What to Do If You’ve Been a Victim of a Violent Crime at a Bank or ATM

ATMs are, unfortunately, common targets for violent crime, including armed robbery and assault. This is so because ATMs serve customers who often come and go with large amounts of cash. These customers are easy targets. That is  banks and other facilities where ATMs are located should be well-aware of the inherent risks associated with their operation. These entities have a legal duty to ensure that these ATMs are safe—such as having adequate lighting around the ATM, installing cameras and alarms, and even housing guards at or near the ATM. These are safeguards that can be undertaken to keep customers and employees safe. If these measures are lacking and an innocent party becomes the victim of a violent crime on one of these entities’ premises, banks and ATM facilities could potentially be held liable for failing to maintain their properties safe and secure.

If you have been the victim of a violent crime while visiting a bank or ATM, there will likely be several steps on the road to recovering from this traumatic experience. Here are a few of the first steps you should take in order to help restore your physical, emotional, and financial well-being:

• Call 911. As with any other situation where life or property is threatened, the first step to take—as soon as you can safely do so—is to call 911. This will not only allow you to receive any medical attention that may be needed, but will also ensure that a police report is filed immediately. When speaking to the police, try to recall as many details about the incident as possible, including vehicles you may have seen or any identifying features of the perpetrator.
• If your ATM/credit cards or checks were stolen, contact your bank to have them canceled as soon as possible. In addition, alert all three credit bureaus and ask them to add a fraud alert to your report in order to help safeguard against identity theft. You’ll also want to monitor your accounts and notify the authorities of the time, date, and location of any suspicious activity, which could help them locate the perpetrators.
• Contact an attorney with experience in negligent security cases. As mentioned above, banks and other facilities with ATMs may be held liable for a third party’s violent crimes if they failed to implement reasonable security measures to deter foreseeable criminal activity. If you have been harmed by a violent crime at a bank or ATM, you may be able to seek recovery for your injuries through a negligent security lawsuit.

 

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The key to bringing a successful negligent security case is to work with an attorney who has extensive experience in this area of law. At Leighton Panoff Law, Attorney John Leighton is a nationally recognized expert in the field of violent crime and negligent security litigation. With over 35 years of experience, he is also the author of Litigating Premises Security Cases, a two-volume textbook used by lawyers across the country. To schedule a consultation with a member of our team, call us today at 888.988.1774.