Unfortunately, the negligence of management companies, landlords, slumlords, NYCHA property owners, and businesses can lead to devastating security incidents and assaults. In New York, negligent security incidents often result in severe injuries, trauma, and even death.
When property owners or management companies fail to ensure public safety, they can be held accountable for the harm caused to innocent victims. The liable parties may face legal consequences if it is proven they neglected their duty to maintain a safe environment, leading to such tragic outcomes.
This article will provide some of the most common examples of negligent security in New York. This information will help you recognize the signs of negligence and potential risks and take legal action if you or someone you love has been affected.
What Is Negligent Security?
Before getting started, it’s essential to understand what negligent security means in legal terms. Property owners. management companies, landlords, slumlords, NYCHA, landlords, and businesses are legally responsible for protecting guests, tenants, shoppers, and workers from foreseeable dangers. Negligent security refers to situations where a property owner fails to take reasonable measures to ensure the safety of individuals on their premises or property , which results in injury or harm.
For a personal injury case to qualify as negligent security, it must be demonstrated that the property owner was legally responsible for the victim’s safety. Additionally, it must be proven that the property owner failed to take reasonable steps to prevent harm, and this negligence directly led to the victim’s injury.
Four things need to be proven in a negligent security case:
| 1. Responsibility | The property owner was responsible for the care and protection of the plaintiff. |
| 2. Negligence | The property owner neglected this responsibility by failing to provide reasonable security. |
| 3. Causation | The property owner’s negligence directly led to the plaintiff’s injury. |
| 4. Damages | The plaintiff suffered damages as a result of the injury. |
Examples of Negligent Security
Establishing a claim for inadequate or negligent security requires demonstrating that the property owner knew or should have known about potential risks and failed to take adequate precautions. This often involves showing that the provided security measures were insufficient, leading to foreseeable injuries.
Examples of negligent security vary. A typical instance is broken front door locks. Other examples include insufficient lighting, ineffective access control systems, and a lack of trained security guards in high-risk areas. Property owners may be legally responsible for your injuries if they fail to correct these problems.
Below, we’ve identified the most common types of negligent security that can result in serious incidents.
| Examples of Negligent Security | |
| Examples | Impact |
| Faulty Door Locks and Access Control: Broken locks, malfunctioning access systems | Unauthorized entry leading to theft, rape, assault, murder. |
| Inadequate Lighting: Dimly lit parking lots, hallways, stairwells | Increased risk of physical assaults, sexual assaults, thefts, accidents, or killings |
| Insufficient Security Personnel: Lack of guards in high-risk areas, untrained security staff | There is a higher likelihood of criminal activities, and someone is beaten up or killed. |
| Non-operational Surveillance Cameras: Broken or non-existent cameras, poorly monitored systems | Difficulty in deterring crime, identifying perpetrators |
| Failure to Address Known Security Risks: Ignoring previous incidents, not repairing security features | Continued risk and legal liability |
| Lack of Response to Security Concerns: Ignoring tenant or visitor complaints, slow response to maintenance issues | Ongoing hazards and potential for serious incidents |
When Negligence Causes Security Incidents—Legal Rights and Responsibilities
Property owners and managers are legally responsible for providing a safe environment for all visitors. When they fail to take protective measures to prevent security incidents, particularly in high-risk areas with high crime rates, they may be held liable. However, proving negligence in these cases is complex and requires demonstrating that property owners must protect the public and their guests from foreseeable harm.
Eric Richman’s team offers compassionate, expert legal representation for the New York City Area. To learn more, contact us for a free consultation or call us at (800) 801-9655.
