If you were assaulted, robbed, or injured by a crime on someone else’s property, the property owner may share responsibility for failing to keep you reasonably safe. This area of law is called negligent security, and it can apply at apartment complexes, parking lots, hotels, bars, and stores. The Delashmit Firm helps victims in Cartersville and North Georgia hold negligent property owners accountable. Founding attorney Hunter Delashmit uses his insurance-defense background to take on the owners and their insurers. Call (770) 341-0559 for a free, confidential consultation.
What is negligent security?
Property owners have a duty to take reasonable steps to protect visitors from foreseeable criminal acts. When an owner ignores known dangers – prior crimes, broken locks, no lighting, no security where it’s clearly needed – and someone is harmed as a result, the owner can be held liable. This is a form of premises liability under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 51-3-1).
Where negligent security claims arise
- Apartment complexes and rental properties
- Parking lots and parking decks
- Hotels and motels
- Bars, nightclubs, and restaurants
- Stores, gas stations, and ATMs
What you must show
Generally, you must show the crime was foreseeable – often because similar crimes happened there before – and that the owner failed to take reasonable security measures. Evidence like prior police calls, crime history, and security records is key, and it can be hard to obtain without a lawyer who knows how to demand it. We investigate thoroughly to build your case.
Frequently asked questions
You can pursue the criminal, but they often have no insurance or assets. A negligent security claim is separate: it holds the property owner accountable for failing to provide reasonable safety against a foreseeable crime, which can access their insurance coverage.
Foreseeability often comes from prior crimes at or near the property, known hazards, or ignored complaints. We obtain crime histories and security records to establish it – evidence most victims cannot get on their own.
Generally two years from the date of injury (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33). Evidence can disappear quickly, so contact a lawyer as soon as possible.
Contact a Cartersville negligent security lawyer
If you were injured by a crime that better security could have prevented in Cartersville or North Georgia, call The Delashmit Firm at (770) 341-0559 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation. You pay nothing unless we win.