Safety Failures Can Have Life-Changing Consequences

No one expects to be harmed while living in an apartment complex, shopping at a business, parking a car, attending an event, or staying at a hotel. Yet when property owners ignore known risks or fail to take basic safety precautions, people can suffer serious physical injuries and emotional trauma that may last long after the incident itself. Negligent security cases are deeply personal. Many individuals feel shaken, violated, or uncertain about what to do next. Some worry they will not be believed. Others hesitate because the harm involved may evoke fear, embarrassment, or a long-term emotional impact. These concerns are understandable, and they are exactly why these cases must be handled with care, respect, and clarity.

At The Stuckey Firm, we work with you, not just for you. We take time to listen, explain your options clearly, and pursue accountability in a way that honors what you have been through. After a negligent security incident, families often feel overwhelmed by medical bills, missed work, and constant uncertainty. Legal representation helps remove that pressure and gives you space to focus on getting better.

What Is a Negligent Security Claim?

A negligent security claim is a type of premises liability case that arises when someone is harmed by criminal activity due to a property owner's failure to take reasonable steps to protect visitors, tenants, or guests on their premises. These claims often involve assaults, robberies, shootings, or sexual attacks that could have been prevented with appropriate security measures. The focus in these cases is foreseeability. If a property had a history of criminal activity, repeated complaints, poor lighting, broken locks, a lack of security staff, or ignored safety issues, the owner may be legally responsible for failing to reduce known risks.

Ohio premises liability and negligence principles govern the evaluation of responsibility, and the Ohio Revised Code provides the statutory framework for civil liability.

Negligent security claims commonly arise in apartment complexes, parking garages, hotels, bars, shopping centers, and event venues. Because key evidence can disappear quickly, early investigation is often critical.

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How Negligent Security Cases Commonly Arise

Negligent security claims often involve preventable safety failures, such as:

  • Poor or non-functioning lighting in parking areas, stairwells, or entrances
  • Broken or missing locks, gates, or access controls
  • Lack of security personnel in areas with known risks
  • Non-functioning or unmonitored surveillance cameras
  • Failure to respond to prior assaults, thefts, or police calls
  • Ignoring tenant or visitor complaints about safety concerns
  • Inadequate staffing or training for employees responsible for security

These cases do not require proof that the property owner intended harm. The legal question is whether reasonable steps could have been taken to reduce or prevent a foreseeable risk. At the federal level, the US Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime provides educational resources on victim rights, support services, and trauma recovery that many people find useful when navigating the aftermath of violent harm.

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

  • Early Evidence Preservation. Surveillance footage, incident reports, and security records may be overwritten or destroyed quickly. A negligent security attorney can act early to preserve critical evidence.
  • Clear Foreseeability Analysis. These cases often hinge on whether the risk was predictable. Legal representation helps uncover prior incidents, security gaps, and warning signs that establish foreseeability.
  • Documentation of Physical and Emotional Harm. Negligent security victims may suffer both visible injuries and lasting trauma. A strong claim documents medical treatment, counseling needs, lost income, and ongoing safety concerns.
  • Trial-Ready Leverage Against Property Owners. Insurers and property owners frequently deny responsibility. Trial-ready preparation strengthens negotiations and protects your ability to pursue accountability through litigation.
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Does My Situation Call for a Negligent Security Attorney?

You may need legal guidance if you were assaulted or harmed on property where safety measures were missing, inadequate, or ignored. These claims often involve incidents in apartment complexes, hotels, parking garages, bars, shopping centers, or event spaces, particularly where prior crimes or complaints had already occurred. Warning signs may include broken lighting, unsecured entrances, missing security staff, or management that dismissed earlier safety concerns. A consultation with a negligent security lawyer in Dublin, OH, can help determine whether the property owner had notice of a potential danger and failed to take reasonable steps to protect individuals on the premises.

The Negligent Security Claim Process What to Expect

Step One: Listening and Immediate Support

We begin by listening carefully to what happened and discussing your injuries, medical care, and any safety concerns you may have. We also provide early guidance on documentation and steps that protect your claim.

Step Two: Evidence Collection and Security Review

We gather police reports, medical records, witness statements, photographs, and available surveillance footage. We also investigate the property’s history, security policies, prior incidents, and known safety issues.

Step Three: Claim Development and Demand

Once the evidence is clear, we build a claim that reflects medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and emotional trauma. The strategy is evidence-based and focused on accountability, not pressure to settle prematurely.

Step Four: Negotiation or Litigation

Some negligent security claims resolve through negotiation. Others require litigation when property owners deny responsibility or minimize safety failures. We prepare every case with trial readiness in mind, ensuring your options remain protected.

We prepare every case with the strength to go to court if needed, but filing a lawsuit does not always mean going to trial. Many cases settle because the other side recognizes the evidence is serious.

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Why Choose The Stuckey Firm?

How We’re Different

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

Trial-Ready, Thorough Preparation

Negligent security claims often involve powerful defendants and aggressive insurance defense. We focus on early investigation, detailed documentation, and trial-ready preparation so your case is taken seriously.

Credibility That Strengthens Your Case

Our attorneys are respected throughout Ohio for bringing well-prepared, meritorious claims. That credibility matters when property owners attempt to deny foreseeability or treat preventable violence as unavoidable.

Negligent Security Dublin, OH 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 reasonable safety measures were in place. The focus is on foreseeability and preventable security failures.

Can I bring a claim if the attacker was never identified?

Yes. The claim focuses on the property owner’s failure to provide reasonable security, not on identifying the attacker.

How soon should I talk to a lawyer after an incident?

As soon as possible. Surveillance footage and records can be lost quickly, and early guidance helps preserve evidence and protect your claim.

Do I have to prove the property owner knew a crime would happen?

You generally must show the risk was foreseeable. That may involve prior incidents, complaints, police calls, or obvious safety deficiencies.

What types of damages are available in negligent security cases?

Compensation may include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and ongoing treatment needs.

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Get Guidance After a Preventable Security Failure

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 with a negligent security attorney in Dublin, OH, and get clear, respectful guidance focused on accountability and recovery.

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

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