A keypad lock pried away from the wall beside a glass entrance door

Negligent Security & Inadequate Protection

Injured in an Attack Where Security Fell Short?

Onx Law represents people hurt in assaults and other violent crimes where security should have been better. When it happens, the property owner may share responsibility.

Schedule a consultation
240-9-ONX-LAW

(01) — Overview

Onx Law represents people hurt in assaults and other violent crimes where security should have been better. When it happens, the property owner may share responsibility.

Property owners and managers are generally expected to take reasonable steps to protect people from foreseeable crime. Broken locks, dark parking areas, missing cameras, and ignored warnings can leave people exposed to harm.

We’ll evaluate your case with care and at your own pace, and put the right strategy, legal team, and resources behind it.

(02) — What makes it different

What Makes Negligent Security Cases Different

Negligent security claims often turn on two questions: was the crime reasonably foreseeable, and would reasonable security have helped prevent it?

A property owner isn’t responsible for every crime. But when there were prior incidents, complaints, or clear warning signs, the question is often whether the owner should have anticipated the risk and taken reasonable steps to address it — at apartment complexes, hotels, parking garages, bars, shopping centers, and other properties.

Common causes

  • 01Broken Locks or Doors
  • 02Broken Gates or Fences
  • 03Poor or Broken Lighting
  • 04No Security Guards
  • 05Missing or Broken Cameras
  • 06Ignored Prior Incidents
  • 07Unsecured Entrances
  • 08Inadequate Staff Training
  • 09Overgrown Landscaping

(03) — Evidence that matters

Showing the Risk Was Foreseeable

Evidence of what the owner knew — prior crimes, complaints, and security assessments — is often at the center of a negligent security claim.

Police reports, call logs, and the property’s own policies can show whether reasonable security measures were in place.

Records that may matter:

  • The police report and case number
  • Records of prior crimes or police calls at the property
  • Complaints from tenants, guests, or employees
  • Security policies, guard schedules, and staffing records
  • Video footage and camera maintenance records
  • Photos of lighting, locks, gates, and entrances
  • Medical and counseling records

(04) — Who may be responsible

Who may share responsibility.

The person who committed the crime is responsible for it. Others may share responsibility for the conditions that allowed it.

(05) — What compensation may include

What a Negligent Security Claim May Cover

Depending on the facts and the state’s law, compensation may include:

  • Medical bills, past and future
  • Lost income and reduced ability to earn
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life
  • Counseling and mental health care
  • Out-of-pocket costs, such as moving or added security

What’s available depends on the facts and the state’s law. Every state and D.C. also runs a crime victim compensation program that may help with some costs. No particular result can be promised.

(06) — What to do next

What Should You Do After an Assault or Violent Crime?

01

Get Safe and Get Help

Get to a safe place and call 911. Your safety and medical care come first.

02

Get Medical Care

Some injuries aren’t visible right away. Medical records also document what you went through.

03

Report the Crime

A police report creates an official record of what happened. Keep the report number and the names of the officers you spoke with.

04

Write Down What You Remember

When you feel able, note the lighting, locks, gates, cameras, and guards, and anything you had noticed or reported before.

05

Talk to an Attorney

An attorney can request video and prior incident records, look into what the property knew, and evaluate your options.

(07) — State-specific considerations

Security rules vary by state.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, exceptions apply, and how a rule affects you depends on the facts of your case.

(08) — The Onx approach

You Don’t Have to Face This Alone

Every case is evaluated individually. Depending on what yours needs, Onx Law may handle the matter directly, work with co-counsel, or connect you with trusted counsel when doing so better serves your case.

Get Onx On It
  1. 01

    Listen

    Tell us what happened, in your own words — online or by phone, in English or Spanish. Every case starts with understanding the people involved.

    Hands holding a phone beside an open laptop
  2. 02

    Evaluate

    An attorney reviews the facts, the injuries, the insurance, and the law that applies, to determine what your case actually needs.

    Monica Washington Rothbaum reviewing a file in her office
  3. 03

    Build the Right Team

    We put the right legal team and resources around your case. Onx may handle it directly, work with co-counsel, or connect you with carefully vetted counsel whose location, experience, or resources better serve it.

    An Onx Law notebook and a pen on a desk
  4. 04

    Move the Case Forward

    Disciplined case management, data, and technology keep the work organized and moving, while legal judgment sets the strategy — and you’re kept informed along the way.

    An orderly desk with a laptop, a notebook and a pen
  5. 05

    Pursue the Outcome

    We pursue the resolution your case supports — through negotiation or, when it’s needed, in court — so you can focus on your recovery.

    A resolution strategy in a case file beside a laptop showing an offer evaluation

(09) — Questions

Frequently asked questions.

General information only, not legal advice. Every situation is different, so the best answer starts with a conversation.

Ask us directly

  • They are responsible for what they did. But a property owner or manager may also be responsible if the crime was reasonably foreseeable and reasonable security could have helped prevent it. How responsibility is shared depends on the state.

  • It often depends on what the owner knew or should have known, such as prior crimes on or near the property, tenant complaints, security reports, or broken equipment that went unrepaired. Each state has its own approach, so the facts and location matter.

  • Often, yes. A negligent security claim is a civil claim against the property owner or manager, and it may move forward whether or not the person who committed the crime is identified or charged.

  • Landlords and property managers may be responsible for keeping locks, gates, lighting, and other security features in working order, especially in common areas. Maintenance requests, emails to management, and past incident reports can be important evidence.

  • Yes. Florida, Maryland, D.C., and New York each have a crime victim compensation program that may help with costs such as medical care, counseling, and lost wages. A civil claim is separate, and an attorney can explain how the two may interact.

(10) — More practice areas

Other ways we can help.

All practice areas

(11) — Next step

You focus on healing. We’ll help with the rest.

You shouldn’t have to face the aftermath of a violent crime alone. Onx Law can help you understand whether the property took reasonable steps to keep people safe and what options may be available to you.

Schedule a consultation
240-9-ONX-LAW