Personal Injury
Negligent Security
Negligent security lawsuits occur when property owners fail to provide adequate security, putting visitors at risk of violent crimes like assault, robbery, or worse.
Holding Property Owners Accountable
Negligent security happens when a property owner fails to provide reasonable safety measures, putting people at risk of violent crime. When owners ignore known dangers, visitors can be harmed by assaults, robberies, or other serious acts. In these cases, the property owner may be held legally responsible.
Businesses, landlords, and venue owners have a duty to keep their property reasonably safe. This includes taking steps to protect guests from crimes that are likely to happen. When owners do not fix known security problems, innocent people can suffer serious injuries or even lose their lives.
If you were hurt at an apartment complex, hotel, store, or entertainment venue because of poor security, you may have a negligent security claim. At Beasley Allen, our negligent security attorneys understand how quickly violent crime can change lives. We help victims hold careless property owners accountable and fight for justice.
Common Examples of Negligent Security
Negligent security may include:
- Poor or broken lighting in parking lots, stairwells, or walkways, making it easier for criminals to hide
- Broken or missing locks, gates, or doors that allow unauthorized access to the property
- No security cameras or surveillance systems, or cameras that do not work or are not monitored
- Lack of trained security guards in areas where crime is known to occur
- Ignoring past crimes, police reports, or safety complaints from tenants or customers
When property owners fail to fix these known problems, they increase the risk of violent crime. If these security failures lead to an assault, robbery, or other injury, the property owner may be legally responsible for the harm caused.
What Must Be Proven in a Negligent Security Case?
To succeed in a negligent security lawsuit, the injured person must show that the property owner failed to take reasonable steps to keep the property safe. This usually includes proving the following elements:
- Duty of Care – The owner had a legal duty to keep the property safe
- Breach of Duty – The owner failed to provide reasonable security
- Causation – That failure helped cause the crime
- Damages – The victim suffered harm
Courts also look closely at whether the crime was foreseeable. A crime may be considered foreseeable if similar incidents had happened before, if police reports showed a history of crime in the area, or if the property owner had received prior complaints or warnings about safety issues.
Common Locations for Negligent Security Claims
Negligent security can happen almost anywhere people are invited onto a property. However, some locations see these claims more often because they attract large numbers of people or have a higher risk of crime. Common locations include:
- Apartment complexes, especially those with broken gates, poor lighting, or prior criminal activity
- Hotels and motels, where guests rely on staff to provide a safe place to stay
- Shopping centers and retail stores, including strip malls and bigbox stores
- Parking garages and parking lots, where poor lighting and lack of cameras are common issues
- Bars, nightclubs, and concert venues, where crowds, alcohol, and limited security can increase risk
- Hospitals and medical facilities, which are open to the public and often operate around the clock
Negligent Security FAQ’s
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