an apartment shooting can claim in a personal injury lawsuit can include:

1. Medical expenses: This includes the cost of medical treatment related to the injury, such as hospitalization, surgery, doctor visits, medication, rehabilitation, and therapy.
2. Lost wages: This includes the income lost due to the injury from the apartment shooting and time taken off from work, as well as any potential future loss of earnings if the injury has a long-term impact on the person's ability to work.
3. Property damage: This includes the cost of repairing or replacing any property that was damaged or lost as a result of the accident.
4. Pain and suffering: This includes physical pain and emotional suffering caused by the apartment shooting, such as anxiety, depression, or loss of enjoyment of life.
5. Punitive damages: In rare cases, punitive damages may be awarded if the person responsible for the injury acted in a particularly reckless or malicious manner.

It's important to note that the damages that can be claimed may vary depending on the specific circumstances of the case. It's recommended that anyone who has been injured in an accident in Texas consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer to discuss their legal options and the potential damages that may be available to them.

Link - Original Apartment Shooting Story