Queens Negligent Security Attorney

Assaulted or robbed on someone else's property in Queens? Our negligent security attorneys fight for the compensation you deserve. Call 718-268-8800.

Property owners have a responsibility to take reasonable steps to keep their premises safe. When they fail to provide adequate security, and someone is assaulted, robbed, or otherwise injured because of foreseeable criminal activity, they may be held liable under New York law. 

If you were injured because of negligent security at an apartment complex, parking garage, hotel, shopping center, or another property in Queens, you may have the right to seek compensation.

At Davidoff Law, our Queens negligent security attorneys help victims hold negligent property owners accountable. Call (718) 268-8800 today for a free consultation.

Why Choose Davidoff Law for Negligent Security Cases in Queens?

Negligent security claims are among the most fact-intensive cases in New York premises liability law. They require proof that a property owner knew a crime was possible and did nothing to prevent it.

Our team investigates each case in detail. We gather police reports, prior incident records, and property maintenance history to build a clear picture of what the owner knew.

We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront, and we only collect a fee if we recover compensation for you. Your free case evaluation costs you nothing and comes with no obligation.

How Common Are Negligent Security Incidents in Queens?

Negligent security claims often arise after violent crimes such as assaults, robberies, shootings, and other attacks occurring on private property. While not every criminal act results from negligent security, crime statistics help illustrate why reasonable security measures are important.

According to the New York City Police Department (NYPD), Queens reports thousands of felony crimes each year, including:

• Felony assaults
• Robberies
• Burglaries
• Grand larcenies
• Vehicle thefts

Many of these incidents occur in locations where property owners have a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe premises. When foreseeable criminal activity is met with inadequate lighting, broken security systems, or other preventable security failures, injured victims may have grounds for a negligent security claim.

What Is Negligent Security?

Negligent security is a type of premises liability claim that arises when a property owner fails to take reasonable steps to protect lawful visitors from foreseeable criminal acts committed by third parties.

Property owners are not automatically responsible for every crime that occurs on their premises. However, when they know, or reasonably should know, that criminal activity is likely, they may have a duty to implement reasonable security measures to reduce the risk of harm.

Examples of reasonable security measures may include:

• Adequate lighting
• Working locks and controlled access systems
• Security cameras
• Security guards or patrols, when appropriate
• Functional gates and fencing
• Prompt repair of broken security equipment

Whether security measures were reasonable depends on factors such as the property's location, prior criminal activity, and the foreseeable risk of crime.

Where Do Negligent Security Incidents Commonly Occur?

Negligent security claims can arise at many different types of properties where owners fail to address known security risks.

Apartment Complexes

Apartment owners and property managers are generally responsible for maintaining reasonably safe common areas for tenants and lawful visitors. Broken locks, poor lighting, unsecured entrances, and other security failures may increase the risk of criminal attacks.

Parking Lots and Parking Garages

Parking facilities often experience increased risks because of limited visibility and isolated areas. Poor lighting, broken security cameras, and unrestricted public access may contribute to assaults, robberies, and carjackings.

Hotels and Motels

Hotels owe guests a duty to provide reasonably safe premises. Inadequate security, defective locks, or failure to address known criminal activity may expose guests to preventable harm.

Shopping Centers

Shopping centers, retail stores, and malls may be liable when inadequate security contributes to assaults, robberies, or other crimes occurring on the property.

Bars and Nightclubs

Bars and nightclubs may have a duty to provide appropriate security measures when overcrowding, prior violent incidents, or other circumstances create a foreseeable risk of criminal activity.

Office Buildings

Office buildings should maintain secure entrances, controlled access systems, and other reasonable security measures to protect employees, tenants, and visitors.

Schools and Universities

Educational institutions may have responsibilities to provide reasonable security for students, faculty, staff, and visitors under appropriate circumstances.

Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities

Hospitals and other healthcare facilities often operate around the clock and may need reasonable security measures to protect patients, visitors, and employees from foreseeable criminal activity.

Public Events and Entertainment Venues

Concert venues, stadiums, festivals, and similar locations may require reasonable crowd management and security measures to reduce foreseeable risks to attendees.

What Types of Crimes Can Lead to Negligent Security Claims?

A negligent security claim may arise when inadequate security contributes to a foreseeable criminal act that causes injury.

Common incidents include:

• Physical assaults
• Sexual assaults
• Robberies
• Shootings
• Stabbings
• Carjackings
• Physical attacks during attempted thefts
• Other violent crimes resulting in serious injuries

Whether a property owner may be held liable depends on the specific facts of the case, including whether the criminal act was reasonably foreseeable and whether reasonable security measures could have helped prevent the attack.

What Security Failures Can Create Liability?

Many negligent security claims involve conditions that could have been corrected before an attack occurred. While every property presents different risks, common security failures include:

• Poor or inadequate lighting
• Broken locks or unsecured entrances
• Malfunctioning gates
• Missing or non-functioning security cameras
• Lack of security guards where appropriate
• Inadequate access control systems
• Broken fencing or perimeter barriers
• Failure to repair known security hazards
• Ignoring prior reports of criminal activity

When these conditions contribute to a foreseeable crime, the property owner may be liable for the injuries that result.

What Must Be Proven in a Negligent Security Claim?

To recover compensation in a negligent security case, an injured person generally must prove more than the fact that a crime occurred. The evidence must show that the property owner's failure to provide reasonable security contributed to the attack.

Although every case is different, a successful negligent security claim typically requires proof that:

1. The property owner owed you a duty of care: Property owners generally have a duty to maintain reasonably safe premises for lawful visitors.
2. The criminal act was reasonably foreseeable: Evidence of prior criminal activity, repeated security concerns, or similar incidents may establish that the owner knew or should have known about the risk.
3. The property owner failed to provide reasonable security: This may involve inadequate lighting, broken locks, defective security cameras, insufficient access control, or other security failures.
4. The lack of reasonable security contributed to the attack: There must be a connection between the property's inadequate security and the injuries you suffered.
5. You suffered compensable damages: These may include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and other losses.

Because foreseeability is often the central issue in negligent security litigation, a prompt investigation can be critical to preserving evidence and establishing liability.

What Injuries Can Result From Negligent Security?

Violent crimes occurring on poorly secured properties often result in severe physical and emotional injuries that require extensive medical treatment and long-term care.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Assaults involving blunt force trauma or falls may cause concussions, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), skull fractures, and permanent cognitive impairments.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Victims may suffer herniated discs, spinal fractures, nerve damage, or paralysis, resulting in lifelong medical needs and reduced mobility.

Broken Bones

Physical attacks frequently lead to fractures involving the arms, legs, ribs, hips, pelvis, or facial bones, many of which require surgery and rehabilitation.

Psychological Trauma

Many victims experience emotional injuries long after their physical wounds heal. Anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other psychological conditions may require ongoing counseling or treatment.

Wrongful Death

Tragically, some assaults result in fatal injuries. In these situations, eligible family members may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim under New York law.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

If you were injured because of negligent security, you may be entitled to recover compensation for both your financial losses and the personal impact of your injuries.

Economic Damages

Economic damages may include:

• Medical expenses
• Future medical treatment
• Rehabilitation costs
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Other out-of-pocket expenses related to your injuries

Non-Economic Damages

Depending on the circumstances, compensation may also include:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Mental anguish
• Permanent disability
• Disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are not available in every negligent security case. However, they may be awarded in limited circumstances where a property owner's conduct demonstrates a reckless disregard for the safety of others.

New York Laws That May Apply to Your Negligent Security Case

Several New York laws shape how these claims proceed. Deadlines are strict, and some are far shorter than most people expect.

Statute of Limitations

Most personal injury claims in New York must be filed within three years of the injury under CPLR § 214(5). If you miss this deadline, a court will almost always dismiss your case, no matter how strong it is.

Shorter Deadlines for Claims Against NYCHA, the MTA, or the City

Claims against a government entity follow a much shorter timeline. When an attack occurs in a NYCHA building, on MTA property, or at another public location, you generally must file a formal notice of claim within 90 days of the incident. A lawsuit must usually follow within one year and 90 days. These deadlines are unforgiving, so acting quickly is critical.

Wrongful Death Claims

When a negligent security attack results in death, surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim. In New York, these claims generally carry a two-year deadline from the date of death. Recoverable losses can include medical expenses, funeral costs, and the loss of financial support the family suffered.

Comparative Fault

New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule under CPLR Article 14-A. If you are found partly at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you are not barred from recovering compensation.

Property Owner and Landlord Duties

Under New York premises liability principles, landlords and property owners have a duty to maintain safe conditions and address known hazards for people lawfully on the property. When that duty extends to protecting against foreseeable crime, a failure to provide reasonable security can support a claim.

Contact Our Queens Negligent Security Attorney for a Free Consultation

A violent crime can leave lasting physical, emotional, and financial consequences, especially when it could have been prevented through reasonable security measures. If you were injured because of negligent security in Queens, contact Davidoff Law today at (718) 268-8800 for a free consultation. 

Our experienced Queens negligent security attorneys can investigate your case, identify all responsible parties, and fight for the full compensation you deserve.