Long Island Negligent Security Lawyers

Your Rights After a Security-Related Injury

You have the right to seek compensation from the property owner or manager whose negligence contributed to your injuries. This applies whether you were a customer, tenant, guest, or even a delivery person on the premises. New York law does not require you to prove that the property owner directly caused your injury. Instead, you must show that their failure to provide adequate security created the conditions that allowed the crime to occur.

How Property Owners Fail Their Duty to Protect Visitors

The failures take many forms, such as:

• Some properties lack any security personnel despite a documented history of criminal activity.
• Others have cameras that don’t work or aren’t monitored.
• Broken locks on entrance doors, gates that won’t close, or malfunctioning alarm systems all represent security failures.
• Poor lighting creates opportunities for criminals to hide and attack unsuspecting victims.
• Overgrown landscaping provides similar cover.
• Some properties fail to conduct background checks on employees who have access to tenant spaces.
• Others ignore repeated complaints from residents or customers about suspicious activity or security concerns.

The Legal Process for Your Negligent Security Case

We begin by investigating the circumstances of your attack and the property’s security history. This involves requesting incident reports, reviewing surveillance footage if available, and interviewing witnesses. We examine the property’s maintenance records and any prior complaints about security issues.

Once we’ve gathered sufficient evidence, we file a lawsuit against the responsible parties. This might include the property owner, management company, or security firm. The defendants will likely deny responsibility initially. Discovery follows, during which both sides exchange information and take depositions. Many cases settle during this phase when defendants realize the strength of our evidence. If settlement negotiations fail, we prepare for trial and present your case to a jury.

Why Choose Sullivan and Sullivan for Your Case

We focus exclusively on personal injury cases, and negligent security claims represent a significant portion of our practice. We know how to investigate these cases thoroughly and build compelling arguments for liability. Property owners and their insurance companies employ aggressive defense tactics. They’ll try to blame you or argue that the crime was unforeseeable. We anticipate these strategies and counter them effectively.

Our firm has the resources to hire expert witnesses, conduct extensive investigations, and take cases to trial when necessary. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. This arrangement allows you to pursue justice without worrying about upfront legal costs.

Time Limits to File Your Negligent Security Lawsuit in New York

New York’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases is generally three years from the date of the incident. This deadline is strict. If you miss it, you lose your right to seek compensation forever. Some exceptions exist, but they’re narrow and difficult to prove.

Don’t wait to contact us. Evidence disappears over time. Witnesses forget details or become unavailable. Surveillance footage gets recorded over. The sooner we begin investigating, the stronger your case becomes.

How We Prove Liability in Negligent Security Cases

Proving liability requires establishing several elements. First, we show that the defendant owed you a duty of care. Property owners owe this duty to lawful visitors. Second, we demonstrate that the defendant breached this duty by failing to implement reasonable security measures. Third, we prove that this breach directly caused your injuries. Finally, we document your damages.

The foreseeability analysis is critical. We gather crime statistics for the property and surrounding area. We obtain records of prior incidents on the premises. We show that a reasonable property owner would have anticipated the risk and taken preventative action.

What to Do Immediately After a Security-Related Incident

Call 911 first. You need police and medical attention right away. Even if your injuries seem minor, get checked by a doctor. Some injuries don’t manifest symptoms immediately. The police report will document the incident and provide an official record.

How Insurance Companies Handle Negligent Security Claims

Property owners typically have liability insurance that covers negligent security claims. Insurance companies will assign adjusters and defense attorneys to minimize their payout. They’ll investigate your background, scrutinize your medical treatment, and look for any reason to deny or reduce your claim.

Adjusters may contact you shortly after the incident and offer a quick settlement. These initial offers are almost always far below what your claim is worth. They hope you’ll accept before consulting an attorney. Don’t give recorded statements to insurance companies or sign anything without speaking to us first. Everything you say can be used to undermine your claim later.

Call Our Long Island Negligent Security Lawyers Today

We handle all communications with insurance companies. We know their tactics and won’t let them take advantage of you during this vulnerable time. Contact Sullivan & Sullivan by calling (516) 271-1617 or use our contact form to schedule a consultation about your case. Our goal is to secure full and fair compensation that accounts for all your losses, both current and future.