Negligent Security: Why You Need Drake Legal When You’ve Been Injured or Assaulted Due to Inadequate Security

When you visit a commercial property—whether it’s a shopping center, hotel, apartment complex, or parking lot—you expect to be safe. Property owners have a legal responsibility to provide a reasonably safe environment for their guests, customers, and residents. Unfortunately, when a property owner fails to provide adequate security measures, visitors can become vulnerable to preventable crimes such as assaults, robberies, sexual assaults, and even wrongful deaths.

If you or a loved one has been injured, assaulted, or worse, killed, as a result of negligent security on a commercial property, you may have the right to pursue a legal claim. At Drake Legal, we specialize in negligent security cases and are committed to holding property owners accountable for their failure to provide adequate protection.

1. What is a Negligent Security Case?

A negligent security claim arises when a property owner or business fails to take reasonable steps to secure their premises, leading to injury, assault, or even death. These incidents typically happen in situations where the property owner knew—or should have known—about potential risks or prior incidents but failed to take action to prevent harm to visitors.

Negligent security can occur in a variety of settings, including:

• Hotels or Motels: Inadequate lighting, lack of surveillance cameras, or unstaffed entry points may leave guests vulnerable to assault or theft.
• Parking Lots or Garages: Poor lighting, lack of security patrols, or absence of surveillance cameras can make parking areas hotspots for crime.
• Apartment Complexes: Failure to provide gates, security patrols, or proper surveillance in areas where criminal activity is prevalent can expose tenants to harm.
• Retail Stores or Shopping Malls: When security staff is insufficient, or there are no security cameras, theft, assault, and even violent crimes can occur.

In each of these situations, a property owner may be liable for damages if it can be shown that they failed to take reasonable steps to protect people on their premises.

2. What Must Be Proven in a Negligent Security Case?

To succeed in a negligent security claim, the injured party (or their family in the case of a wrongful death) must prove several key elements:

1. The Property Owner Had a Duty to Protect Visitors

The property owner has a legal obligation to provide a reasonably safe environment for their guests, customers, or tenants. This includes taking precautions to prevent foreseeable criminal activity, such as installing proper lighting, hiring security personnel, or using surveillance cameras.

2. The Property Owner Breached That Duty

If the property owner failed to implement adequate security measures or neglected known risks, this may constitute a breach of their duty. This could include things like:

• Failing to repair broken locks or gates
• Not having enough security staff, especially during high-risk hours
• Not installing or maintaining surveillance cameras in areas where crimes have occurred
• Ignoring prior complaints about criminal activity in the area

3. The Lack of Adequate Security Led to the Incident

In order to win a negligent security case, it must be proven that the property owner’s failure to provide adequate security directly contributed to the injury or crime that occurred. For example, if an assault occurred in an unlit parking lot where the property owner knew there had been prior crimes but took no steps to improve security, this may establish liability.

4. The Victim Suffered Damages

Finally, the victim must have suffered harm—whether physical injury, emotional trauma, medical bills, or loss of life—because of the lack of security. In wrongful death cases, surviving family members can seek compensation for their loss, including funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and future earnings.

At Drake Legal, we have the expertise to gather the necessary evidence, such as:

• Crime reports and prior incident history
• Surveillance footage (if available)
• Testimony from security experts
• Witness statements
• Expert analysis of the property’s security measures

Our team will work tirelessly to prove that the property owner’s negligence led to your harm, and we will fight for the compensation you deserve.

3. Why Negligent Security Cases Are Complex

Negligent security cases are more complex than typical personal injury cases. In addition to proving the standard elements of negligence, these cases often involve issues such as:

• Criminal activity: In many cases, the incident at issue involves criminal activity, such as assault, robbery, or sexual assault. These cases often require additional expertise in criminal law and how those criminal actions relate to the property owner’s negligence.
• Expert witnesses: Proving negligent security often requires expert testimony on what constitutes “adequate” security, the risks associated with a property, and the security measures that should have been in place.
• Property owner defenses: Property owners and their insurers often try to argue that the crime was unforeseeable or that the property was sufficiently secure. They may attempt to blame the victim or deny responsibility for the incident.

At Drake Legal, we have the resources to handle these complexities. We’ll work with investigators, security experts, and forensic specialists to build a strong case that demonstrates the property owner’s negligence and establishes the connection between their failure to provide security and the harm you suffered.

4. The Emotional and Financial Toll of Negligent Security Injuries

When someone is injured or killed due to inadequate security, the consequences can be far-reaching. The physical injuries are only one part of the equation. In many cases, victims and their families also face:

• Emotional trauma: Being the victim of a violent crime can result in lasting emotional scars, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other psychological effects.
• Medical bills and lost wages: If the victim survives but suffers significant injuries, the financial burden can be overwhelming, especially if the victim is unable to return to work.
• Funeral and burial expenses: In tragic wrongful death cases, surviving family members must cope with the costs of burying a loved one while also dealing with the emotional pain of their loss.

At Drake Legal, we understand the emotional, physical, and financial toll that negligent security injuries take on victims and their families. Our team is dedicated to seeking justice on your behalf, securing fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and more.

5. Why Choose Drake Legal for Your Negligent Security Case?

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed due to inadequate security on a commercial property, you need an experienced, compassionate law firm on your side. Here’s why Drake Legal is the right choice:

• Experience with Negligent Security Cases: We have successfully represented clients in negligent security cases, holding property owners accountable for their failures to protect visitors.
• Thorough Investigations: We conduct comprehensive investigations to uncover all the facts, including identifying prior incidents and securing evidence from experts.
• Compassionate Representation: We understand the emotional and financial strain that comes with negligent security cases. We provide personalized, caring support to our clients during this challenging time.
• Aggressive Legal Strategy: We don’t back down from tough cases. If necessary, we will take the case to trial to ensure you receive the justice and compensation you deserve.
• No Upfront Fees: We work on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay us unless we win your case. This allows you to pursue justice without the added worry of legal fees.

6. Get the Justice You Deserve

If you’ve been the victim of a crime due to negligent security, or if a loved one has been harmed or killed on someone else’s property, don’t wait to seek legal help. Drake Legal is here to fight for your rights and ensure that the responsible property owner is held accountable. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us help you get the compensation and justice you deserve.