Negligent Security: Suing a Property Owner for Assault or Crime

Sweeney Merrigan Personal Injury Lawyers is proud to serve Boston and communities across Massachusetts with compassionate, results-driven legal representation. When we think of personal injury, car accidents and medical malpractice often come to mind. But many serious injuries and traumas happen because a property owner failed to provide adequate security.

From assaults in poorly lit parking lots to robberies in apartment complexes or bars with insufficient bouncers, victims often find themselves asking: can I hold the property owner accountable? In Massachusetts, the answer is yes. Negligent security is a type of premises liability claim, and it can provide a legal path to justice and compensation.

What Is Negligent Security?

Negligent security occurs when a property owner fails to take reasonable measures to keep visitors safe from foreseeable criminal acts. While no one can predict every crime, businesses and landlords are expected to address risks when they know — or should know — about them.

Examples of negligent security include:

• Lack of security guards at high-risk locations
  
• Broken locks or malfunctioning key systems
  
• Poor lighting in stairwells, parking garages, or entrances
  
• Inadequate crowd control at concerts or nightclubs
  
• Failure to respond to prior incidents of violence or theft
  

In Boston, these risks often arise in bars and restaurants near Fenway, apartment complexes in Dorchester or Roxbury, and hotels serving travelers in Back Bay or the Seaport District.

Massachusetts Law on Property Owner Responsibility

Under Massachusetts premises liability law, property owners have a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for lawful visitors. If they know of prior incidents or if the type of business creates foreseeable risks, they must implement adequate safeguards.

Failure to do so may expose them to liability for:

• Assaults or sexual assaults in hotels, motels, or apartment buildings
  
• Robberies or muggings in parking garages or poorly lit lots
  
• Bar fights or crowd violence at entertainment venues
  
• Attacks on college campuses without proper campus security measures
  

Property owners cannot hide behind the excuse that “the criminal, not us, is responsible.” The law recognizes that better security often prevents tragedy.

Proving a Negligent Security Case

Negligent security claims require strong evidence to show that a crime was foreseeable and preventable. At Sweeney Merrigan, our attorneys work to build a compelling case using:

• Police reports documenting the assault or crime
  
• Prior incident records at the same property
  
• Surveillance footage or lack thereof
  
• Security logs and staffing records
  
• Expert testimony on reasonable safety measures
  

By demonstrating that the property owner knew of risks and failed to act, we help victims pursue accountability and compensation.

Injured in an attack on someone else’s property? Call Sweeney Merrigan Personal Injury Lawyers in Boston today for your free consultation.

Compensation Available to Victims

Negligent security cases often involve serious physical and emotional harm. Victims may be entitled to compensation for:

• Emergency medical treatment and ongoing care
  
• Lost wages or diminished earning capacity
  
• Pain and suffering
  
• Emotional trauma, including PTSD
  
• Wrongful death damages for grieving families
  

These damages not only provide financial relief but also send a message to property owners about the importance of investing in safety.

Why Legal Representation Matters

Property owners, landlords, and businesses often deny responsibility after an assault or crime, arguing that they cannot control third-party acts. Insurance companies may dismiss or minimize the claim.

At Sweeney Merrigan Personal Injury Lawyers, we know how to challenge these defenses. Our attorneys have decades of combined experience handling premises liability, negligent security, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death claims across Massachusetts. We fight to ensure victims and families get the justice they deserve.

You don’t have to face this process alone. Let Sweeney Merrigan fight for the justice and recovery you deserve.

Taking the Next Step

Whether you were attacked in a hotel, parking garage, apartment complex, or entertainment venue in Boston or beyond, you may have a claim against the property owner for negligent security.

No matter where you are in your recovery, the right legal team can help you move forward. Call Sweeney Merrigan Personal Injury Lawyers today for your free consultation — and take your next step toward justice.