January 11, 2016- Lynchburg, VA
At approximately 4:00 PM Monday afternoon, a Centra security officer shot and critically injured a patient at Lynchburg General Hospital.
ABC 8 News reports that the security guard fired the shots during a “physical altercation with an adult male patient.”
In the state of Virginia, armed security officers must register with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and successfully complete 50-53 hours of required training. These guidelines are outlined in the Private Security Services Code of Virginia.
Generally speaking, employers are not liable for actions taken by an armed security guard, if that guard is an independent contractor of the employer. There are a few narrow exceptions to the general rule – an employer may be liable for actions that are unlawful, a nuisance or are inherently dangerous unless special precautions are taken.
If you or a loved one has been injured by an armed or unarmed security guard, consult an experienced personal injury attorney at ReidGoodwin today to schedule a legal evaluation.