At MPG Trial Law, we don’t just handle cases; we step into the chaos after someone’s life has been turned upside down. If you’ve been assaulted, attacked, or injured because a property didn’t take basic steps to keep you safe, you’re not alone. These aren’t just unfortunate accidents. They’re preventable—and that’s where we come in.
We represent individuals who have been injured on someone else’s property due to inadequate security. Maybe it was a broken gate at an apartment complex, or the lights were out in the hallway. Maybe a gas station had no cameras, no staff, and no plan. These are types of negligence that can lead to injuries.
Our Atlanta team knows how fast evidence can disappear. We move quickly to preserve surveillance footage, gather witness statements, and hold property owners accountable for their actions.
Allow us to help you understand what negligent security means, what your rights are under Georgia law, and how to take the next step. We’re an Atlanta negligent security law firm dedicated to fighting for the rights of victims. Whether you’re searching for a negligent security attorney in Atlanta or just trying to figure out if you have a case, we can guide you on your legal options.
Negligent Security Explained
Negligent security sounds like a legal term, and it is. However, at its core, it’s about something simple: safety. Under Georgia’s premises liability laws, property owners and managers have a legal duty to keep their premises safe for people who are lawfully there. That includes residents, guests, customers, and delivery workers. If someone gets hurt because the property owner fails to provide reasonable security, that constitutes negligent security.
Let’s say there’s a history of break-ins at a particular apartment complex. Tenants have complained. Police have been called, but no action has been taken to fix the issue. If someone gets assaulted there because of the problem that was left unresolved, that’s not just bad luck. That’s a negligent security case.
Foreseeability plays a significant role in this. If there were prior crimes or complaints, the property owner should have been aware of the risk. Once they know, they’re supposed to take reasonable steps to prevent future harm. That might involve fixing broken locks, installing security cameras, hiring trained security guards, or simply enforcing the existing policies.
Unfortunately, those steps aren’t often taken. Doors are propped open. Stairwells are dark. Cameras don’t work, or they’re not even monitored. Visitors come and go without screening. Security personnel are either missing or not trained. Sometimes, policies may sound great on paper but are never implemented in practice.
Negligent security cases in Atlanta often involve apartment complexes, hotels, motels, short-term rentals, gas stations, convenience stores, shopping centers, parking decks, college campuses, office buildings, and transit stations. These are places where people expect a basic level of safety. When that expectation is shattered, the consequences can be devastating.
It’s important to understand that these cases aren’t about blaming the criminal. They’re about holding property owners accountable for the conditions they allowed. You don’t have to prove who attacked you. You must demonstrate that the property owner failed to provide adequate security and that this failure led to your injury.
Your Rights Under Georgia Law
Georgia law gives you rights when you’re hurt because of negligent security. If you’re an invitee, meaning you were lawfully on the property, you’re protected. That includes residents, guests, customers, and workers making deliveries. Property owners have a legal responsibility to exercise ordinary care. That means they need to take reasonable steps to keep the premises safe, based on the risks they know or should know exist.
If there have been prior crimes, police reports, or complaints, that puts the property owner on notice. They can’t claim ignorance. They’re expected to respond with adequate security measures. That might mean fixing broken gates, adding lighting, hiring security guards, or installing security cameras. If they don’t, and someone gets hurt, they can be held liable.
There are deadlines to be aware of. Most personal injury cases in Georgia have a two-year statute of limitations. That means you have two years from the date of the incident to file a claim. If the property is owned by a city, county, or the state, shorter notice rules may apply. For minors or wrongful death cases, different timelines could be in play.
Georgia also follows comparative fault rules. If you’re found to be partly at fault, your recovery can be reduced. If you’re 50% or more at fault, you can’t recover anything. That’s why it’s essential to document everything and refrain from making statements to insurers before consulting a lawyer.
Your first steps matter. Get medical care. File a police report. Take photos. Save your clothes or any damaged items. Get witness names. Then call us. We’ll send a spoliation letter to preserve the video footage and records before they’re destroyed. That letter can make all the difference.
Common Locations and Situations in Atlanta
Atlanta’s a big city, and like any major metro area, it has its share of crime. However, not every crime is unavoidable. Some happen because a property owner didn’t do their job. Multifamily housing is a common setting. Consider apartment complexes with broken gates, faulty locks, and no access control. Trespassers walk in like they live there. Tenants complain about loitering or theft, but nothing changes. Then someone gets hurt.
Hotels and short-term rentals can be just as bad. Perhaps the key card system isn’t working. Maybe there’s a side entrance that’s always unlocked. Maybe the hallways are empty, with no staff in sight. Guests are vulnerable, especially when traveling alone.
Gas stations and convenience stores are another hotspot for such incidents. These places often operate late at night, with minimal staff and poor visibility. If there’s a history of robberies or assaults and the owner hasn’t made changes, such as installing lighting, cameras, or security personnel, that’s a problem.
Parking lots and decks near shopping centers and entertainment venues can also be hazardous. People assume they’re safe, but if the cameras don’t record or aren’t positioned correctly, and there are no patrols during busy hours, it’s easy for something to go wrong.
Bars, clubs, and event venues have their own risks. Office buildings, college campuses, and transit areas also need proper security. That means managing visitors, having emergency plans in place, and ensuring staff are aware of their responsibilities. When those systems fail, people get hurt, and those injuries could have been prevented.
The Process of Pursuing a Negligent Security Claim
So what happens after you call us? First, we listen to your case. We want to understand what happened, how it’s affected you, and what you need. Then we get to work.
We start with the basics. This includes seeking medical help and following your doctor’s instructions. We assist you in filing a police report and, if applicable, a property incident report. We also ensure that you don’t speak with insurers before you’re ready. They’re not on your side, and they’re trained to twist your words.
Our investigation begins immediately. We inspect the site, take measurements, and check lighting levels. We request surveillance footage, key card logs, maintenance records, and work orders, and file open records requests to get police calls and incident reports. We also talk to witnesses, tenants, and staff. We dig deep.
To prove liability, we look for patterns, such as prior crimes, complaints, broken security systems, inadequate lighting, and a lack of visitor screening. We work with security experts who understand industry standards and human behavior. They help us show how the property failed to provide reasonable security.
We also document your damages. That includes medical records, therapy notes, and future care plans. We gather evidence of lost wages and the impact on the job.
When it’s time to present your claim, we prepare a demand package for the insurer. It includes everything: liability proof, damages analysis, and expert opinions. We negotiate aggressively, but if they won’t offer a fair settlement, we file suit.
Litigation involves written discovery, depositions, motions, and sometimes mediation. We prepare every case as if it’s going to trial. That means exhibits, demonstratives, and expert testimony.
Some cases resolve quickly. Others take time, especially if there are multiple defendants or complex evidence. We work on a contingency fee basis. You don’t pay anything up front. We cover the costs. You only pay if we win.
How We Guide You Through the Legal Process
From the moment you contact us, we’re in your corner. We offer a free consultation where we listen, explain your options, and outline a plan. Preserving evidence is a top priority. We send spoliation letters promptly and inspect the site to secure video footage, logs, and other relevant records. These steps can make or break a case.
We also care about your well-being. We help you find medical and counseling resources. We offer safety planning and practical advice after an assault. We’re not just lawyers, we’re people who care.
Communication is key. You’ll receive regular updates and have direct access to your lawyer and case team: no runaround, and no waiting weeks for a call back. We use experts strategically. That includes specialists in security practices, lighting analysis, and door hardware.
They help us show exactly how the property failed, and what should have been done. We’re ready to proceed to trial. The pressure on the opposition insurers is that they pay full value. If they don’t, we’re ready to fight in court.
Compensation and Damages You Can Seek
Let’s talk about what this really means for you. If you’ve been hurt because a property owner didn’t take reasonable steps to keep you safe, you may be entitled to compensation, and not just for the obvious losses like medical bills. We’re talking about the full impact, including financial, emotional, and physical factors.
We know that medical expenses can accumulate quickly. Emergency room visits, surgeries, physical therapy, medications, counseling, it adds up, and it doesn’t stop there. Some injuries need long-term care. Some trauma doesn’t go away after a few sessions. If you’ve lost wages because you couldn’t work, or if your ability to earn in the future has been affected, that’s part of your claim too.
Then there’s the stuff that’s harder to measure but just as real—pain and suffering, which may include anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. Perhaps you no longer go out at night. Maybe you’re afraid to be alone. Maybe you’ve lost the joy in things you used to love. That matters, and Georgia law recognizes that.
If you’ve lost personal property, such as your phone, jewelry, or even your car, that can be included. In certain cases, punitive damages may apply. That’s when the property owner’s behavior was especially reckless. Like ignoring repeated warnings or failing to address dangerous conditions they were aware of. Punitive damages are meant to send a message: this kind of negligence won’t be tolerated.
In wrongful death cases, families can seek damages for the full value of the life lost. That includes both financial contributions and the emotional loss. Funeral and burial costs are also recoverable through the estate.
Why Choosing MPG Trial Law Helps Your Claim
Our law firm is well-versed in negligent security cases. We understand the legal standards, the investigative process, and the strategies that actually work.
We know Atlanta. We know the properties, management companies, and crime patterns. We’ve seen how certain places cut corners, ignore complaints, and leave people vulnerable. That local knowledge helps us build stronger cases from day one.
We don’t wait around. We act fast to preserve evidence. Surveillance footage, access logs, and maintenance records can all disappear quickly. We send spoliation letters immediately and get boots on the ground to document conditions before they change.
Our team also has the resources to take on large property owners and their insurers, and we have the trial experience to back it up. Insurance companies know we’re not bluffing. Our lawyers prepare every case as if it were going to trial, and that pressure leads to better settlements.
We’re also big on communication. You’ll have direct access to your lawyer. You’ll get regular updates. You won’t be left wondering what’s going on, and because we work on a contingency fee, our success is tied to yours. We’re in this together.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Do We Prove Foreseeability If There Was No Identical Crime At That Property?
Foreseeability doesn’t mean the same crime had to happen before. That’s not how it works. What matters is whether there were signs and red flags that something bad could happen. And those signs? They’re usually there. You just have to know where to look.
Let’s say there were police reports about trespassing or assaults nearby. Perhaps tenants complained about broken lights or strangers loitering, or security audits identified issues such as inadequate lighting or malfunctioning gates. That’s not just background noise. That’s evidence. It shows the property wasn’t safe. It was part of a corridor where crime was happening, and the owner should’ve known that.
Sometimes the most telling proof is internal. Emails between staff. Maintenance logs. Budget decisions that quietly shelved safety upgrades. These things tell a story. They show the people in charge were aware of the risks and chose not to act. That’s how we build foreseeability, not with one accident, but with a trail of missed chances to prevent harm.
Can We Recover If the Attacker Was Never Identified or Convicted?
Yes. You don’t need a name or a conviction to hold a property owner accountable. The case isn’t about catching the criminal. It’s about the property’s failure to protect people.
Think about it. If the cameras didn’t work, if the doors were left open, if trespassers were ignored again and again, then the system was broken. When systems fail, people get hurt. That’s where the focus goes—not on chasing, not a suspect, but on showing how the property’s failures created the opportunity for violence.
Georgia law even allows fault to be assigned to someone who isn’t part of the lawsuit, including an unknown criminal. That means your case doesn’t get thrown out just because the attacker vanished. What matters is proving that the property could have, and should have, done more to keep people safe.
What If a Third-Party Security Company Were Hired? Do We Still Have a Case Against the Owner or Manager?
Hiring a security company doesn’t erase responsibility. Property owners can’t just hand off safety and walk away. If they invite people onto their premises, they have a duty to make sure those people aren’t walking into danger. That duty doesn’t disappear just because someone else is wearing the uniform.
In fact, we often go after multiple parties. The owner, the manager, the security company. They can all be held accountable. Maybe the owner hired a company with a bad track record. Perhaps the guards weren’t adequately trained. Maybe the post orders appeared favorable on paper, but were overlooked in practice. These are the kinds of things we dig into.
Contact Us For a Free Consultation
If you’re ready to take the next step, we’re here to guide you through each step of the process. Talk to an Atlanta negligent security lawyer who understands what you’re going through and knows how to help. We offer a free consultation, during which we’ll review your case, address your questions, and outline a clear plan.
Bring any relevant documents you have, including police reports, medical records, photos, and witness names. The more we know, the faster we can act. You don’t have to go through this alone. Let us help you hold property owners accountable and fight for the justice you deserve.