Negligent Security Lawyer
Negligent Security Attorneys in NC, SC & GA
Property owners have a legal obligation to provide reasonable security measures to protect visitors, tenants, customers, and guests from foreseeable criminal acts. When they fail to provide adequate security and a person is assaulted, robbed, raped, or murdered on their property, the property owner can be held liable for the resulting injuries through a negligent security claim. At Dr. Ted Injury Law, our negligent security attorneys represent victims of violent crimes that occurred due to inadequate property security in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
Negligent security cases are a subset of premises liability law, but they involve unique challenges. In addition to proving that the property owner failed to provide adequate security, you must demonstrate that the criminal act was foreseeable — meaning that the property owner knew or should have known that criminal activity was likely to occur based on prior incidents, crime statistics in the area, or other factors.
Common Locations for Negligent Security Claims
- Apartment complexes — Broken locks, non-functioning gate systems, inadequate lighting, and lack of security personnel.
- Hotels and motels — Faulty door locks, lack of security cameras, poor lighting in parking areas and hallways.
- Shopping malls and retail stores — Insufficient security guards, lack of surveillance systems, and unmonitored parking garages.
- Parking lots and garages — Poor lighting, broken cameras, no security patrols, and uncontrolled access.
- Bars and nightclubs — Inadequate bouncers, no weapons screening, and failure to manage intoxicated patrons.
- Banks and ATM locations — Poor lighting, lack of cameras, and isolated ATM placements.
- Office buildings — Uncontrolled building access, broken key card systems, and lack of lobby security.
Types of Crimes Resulting from Negligent Security
- Sexual assault and rape
- Robbery and armed robbery
- Aggravated assault and battery
- Carjacking
- Kidnapping
- Murder and wrongful death
- Domestic violence in apartment complexes
Proving a Negligent Security Case
To succeed in a negligent security claim, you must establish: the property owner owed a duty of care to the victim, the criminal act was foreseeable based on prior incidents, crime data, or other factors, the property owner failed to provide reasonable security measures, and the inadequate security was a proximate cause of the victim's injuries. Our attorneys work with security experts, crime analysts, and investigators to build compelling negligent security cases.
State Laws
North Carolina
North Carolina premises liability law requires property owners to provide reasonable care for invitees' safety. Foreseeability of criminal activity is a key element. Contributory negligence applies. The statute of limitations is 3 years.
South Carolina
South Carolina applies a general duty of reasonable care to all lawful visitors. Evidence of prior criminal activity on or near the property is important. Comparative negligence applies. The statute of limitations is 3 years.
Georgia
Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 51-3-1), property owners must exercise ordinary care. Georgia courts consider the totality of circumstances in determining foreseeability. Comparative negligence applies. The statute of limitations is 2 years.
Compensation
Victims may recover for medical and psychological treatment, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, PTSD treatment, and other damages. In wrongful death cases, families may recover funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship. Contact Dr. Ted Injury Law today for a confidential, free consultation.
Related Case Results
A young woman was assaulted in the parking lot of her Atlanta apartment complex after the property management company failed to repair broken security lights and a malfunctioning gate that had been reported multiple times. Our investigation revealed a pattern of criminal activity at the complex that the management company had ignored. The $2.5 million settlement held the property owner accountable for failing to provide basic security measures for its tenants.