Safety Should Not Be Optional

No one expects to be attacked or seriously harmed while visiting an apartment complex, shopping center, bar, hotel, parking garage, or event venue. But when a property owner ignores known risks, fails to provide adequate security, or allows dangerous conditions to continue, preventable harm can occur. Victims are often left dealing with physical injuries, emotional trauma, and the feeling that their safety was treated as unimportant.

These cases are deeply personal. Many people hesitate to come forward, especially when the incident involved fear, humiliation, or long-term emotional impact. Others worry they will not be believed or that the burden of proof will be too high. A negligent security claim can provide a path toward accountability, and a premises liability case can help address the harm caused by preventable safety failures.

The Stuckey Firm works with you, not just for you. We take time to listen, explain your options clearly, and pursue a claim in a way that respects what you have been through. You should not have to choose between recovering and protecting your legal rights. When you hire a lawyer, you can focus on medical care while we handle the claim, the evidence, and the insurance companies. 

What Is a Negligent Security Claim?

A negligent security claim is a type of premises liability claim that arises when someone is harmed by criminal activity because a property owner failed to take reasonable safety measures. These claims often involve assaults, robberies, shootings, sexual assaults, or other violent incidents that could have been prevented with appropriate security precautions.

Negligent security cases focus on foreseeability and prevention. If a property had prior criminal incidents, poor lighting, broken locks, missing security staff, malfunctioning cameras, or failed to address known safety concerns, the owner may be legally responsible for the harm that occurred. Ohio premises liability and negligence principles guide how responsibility is evaluated.

The Ohio Revised Code provides direct access to the statutory framework used in civil liability cases. Negligent security claims can involve apartment complexes, hotels, bars, parking garages, shopping centers, event venues, and other public or semi-public spaces. These cases often require early investigation because critical evidence can disappear quickly.

The Benefits of Working With a Personal Injury Attorney for Negligent Security Claims

  • Evidence Preservation in High-Stakes Cases - Surveillance footage, incident logs, maintenance records, and security reports can be lost or overwritten quickly. A negligent security attorney can act early to preserve evidence showing what happened and what safety measures were missing.
  • A Clear Strategy for Proving Foreseeability - These cases often hinge on whether the crime was foreseeable. Legal representation helps identify prior incidents, security failures, crime patterns, and warning signs that show the property owner should have acted to prevent harm.
  • Support for Both Physical and Emotional Harm - Victims of negligent security incidents often suffer serious injuries as well as psychological trauma. A strong claim documents medical treatment, counseling needs, lost income, and the ongoing impact on safety, independence, and daily life.
  • Trial-Ready Leverage Against Powerful Defendants - Property owners and insurers frequently deny responsibility. Trial-ready preparation strengthens negotiations and protects your right to pursue accountability through litigation when necessary.

Does My Situation Require a Negligent Security Attorney in Columbus?

You may need legal guidance if you were assaulted or harmed on property where security measures were missing, inadequate, or ignored.

These cases commonly involve incidents at apartment complexes, hotels, bars, parking garages, shopping centers, or event venues, especially where there were prior warnings or known safety risks. Common warning signs include poor lighting, broken gates, unsecured entrances, missing locks, malfunctioning cameras, a lack of security personnel, or failure to respond to prior complaints. If management minimized concerns, dismissed earlier incidents, or failed to correct unsafe conditions, those facts may matter. A consultation with a negligent security attorney in Columbus can help determine whether the property owner had notice of danger and failed to take reasonable steps to protect visitors or residents.

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The Negligent Security Claim Process What to Expect

Step One: Understanding What Happened and Your Immediate Needs

We begin by listening carefully to your experience and discussing your injuries, medical care, and safety concerns. We also provide early guidance on what documentation matters and what steps protect your claim.

Step Two: Evidence Collection and Security Review

We gather police reports, medical records, witness statements, photographs, and any available surveillance footage. We also pursue property records, incident histories, security policies, staffing information, and documentation showing what safety measures were in place or missing.

Step Three: Claim Development and Demand

Once the evidence picture is clear, we build a demand reflecting medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and ongoing emotional impact. The claim is grounded in evidence and case strategy, not insurance pressure.

Step Four: Negotiation or Litigation

Some negligent security claims resolve through negotiation. Others require litigation when property owners deny responsibility or attempt to minimize safety failures. We prepare each case with trial readiness so your options remain protected.

Though we are trial-ready from the start, most cases do not end in a courtroom. Filing is often a way to protect the case and push it toward a fair settlement.

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Common Negligent Security Issues

Negligent security cases often involve preventable safety failures that could have been addressed with reasonable measures. Examples include:

  • Poor or broken lighting in parking lots, stairwells, or entrances
  • Broken locks, unsecured gates, or ignored access control problems
  • Lack of security personnel in high-risk areas
  • Failure to monitor or maintain surveillance cameras
  • Ignoring prior assaults, thefts, or police calls on the property
  • Failure to warn residents or visitors about known safety risks
  • Inadequate staffing or training for employees responsible for safety

Negligent security claims do not require proving that the property owner intended harm. The focus is on whether they failed to take reasonable steps to reduce foreseeable risk. For broader context on crime victim support and resources, the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime provides public information that many victims find helpful.

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“I had a very complex case. PJ with the Stuckey Firm did the most outstanding job. I’m very grateful for his help and would absolutely recommend them for your legal needs.”

—B.B.

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Why Choose The Stuckey Firm?

What Makes Us Different

The Stuckey Firm is a client-first personal injury practice built on trust, collaboration, and attorney-driven service. We work with you, not just for you, and we approach sensitive cases with dignity, clarity, and respect.

Trial-Ready, Thorough Preparation

Negligent security claims often involve powerful defendants and aggressive insurance defense. We focus on early evidence preservation, detailed investigation, and trial-ready preparation so the claim is taken seriously.

Proven Results and Representation

Our attorneys are respected statewide and known for bringing well-prepared, meritorious claims. That credibility matters when property owners attempt to deny foreseeability or treat violent harm as unavoidable. We pursue accountability with strength and care. You deserve a legal team that takes your experience seriously and builds your claim with purpose.

Negligent Security Frequently Asked Questions

What does negligent security mean in a legal case?

Negligent security refers to harm caused by criminal activity that could have been prevented if a property owner had taken reasonable safety measures. The claim focuses on foreseeability, security failures, and whether the owner failed to act.

Can I pursue a negligent security claim if the attacker was never identified?

Yes. The claim focuses on the property owner’s failure to provide reasonable security, not the identity of the attacker. The property may still be responsible for preventable conditions.

How soon should I speak with a lawyer after an attack?

As soon as possible. Surveillance footage can be overwritten, and property owners may alter conditions quickly. Early legal guidance helps preserve evidence and protect your ability to pursue accountability.

Do I need to prove the property owner knew a crime might happen?

Generally, you must show that the risk was foreseeable. This can involve prior incidents, police calls, complaints, or obvious safety problems. Evidence often includes crime history, security records, and documentation of missing protections.

What compensation may be available in a negligent security case?

Compensation may include medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and long-term treatment needs. Recovery depends on injury severity, evidence, and how the harm has affected your life.

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Get Support After a Preventable Attack

If you were harmed because a property failed to provide reasonable safety, you do not have to navigate the next steps alone. Contact The Stuckey Firm to schedule a confidential consultation and get clear guidance, steady support, and a team that will pursue accountability with respect.

Talk With a Local Attorney Get a Free Case Review

If you’re unsure what to do next, we’re here to listen and help you understand your options

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