Negligent security is a type of premises-liability claim. The idea is straightforward: property owners who invite the public onto their property — apartment complexes, hotels, bars, parking garages, shopping centers — have a duty to take reasonable steps to keep visitors safe from foreseeable harm.
When a business knows an area has a history of violent crime and does nothing — no lighting, no cameras, no security, broken gates left unrepaired — and someone is then assaulted or worse, the law may hold that business accountable alongside the criminal.
Local knowledge that matters
These cases require knowing the local landscape — crime patterns, prior incidents at a property, and what reasonable security looks like for a given business in Palm Beach County. That local knowledge is central to proving a crime was foreseeable and preventable.
What to do after negligent security
- 1
Call 911 and report the crime
A police report is essential. It documents what happened and often the property's known history.
- 2
Get medical care
Treat your injuries and create a medical record connected to the incident.
- 3
Note the security conditions
Broken lights, disabled cameras, propped-open gates, missing guards — photograph what you safely can.
- 4
Preserve any evidence
Keep clothing, note witnesses, and don't post details on social media.
- 5
Call a lawyer promptly
Security footage and prior-incident records must be requested before they're gone.
Common injuries I see
- Injuries from physical or sexual assault
- Gunshot and stabbing wounds
- Traumatic brain injury
- Broken bones and internal injuries
- Emotional trauma and PTSD
- Wrongful death
How Florida law applies
- Foreseeability is the key question
- Liability usually turns on whether the crime was foreseeable — often shown through prior crimes at or near the property that the owner knew or should have known about.
- Reasonable security measures
- Courts weigh whether the owner took reasonable steps: adequate lighting, functioning locks and gates, cameras, and security personnel where warranted.
- Florida's evolving law and the two-year deadline
- Florida has specific statutes addressing security at certain properties, and comparative negligence and the two-year filing deadline apply. These are complex cases where early, careful investigation matters.
How I help with your case
- Investigate the property's crime history and prior incidents.
- Obtain security footage and records before they disappear.
- Establish that the harm was foreseeable and preventable.
- Handle these sensitive cases with the discretion and care they require.
Negligent Security — frequently asked questions
Both can bear responsibility. The criminal is responsible for the crime; the property owner may be separately responsible if they ignored a known, foreseeable risk and failed to provide reasonable security. Often the property owner is the party with insurance to compensate you.
Usually a history of similar crime at or near the property that the owner knew or should have known about. Establishing that pattern is a core part of the investigation.
I handle these matters with care and discretion, and I take on the legal burden so you can focus on healing. You'll never be pushed further than you're ready to go.