Injured Because of Poor Security? Contact a New York Negligent Security Attorney

In a city that never sleeps, safety should never be an afterthought. Whether you're shopping at a corner store, heading home to your apartment, or meeting friends at a nightclub, you have the right to expect reasonable security. But when property owners cut corners and someone gets hurt, it’s not just wrong. It may be legally actionable.

Negligent security is a type of premises liability claim that allows victims of violence to hold property owners accountable for failing to prevent foreseeable harm. That might mean broken locks in an apartment complex, poor lighting in a parking garage, or a lack of trained security outside a busy nightclub. When landlords, business owners, or event organizers ignore risks and someone gets assaulted, shot, or otherwise injured, they can and should be held responsible.

Explaining Negligent Security

Negligent security cases arise when a property owner fails to take reasonable steps to protect people from foreseeable criminal acts. These are not claims against the attacker themselves, though those may exist too, but against the business, landlord, or organization that didn’t do enough to prevent the violence from occurring in the first place.

Think:

• Apartment buildings with broken entrance locks
• Hotels or Airbnbs with no exterior lighting or surveillance
• Parking garages with no security patrols and frequent break-ins
• Nightclubs with a history of violent fights and no bouncers outside
• Subway stations or bus terminals with known danger zones and no camera coverage

In short, if the crime could have been anticipated and precautions weren’t taken, you may have grounds for a negligent security lawsuit.

How Property Owners Fail to Protect

The level of required security depends on several factors, including location, history of crime, type of business, and whether violence is reasonably foreseeable. In high-crime neighborhoods or businesses known to draw large crowds or intoxicated patrons, the security standard is higher.

Common failures that may lead to a claim include:

• Lack of adequate lighting in parking lots or hallways
• Nonfunctioning or missing security cameras
• Inadequate staff presence, especially during peak hours
• Failure to monitor entrances or exits
• Lack of incident reporting procedures
• Not rekeying locks after a tenant moves out or a key is lost
• Failing to warn visitors about known threats

These aren’t luxuries; they’re basic protections. And when those protections are missing, serious harm can result.

Examples of Negligent Security in NYC

New York is no stranger to lawsuits involving negligent security. Some of the most common incidents that lead to legal claims include:

• Assaults and sexual assaults in apartment buildings, hotels, or short-term rentals
• Shootings or stabbings outside bars, clubs, or event venues
• Muggings in poorly lit parking structures or stairwells
• Robberies in unsecured retail stores or gas stations
• Attacks on public transit property, including subway platforms and terminals

Victims often wonder, “Do I even have a case if the attacker wasn’t caught?” The answer is yes. These cases are about the property owner’s failure to protect, not just the attacker’s identity.

Who Can Be Held Liable?

Depending on the location and circumstances, negligent security claims in New York may be filed against:

• Landlords and property managers
• Business owners or corporate entities
• Event organizers and venue operators
• Third-party security companies
• Universities and school administrations
• Transit authorities (in limited cases)

Even if a property owner hires a private security firm, they’re still responsible for ensuring that the firm does its job. When that doesn’t happen, legal accountability may extend to both the owner and the contractor.

Proving a Negligent Security Case

Proving negligent security requires showing that the property owner had a duty to keep you safe, failed to do so, and that this failure directly led to your injuries. That may sound straightforward, but in practice, it takes an experienced legal team to build the evidence and connect the dots.

Key elements include:

• Duty of care: The owner had a responsibility to keep lawful visitors safe
• Breach of duty: They failed to implement adequate safety measures
• Foreseeability: The crime was predictable based on prior incidents
• Injury and damages: You suffered harm: physically, emotionally, or financially
• Causation: The lack of security enabled the attack or failed to stop it

Strong evidence can make all the difference. This includes surveillance footage, maintenance records, 911 logs, witness statements, and crime reports from the surrounding area.

When Does a Business Have to Warn You About Danger?

New York property owners have a legal duty to warn visitors about known hazards. This could involve alerting guests to recent assaults, increasing staff presence after a violent incident, or placing visible warnings in unsafe areas. Failing to do so, especially after repeated crimes, can strengthen a victim’s negligent security claim.

What’s the Deadline to File a Claim?

The statute of limitations for filing a premises liability claim varies from state to state and may change depending on where the incident occurred. Early legal guidance is essential to ensure the validity of your case. Video footage is often erased, witnesses become harder to locate, and the paper trail can fade quickly.

What About the Cost?

The negligent security attorneys at Morgan & Morgan, work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing upfront, and your lawyer only gets paid if you win. It’s a no-risk way to access legal representation, especially in cases where the stakes are high and the financial losses are severe.

Types of Compensation You May Be Able to Recover

A successful negligent security claim may result in compensation for:

• Medical expenses, including therapy or surgery
• Lost wages or diminished future earnings
• Pain and suffering, both physical and psychological
• Emotional trauma, including PTSD or anxiety
• Property loss or damage
• Wrongful death benefits, if a loved one was killed in the attack

Each case is unique, and the value depends on the nature of the injury, the surrounding circumstances, and the strength of the evidence.

Negligent Security at Colleges and Universities

Campuses should be places of learning, not danger. Yet many students are victimized in poorly secured dorms, classrooms, and off-campus housing. Colleges and universities have a duty to protect their students from known risks, including assaults, hazing incidents, and break-ins. When they fail, legal claims can follow.

Understanding Comparative Negligence in NYC

New York follows a comparative negligence rule, meaning even if the victim is partially at fault, they may still recover damages. For example, if someone enters a clearly marked restricted area, their compensation might be reduced; however, the property owner may still be held liable if basic security measures are absent.

Get Legal Help from a Negligent Security Lawyer in New York

Being the victim of an attack is terrifying enough. You shouldn’t also have to fight for justice alone. If you were injured due to someone else’s failure to maintain a safe environment, you may be entitled to compensation, and Morgan & Morgan may be able to help.

We’ve recovered billions of dollars for our clients and have dedicated teams experienced in negligent security cases across New York City. From Harlem apartment buildings to SoHo nightclubs, we know what to look for and how to win. Contact us today and schedule your free case evaluation.