Negligent Security

Name: Negligent Security
Brand: The Stuckey Firm
Rating: 4.9 (248 reviews)

If you were assaulted or harmed because a property failed to provide reasonable safety, you may have the right to pursue accountability. The Stuckey Firm helps you understand your options and build a claim with dignity and strength.

Safety Should Not Be Optional

No one expects to be attacked or 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, serious harm can occur. Victims often face physical injuries, emotional trauma, and a sense that their safety was treated as unimportant.

These cases are also deeply personal. Many people feel hesitant to come forward, especially when the incident involved fear, humiliation, or long-term emotional impact. Others worry they will not be believed or that it will be too hard to prove the property was at fault. 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 options clearly, and pursue a claim in a way that respects what you have been through. Hiring a lawyer takes the stress off your shoulders so you can focus on healing and your family.

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 through adequate security precautions.

Negligent security cases focus on foreseeability and prevention. If a property had prior crime incidents, poor lighting, broken locks, no security staff, or failed to address known safety issues, the owner may be responsible for the harm that occurred. Ohio premises liability laws 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 businesses, apartment complexes, hotels, parking lots, event venues, and other public or semi-public spaces. These cases often require early investigation because 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, and security records can be lost or destroyed quickly. A premises liability attorney can act early to preserve proof of what happened and what should have been prevented.
A Clear Strategy for Proving Foreseeability. These cases often hinge on whether the crime was foreseeable based on prior incidents or known risks. Legal representation helps identify patterns, security failures, and the property owner’s duty to protect visitors.
Support for Both Physical and Emotional Harm. Negligent security victims may suffer serious injuries and trauma. A strong claim documents medical treatment, counseling needs, lost income, and the ongoing impact on safety and daily life.
Trial-Ready Leverage Against Powerful Defendants. Property owners and insurers often deny responsibility. Trial-ready preparation strengthens negotiations and protects your right to pursue accountability through litigation if needed.

We prepare every case for trial, even though many lawsuits settle before ever reaching a courtroom.

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Available 24/7 (888) 910-7086

Does My Situation Require a Negligent Security Attorney?

You may need legal guidance if you were assaulted or harmed on property where security measures were missing, inadequate, or ignored. These cases often apply when the incident occurred in places like apartment complexes, hotels, bars, parking garages, shopping centers, or event venues, especially where there were prior warnings or known risks.

Common warning signs include poor lighting, broken gates, missing locks, malfunctioning cameras, a lack of security staff, or failure to respond to prior complaints. If management minimized your concerns, dismissed prior incidents, or failed to address unsafe conditions, those facts may matter. A legal consultation can help determine whether the property owner had notice of danger and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent harm.

The Negligent Security Claim Process What to Expect

Step One: Understanding What Happened and Your Immediate Needs

We begin by listening to your experience and discussing your injuries, medical treatment, 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, and documentation that shows what safety measures were in place or missing.

Step Three: Claim Development and Demand

Once the evidence picture is clearer, we build a demand that reflects medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and ongoing emotional impact. We pursue compensation and accountability based on evidence and strategy, not insurer pressure.

Step Four: Negotiation or Litigation

Some claims resolve through negotiation. Others require litigation, especially when property owners deny responsibility or refuse to acknowledge safety failures. We prepare cases with trial readiness so your options remain protected.

Common Negligent Security Issues

Negligent security cases often involve preventable safety gaps that property owners could have addressed with reasonable measures. Examples include:

Poor or broken lighting in parking lots, stairwells, or building 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 visitors or residents 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 a broader federal context on crime and victim support resources, the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime provides information on victim rights, services, and trauma support that many people 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.

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, complex investigations, and aggressive insurance defense. We focus on early evidence preservation, detailed case development, 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 the 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 even if the attacker is unknown?

Yes. The claim focuses on the property owner’s safety failures, not the identity of the attacker. Even if the attacker is not found, the property may still be responsible for preventable conditions.

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

Sooner is usually better. Surveillance footage can be overwritten, and property owners may change 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?

You usually need to show that the risk was foreseeable. That can involve prior incidents, complaints, police calls, or obvious safety conditions. 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. The recovery depends on injury severity, evidence, and how the harm has affected daily life.

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.