Were you assaulted at an apartment or hotel in Georgia? You may have a claim for negligent security.
When you visit a business, check into a hotel, or park your car at your apartment complex, you have a reasonable expectation of safety. Property owners in Georgia have a legal duty to keep their premises safe for invitees. This duty extends beyond fixing broken stairs or cleaning up spills—it also includes protecting visitors from foreseeable criminal acts.
If you have been the victim of a robbery, assault, shooting, or other violent crime on someone else’s property, you may be feeling overwhelmed and vulnerable. However, it is important to know that the property owner might be liable for your injuries under a legal theory known as Negligent Security.
What Is Negligent Security?
Negligent security is a type of premises liability claim. It asserts that a property owner or manager failed to implement reasonable security measures to prevent crime, leading to your injury. In Georgia, to win a negligent security case, you generally need to prove that the crime was “foreseeable.”
Foreseeability is the cornerstone of these cases. If a property owner knows (or should have known) that their property is in a high-crime area or that similar crimes have occurred there in the past, they are required to take action.
For example, if an apartment complex in Atlanta has had a string of parking lot robberies in the last six months, the management has a duty to react. If they fail to fix broken gates, install better lighting, or hire security patrols, and you are subsequently attacked in that same parking lot, they can be held responsible.
Examples of Security Failures
Negligence can take many forms depending on the property type. Common failures we see in Georgia cases include:
- Broken locks on windows, doors, or gates.
- Inadequate lighting in parking garages, stairwells, or hallways.
- Lack of security cameras or unmonitored surveillance systems.
- Failure to hire security guards in known high-risk areas.
- Negligent hiring (failing to background check employees who then commit crimes).
Violent crimes often result in catastrophic injuries, including gunshot wounds, traumatic brain injuries, and severe emotional trauma (PTSD). The medical bills and lost wages can be astronomical. While the criminal justice system punishes the attacker, it rarely provides financial restitution to the victim. A civil lawsuit against the negligent property owner is often the only way to secure the funds you need for medical care and rehabilitation.
James Ponton is a former insurance defense attorney who knows how property owners and insurance companies try to deflect blame in these cases. If you were injured due to a lack of security, let us fight for you. Contact Ponton Law at (404) 445-1403. Your consultation is free, and we are dedicated to making our community safer by holding negligent owners accountable.