How To Sue a Casino for Negligent Security

Published on July 24, 2024, by Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp

Personal Injury

The three main reasons someone visits a casino are to see a great show, have a fantastic meal, or win at gambling. Every casino guest must be cared for and spend time in a safe environment.

When a casino fails to live up to its responsibility to keep its patrons safe, injuries (or worse!) can occur.

If that happens, you’ll want to know how to sue a casino for negligent security.

These Gaming Facilities’ Safety Obligations

The one thing that is a guarantee when you visit a casino is that much of your time will be captured on security cameras. That is a good thing because those cameras are the first line of defense for protecting the guests.

However, having security cameras does not absolve the casino from its safety obligations.

Here are some of the measures that you can expect a casino to take to keep you safe:

  • Act swiftly to remove disruptive visitors.
  • Post security in all public places, including the casino floor, pool decks, and nightclubs.
  • Train security on how to recognize and respond to dangerous incidents.
  • Provide thorough background screening of all staff.
  • Implement crowd control measures.
  • Keep emergency exits clear.

When those security measures fail, it can lead to physical or sexual assaults, theft, and scams. There could also be scenarios where a crowd attending an event at a casino gets out of hand and causes a stampede.

Holding a Casino Accountable

The Nevada state legislature has created civil liability laws governing hotels’ casinos. Those laws state that the owner of the premises cannot be held liable for death or injury unless “There is a preponderance of evidence that the owner or keeper did not exercise due care for the safety of the patron or other person on the premises.” That is another way of saying that if there was inadequate security, then you can sue to get compensation for your injuries.

Here are examples of documentation you and your attorney need to gather to hold a casino accountable:

  • Security camera footage that demonstrates the security guards being negligent.
  • A general lack of security camera footage that suggests that the casino needed more surveillance.
  • Eyewitness accounts.

Casino owners are responsible for safeguarding their operations. They even go as far as maintaining the Nevada Black Book, as described in a recent CBS 8 News Now article. Its purpose is to keep undesirable elements out of casinos. However, when those measures fail, you can sue the owner of the casino, the operations manager, and any individual security guards who did not provide reasonable safety.

Recoverable Damages if You File a Lawsuit

Suing a casino for negligent security would be akin to suing a motorist responsible for a car accident that caused an injury. You would be able to seek out compensation for the following:

  • Medical expenses
  • Cost of replacing lost personal property
  • Lost income
  • Future earnings if your injury keeps you from work
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Scars or disfigurement due to your injury

Securing a Settlement Against a Casino

Casinos care a lot about their public image. They want to avoid bad publicity. That is one of the main reasons they might prefer to settle any personal injury claim out of court. That can only happen if you build a strong case with the help of an experienced attorney who regularly helps negligent security victims in Reno.

The Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp has over 30 years of experience helping clients find a fair remedy for injuries caused by negligence. We aren’t intimidated by the major corporate owners of casinos.

So, if you’re looking for support, contact us to schedule a free consultation to talk about what happened to you, so we can advise you of your right to take legal action.