Negligent Security Lawyer | Premises Crime Lawsuits Nationwide

What is negligent security?

Negligent security is a type of premises-liability claim. In plain terms: when a property owner or business fails to provide reasonable security, and that failure lets a violent crime happen to someone on the property, the owner can be held financially responsible for the harm. The crime itself is the criminal’s fault — but the opportunity for it often belongs to whoever was supposed to keep the property safe and didn’t.

You are not suing for the crime. You are suing the property owner for the security failures that made the crime foreseeable and preventable.

When is a property owner legally responsible?

A property owner generally owes a duty to take reasonable steps to protect the people they invite onto their property — tenants, customers, guests. They become liable for a crime when two things are true:

The crime was foreseeable. If there had been prior shootings, assaults, robberies, or other warning signs at or near the property, a reasonable owner should have seen the risk coming.
They failed to respond reasonably. Knowing the risk, they still didn’t provide the security a careful owner would — guards, working locks and gates, lighting, cameras, controlled access.

Courts look closely at the property’s crime history. A pattern of prior incidents the owner ignored is often the heart of a negligent-security case.

What does “inadequate security” actually look like?

Every case is different, but inadequate security commonly involves:

No security guards — or guards who were absent, asleep, or untrained — at a property that clearly needed them
Broken or propped-open gates, doors, and locks that let anyone walk in
Dark parking lots, stairwells, and walkways with broken or missing lighting
Surveillance cameras that were broken, fake, or never monitored
No access control — key fobs, callboxes, or front-desk screening that didn’t work or didn’t exist
A documented history of crime the owner knew about and did nothing to address

Where do negligent security cases happen?

These cases arise anywhere people are invited but left unprotected. The duty of care and the relevant case law differ by setting, which is why we handle each as its own kind of case:

Apartment complexes — tenants shot or assaulted where management cut security
Bars and nightclubs — patrons attacked amid known violence and overserving
Parking lots and garages — isolated, poorly lit, uncontrolled access
Hotels and motels — guests harmed by failed locks or access control
Stores, malls, and gas stations — customers caught in foreseeable robberies and shootings

What can you recover in a negligent security lawsuit?

Compensation depends on the facts, but a successful claim can recover:

Past and future medical bills, including long-term and lifetime care
Lost income and lost earning capacity
Pain, suffering, and emotional trauma
In a wrongful-death case: funeral and burial costs, lost financial support, and the survivors’ loss of companionship and guidance

The firm secured a $102.7 million verdict for a patron who was shot and left paralyzed because of inadequate security — the largest negligent-security verdict in U.S. history.

How long do you have to file?

Deadlines (called the statute of limitations) vary by state and by the facts of your case. In Florida, you generally have two years from the date of the incident to file a negligent-security claim — a window that was shortened from four years in 2023. Other states differ. Just as important: critical evidence disappears fast. Surveillance footage is often overwritten within days or weeks, and security records can vanish. The sooner a lawyer can act to preserve it, the stronger your case. If you think you may have a claim, talk to a lawyer quickly to confirm your deadline and lock down the evidence.

Negligent security by property type

The duty to provide security — and the failures that create liability — differ by setting. Find yours:

Negligent security lawsuits by state

The premises-liability standard, filing deadline, and fault rules vary by state. We represent victims nationwide:

Why families bring these cases to The Haggard Law Firm

Negligent security is not a side practice for us — it is the core of what we do. The firm has handled nearly 500 negligent-security cases, and attorney Michael A. Haggard is the only plaintiff’s lawyer in U.S. history to win three separate $100 million verdicts for individual clients. We represent crime victims and their families nationwide, and you pay nothing unless we win.

If you’re not sure whether you have a case, that’s exactly what a free case review is for. Tell us what happened — we’ll tell you honestly.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sue if I was attacked on someone else's property?

Often, yes. If a property owner failed to provide reasonable security and that failure helped allow a foreseeable crime, you may be able to sue the owner for negligent security — separately from any criminal case against the attacker. A free case review is the fastest way to find out if your situation qualifies.

Who can be held responsible in a negligent security case?

Depending on the facts, responsible parties can include the property owner, the property management company, and the security company hired to protect the premises. We investigate to identify everyone whose negligence contributed.

How much does it cost to hire a negligent security lawyer?

Nothing up front. We handle negligent-security cases on a contingency fee, which means you pay no attorney's fees unless we recover money for you.

How long do I have to file a negligent security lawsuit?

It depends on your state. In Florida the deadline is generally two years from the incident (shortened from four years in 2023). Because surveillance footage and other evidence can disappear quickly, it's best to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible.

What evidence proves negligent security?

Common evidence includes the property's prior crime history, police call records, security policies and staffing logs, surveillance footage, lighting and maintenance records, and expert testimony on what reasonable security should have looked like.

Do you handle negligent security cases outside Florida?

Yes. The Haggard Law Firm represents crime victims and their families nationwide. The firm is based in Coral Gables, Florida, and handles cases across the country.