An assault at an apartment building, parking garage, hotel, or business can leave you with serious injuries and questions about whether the property could have been safer. If the person responsible for the property knew about a danger and failed to take reasonable steps to address it, you may have a negligent security claim. The attorneys at Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP can investigate what happened, identify who controlled the property, and help you understand your options. Contact our Maryland office for a free case evaluation.
What Is Negligent Security in Maryland?
Negligent security is a type of premises liability claim involving an injury caused by someone else’s criminal act on a property. It does not mean a property owner is responsible for every assault or robbery. A claim depends on facts such as who controlled the area, what they knew about earlier problems, what precautions were reasonable, and whether a failure contributed to the injury.
Maryland courts have addressed these questions in cases involving tenants attacked at apartment properties. For common areas under a landlord’s control, the courts have examined whether the landlord knew or should have known about criminal activity on the premises and whether the earlier activity made the harm foreseeable. Other settings require their own assessment of the relationship between the parties and the circumstances of the attack.
Where Do Negligent Security Claims Arise?
Security concerns may come up after an attack at a:
- Residential building or apartment complex
- Parking lot or garage
- Hotel or motel
- Shopping center or store
- Restaurant, bar, or entertainment venue
- Office building
The location alone does not establish a claim. What matters is the specific danger, who had the ability to address it, and what information was available before the incident.
What Security Problems Could Be Relevant?
The circumstances of an attack may call for an investigation into:
- Exterior doors or gates that did not lock properly
- Repeated reports of unauthorized entry
- Earlier assaults, robberies, or threats on the property
- Poor lighting in an area where safety concerns had been reported
- Complaints about security that went unanswered
- Security measures that were in place but were not maintained or followed
No single item automatically proves negligence. An attorney must examine how the condition relates to the attack and whether reasonable action could have addressed a foreseeable risk.
What Must Be Investigated to Bring a Claim?
A Maryland negligent security case requires more than proof that a crime occurred on someone else’s property. Our attorneys can examine:
- Who controlled the property: The owner, landlord, management company, or another party may have been responsible for the area where the attack happened.
- What they knew: Earlier incidents, complaints, or records may show whether the responsible party had notice of a relevant danger.
- What they did: The investigation looks at the security measures in place and any action taken after warnings or prior incidents.
- How the failure relates to the injury: The evidence must connect the alleged lack of reasonable care to what happened.
In Maryland apartment cases, the location and nature of prior criminal activity can be especially important. An attack in a common area under a landlord’s control presents different questions from an attack inside a leased space or at an unrelated business.
What Evidence Can Help?
Evidence may be difficult to obtain after an assault, especially when records and camera footage are held by the property owner or a third party. Depending on the case, useful information may include:
- Police and property incident reports
- Witness statements
- Available surveillance footage
- Earlier reports of crime on the property
- Tenant, employee, or customer complaints
- Maintenance records for doors, locks, gates, and lighting
- Security policies, staffing records, or contracts
- Medical records documenting your injuries
Our attorneys can work to identify and preserve relevant evidence while investigating whether you have a claim.
What Compensation May Be Available?
A violent attack can lead to emergency treatment, ongoing care, missed work, and lasting physical or emotional harm. If the evidence supports a claim, compensation may be available for medical expenses, lost income, future needs, and other losses related to the injuries.
Our Maryland personal injury lawyers can review the effect the assault has had on your life and explain what damages may be pursued in your case.
How Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP Can Help
Negligent security claims often involve two separate investigations: the crime itself and the conditions that existed on the property before it happened. Our attorneys can examine both, determine which parties may be responsible, seek records that may not be readily available to you, and handle communications with insurers.
Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP also has an existing resource on holding a Maryland property owner liable for negligent security for readers who want to learn more about these claims.
Speak With a Maryland Negligent Security Lawyer
If you or a loved one was assaulted on someone else’s property in Maryland, you do not have to determine on your own whether the property owner was legally responsible. Tell us what happened, and our team can review the circumstances and explain your options. Contact our Maryland office to request a free case evaluation.