Bar and Nightclub Shooting Lawyer

Nights out at a bar or nightclub are supposed to be a fun time with friends. Most importantly, they are supposed to end with everyone getting home safely. No one ever expects tragedy to strike when they get ready to leave the house to explore the nightlife—and yet, it can. Gun violence affects thousands of Americans every year.

Surviving a nightclub or bar shooting is an incredibly traumatic experience that no one should have to endure. The aftermath can leave you confused, traumatized, and wondering what to do next. Not only might you be physically injured in the shooting, but you could also end up with mental illnesses that can take therapy to work through.

People tend to have a lot of questions after an incident of senseless violence. One of the most common questions has to do with accountability: Who can be held responsible for the damage that has been done? The shooter is ultimately responsible for the event itself, but businesses have a responsibility to take reasonable steps to ensure their patrons’ safety. There is hope after gun violence—and with the right lawyer, you can find justice as well.

If you or a loved one are a survivor of a bar or nightclub shooting, contact Edwards Henderson for a free legal consultation. You may be entitled to compensation.

Gun Violence Statistics

Looking at the statistics on gun violence in the United States can be grim. Of the more than 45,000 gun-related deaths in the U.S. in 2020, 19,384 of them were classified as murders. The remaining deaths were largely suicides, except for a small percentage accounting for law enforcement involved shootings and those without a specified cause.

Gun violence, of course, does not begin and end with murder. Shooting survivors may walk away alive, but with physical injuries that change the course of their life. The American Public Health Association estimates that 85,000 people are injured in incidents involving firearms each year.

What is a Foreseeable Act?

While it is difficult to predict exactly when an act of violence may happen, some shootings are referred to as foreseeable acts. This does not necessarily mean that the bar or nightclub had advanced knowledge of the shooting, but there are a number of risk factors that may hint at the potential for tragedy. Here are just a few things that may serve as red flags before a shooting ever occurs.

Crime Rate

One of the biggest factors in a club or bar’s safety is its location. Bar and club owners typically do their due diligence in researching an area’s crime rate before opening their business. However, the crime rates can drastically change over time due to businesses and residents coming and going, urban development, funding, and more. Owners and managers should keep an eye on crime statistics around their businesses and be sure to adjust their security as needed.

No matter where the bar or club is located, everyone should be able to feel safe when they go out for the night. If the unthinkable happens, Edwards Henderson’s highly skilled litigators can help you pursue justice and closure.

Tensions in the Area

Once again, it is important to keep your ear to the ground when you are running a business such as a bar or a nightclub. When tensions develop (examples include protests or riots, “turf wars” between rival groups, and similar issues), this should serve as an indication to bar and club owners that it is time to increase security and be proactive against violence. However, sadly, given how prevalent gun violence is in the U.S., a shooting should be viewed as a foreseeable act regardless of location or other factors.

Aggressive Patrons

Conflict at bars is not an uncommon occurrence. Adding alcohol into a social situation can be fun and make people feel more at ease—however, it can also make certain people aggressive or less respectful of boundaries than they would be sober. Fighting or harassing other patrons is one of the easiest ways to get banned from a business, and for good reason.

Promptly addressing any issues with aggressive patrons is key to keeping customers safe. Unfortunately, if someone is consistently causing trouble, the situation has the potential to escalate into something violent or even deadly.

Lawsuit Eligibility: Can You Sue a Bar or Nightclub After a Shooting?

In the aftermath of a shooting, you may be overwhelmed, afraid, and searching for answers. How do you move past this? How long will the recovery process be? Can someone be held responsible for the event that changed your life?

Hopefully, the individual who perpetrated the bar or nightclub shooting will be caught and prosecuted. This can help bring some closure to families who have lost loved ones, as well as those living with injuries and trauma from the event. However, the person holding the gun is often not the only one who can be held accountable for an instance of violence.

If a business fails to provide adequate security, refused to take action against aggressive patrons, or was otherwise lacking in preventative safety measures, it may be considered negligent in the eyes of the law. Survivors and their loved ones can sue the bar or nightclub where it happened and if that business is found negligent, the victims may then be entitled to compensation.

How Can a Bar or Night Club Shooting Lawyer Help Me Recover Compensation?

The financial burden in the aftermath of a mass shooting can add to the stress of trying to recover from the experience itself. However, a lawsuit against the negligent bar or nightclub can help you recover financially and focus on your physical and mental recovery. A settlement could potentially help you cover a variety of losses, including:

• Medical bills
• Psychiatric treatment
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages resulting from the inability to work after an injury
• Loss of financial support in the event of a loved one’s passing
• Funeral and memorial expenses

Let Edwards Henderson Fight For You

You deserve justice after a shooting, and Edwards Henderson is ready to help you pursue it. We are a nationally recognized crime victim law firm dedicated to fighting for our clients and empowering survivors after life-altering events. When you are ready to pursue your case, contact us today for a free consultation.