A negligent security claim in Peachtree City can arise when someone is hurt because a property owner failed to provide proper protection. These cases often involve assaults, break-ins, or other preventable crimes that happen because basic security measures were missing. When you’re harmed as a result, a Peachtree City negligent security lawyer can help.
At Shane Smith Law, we understand how these situations unfold. Our Peachtree City personal injury lawyers have been standing up for victims since 2009, with over 100 years of combined experience across the team. Reach out today if you think more could have been done to keep you safe.
What Makes a Property Owner Liable for Negligent Security in Peachtree City?
Negligent security cases differ from typical premises liability claims, such as slip-and-fall accidents. These cases focus on the harm caused by third-party crimes that could have been prevented with basic safety measures. Property owners are not expected to predict every danger, but they do have a responsibility to reduce known risks on their property.
The Legal Definition of Negligent Security in Georgia
In Georgia, property owners have a duty to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable criminal acts on their premises. That means they should assess risks and respond with appropriate safety measures when a crime is likely to occur.
If someone is attacked, assaulted, or harmed because of a failure to do so, the property owner may be held liable for what happened.
Where Negligent Security Incidents Commonly Occur in Peachtree City
Negligent security cases often happen in places where people expect to feel relatively safe. Apartment complexes, grocery store parking lots, hotels, and bars can become high-risk locations when there is not enough lighting, oversight, or control.
Even retail centers and office buildings have been involved in these claims when a lack of safety measures made it easy for someone to get hurt. What many of these places have in common is that they serve the public and generate regular foot traffic.
When owners know crime has occurred nearby or on the property in the past, they are expected to act. When they do nothing, and someone ends up harmed, a claim may follow.
Types of Lapses That Often Lead to These Claims
Most negligent security claims involve problems that could have been easily prevented or corrected with relatively little effort. This might include:
- Broken locks on gates or stairwells
- Inadequate lighting in dark parking lot corners
- Missing security cameras
- The absence of a guard when one is clearly needed
These gaps may not seem serious until someone gets hurt, but they often play a major role in how and why an incident happened.
For a free legal consultation with a negligent security lawyer serving Peachtree City, call (980) 246-2656
Security Failures That Increase the Risk of Injury or Assault
When a property is not maintained or monitored the way it should be, your safety can fall through the cracks. Maybe you noticed something felt off, or maybe no one warned you about issues the owner already knew about. When safety problems are ignored, it becomes easier for serious crimes to happen.
You may have experienced one or more of these common security failures:
- Doors and gates that do not lock
- Hallways or parking areas with no lights
- No cameras or malfunctioning surveillance systems
- Security staff are undertrained or absent
- Broken fences or unsecured entry points
- No emergency call systems
- Criminal incidents previously occurred on-site
- Delays in responding to guest or tenant complaints
- Uncontrolled guest access in residential buildings
You should not be expected to take on the assumed risk in premises liability cases when a property owner has ignored known safety concerns. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-3-1, business and property owners owe that duty to visitors like you, and Georgia’s premises liability statute treats negligent security as a serious issue when people get hurt because owners fail to act.
Peachtree City Negligent Security Lawyer Near Me (980) 246-2656
How Georgia Defines Foreseeability in Negligent Security Cases
In Georgia, the concept of foreseeability plays a central role in negligent security claims. If a business or property owner knew or reasonably should have known that a crime could happen, they may be held responsible for failing to take action. Foreseeability does not require a prediction, but it does require awareness of real risks.
Crime History and Warning Signs Often Determine Liability
Property owners have a continuing duty to address potential risks when there are clear warning signs. This includes prior criminal incidents on the property, complaints from tenants or guests, and official police reports that show a pattern. Under the official, owners who ignore this kind of history may be held liable when someone gets hurt due to that inaction.
What a Reasonable Security Plan Might Include
Every property is different, but there are some basic steps that responsible owners take to improve safety. That might include installing working lights, hiring or training security staff, limiting building access, or using a functioning surveillance system.
When owners fail to take even these basic measures, it can create an environment where crimes are more likely to happen. Your Peachtree City negligent security attorney at Shane Smith Law can review the security measures in place and determine whether they match those of other similar properties in the area.
We review maintenance logs, security patrol schedules, surveillance gaps, and any known issues that the owner has failed to address. Those small details can make a big difference when you are building a claim.
How Insurance Companies Push Back on Foreseeability
Insurance companies often argue that the crime was random or that the property owner could not have seen it coming. They may try to blame the person who committed the crime or point to a lack of formal complaints, but these arguments do not erase a property owner’s duty to act with ordinary care.
Under O.C.G.A. § 51-1-2, ordinary care means doing what a reasonable person would do under similar circumstances, and O.C.G.A. § 33-7-6 outlines how insurers assess liability and handle claims involving third-party crime.
Click to contact our Peachtree City Personal Injury Lawyers today
Consult a Negligent Security Attorney in Peachtree City Today
The legal team at Shane Smith Law understands what you are going through and knows how to handle cases involving apartment complexes, hotels, and retail properties.
Our negligent security lawyers in Peachtree City have the experience to dig into what happened, review security measures, and help you figure out what comes next.
You can contact us today to schedule a free consultation and get the support you need from a trusted legal team.
Call or text (980) 246-2656 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
