If you were attacked, robbed, or sexually assaulted on someone else's property in Gainesville, FL, you may have the right to seek payment through a negligent security claim. Property owners and business owners who fail to provide basic security measures can be held liable when crimes injure people on their premises. A Gainesville negligent security lawyer at Spetsas Buist can help you understand your legal options and pursue the money you are owed.
Our legal team used to defend security firms and insurance companies in negligent security cases. We switched sides to help injured people instead. That means we know how the defense works. We know what proof they try to hide and how insurers try to lowball claims. We have the skills of an experienced attorney and the drive to put them to work for you.
Call Spetsas Buist Accident Injury Lawyers at (321) LAWSUIT for a free consultation. When you work with us, you will speak with your lawyer, not a call center. We handle these cases on a contingency basis. That means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
Negligent Security Under Florida Premises Liability Law
Negligent security is a legal claim that falls under premises liability law in Florida. It applies when a property owner fails to provide basic safety measures, and that failure leads to a crime that injures someone on the property.
Under Florida law, property owners have a legal duty to protect lawful visitors from risks that can be foreseen. This includes taking steps to prevent crime when the owner knows or should know that crime is likely. Signs of this may include a history of crime on or near the property, past complaints from tenants or guests about safety, and known dangers in the area around the property.
If a property owner was aware of these risks and did nothing, they can be held liable for the harm that results. You do not need to prove that the owner wanted the crime to happen. You only need to show they failed to act when a fair person would have. A Gainesville negligent security lawyer at our firm can review the facts and find out whether the property owner broke their duty of care.
A Property Owner's Duty to Provide Safety
The level of security a property owner must provide depends on the type of property and the risks tied to it. In short, the more a property owner knows about crime in the area, the more they must do to keep people safe. Steps that a property owner or business owner may need to take include:
- Putting in and keeping up working security camera systems on the property
- Providing good lighting in parking lots, stairwells, hallways, and entry points
- Making sure locks, gates, fences, and access systems work the way they should
- Hiring trained security guards at places where the risk of crime is high
- Fixing safety issues and acting on complaints from tenants or visitors
- Setting up alarm systems and devices for emergency contact with police
Florida Statutes § 812.173 also sets rules for convenience stores that are open at night. These stores must have working cameras, good lighting, silent alarms, and at least two workers on site between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Where Negligent Security Claims Arise in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is home to the University of Florida and a large mix of students, workers, and visitors. The city has many housing complexes, busy retail areas, and nightlife spots. This creates a wide range of settings where negligent security cases can arise. Common places where these claims come up include:
- Apartment buildings and student housing near campus, along Archer Road, and off SW 13th Street
- Hotels, motels, and extended-stay rooms near the I-75 exits and along University Avenue
- Retail centers like Butler Plaza and the Oaks Mall area
- Bars, clubs, and restaurants in the Downtown and Midtown districts
- Gas stations and convenience stores along US 441, Newberry Road, and Waldo Road
- Parking lots and garages near UF Health Shands Hospital and the downtown core
Each type of property carries its own risks. A bar owner who serves alcohol in a busy nightlife area may need to hire guards and keep security cameras running at all times. An apartment complex with a history of break-ins may need to fix broken gates, add cameras, and upgrade lighting. When owners ignore these duties, they can be held to account for the harm that follows.
Common Security Failures
A negligent security case depends on proof that the property owner fell short on safety. The most common failures our lawyers see in these cases include:
- Broken, dim, or missing lighting in parking areas, walkways, and shared spaces
- Security camera systems that do not work, are out of date, or were never put in
- Locks, gates, fences, or access systems that are broken or not maintained
- No security guards at locations where the risk calls for them
- Ignoring reports of crime or safety complaints from tenants and guests
- No alarm systems or means for people to call for help in an emergency
When these failures lead to a crime that could have been stopped, the property owner may be held liable. Our firm acts fast to save footage, logs, reports, and records before property owners can erase or lose them.
Damages You May Be Able to Recover
If you were hurt due to negligent security on someone else's property in Gainesville, you may be able to recover compensation for losses that include:
- Medical bills and the cost of future medical care
- Lost wages and reduced earning ability
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, PTSD, anxiety, and depression
- Loss of quality of life and daily activities
- Wrongful death damages, if a crime caused the loss of a loved one
Insurance companies often try to pay less than a personal injury claim is worth. They may argue that the crime was not foreseeable or that the victim was partly at fault. A personal injury attorney at our firm knows how to fight these tactics and push for the full value of your case.
Identifying Every Liable Party
Blame in a Gainesville negligent security case often goes beyond the person who committed the crime. Our personal injury lawyers look into every party who may share fault. Parties who may be held liable include:
- Property owners and landlords
- Property management companies
- Business owners and commercial tenants
- Hotels, resorts, and hospitality companies
- Hired security firms and guard companies
- HOAs and event organizers
Each liable party we find may carry its own insurance coverage. This can raise the total amount of money available to pay your claim and improve your odds of full and fair payment. In many cases, a single incident may involve multiple liable parties with separate policies. Identifying all of them is one of the most important steps in building a strong negligent security case.
How Our Law Firm Handles Your Case
When you hire Spetsas Buist, our team gets to work right away. Every negligent security case calls for a thorough look at the facts and fast action to save proof. Our work on your behalf includes:
- Saving security camera footage, access logs, and incident reports before they are deleted
- Bringing in security experts to judge whether the property met the accepted safety standards
- Looking into the property's crime history and reviewing police reports from the area
- Tracking down every liable party and finding all insurance policies that may apply
- Talking with witnesses, police officers, and others who were involved in the response
Our lawyers used to defend businesses and insurance companies in these exact types of cases. That background gives us a clear view of how the other side works and what tactics they use. We prepare every case as though it will go to trial. That level of work pushes the other side to offer fair value rather than risk a verdict. You can read what our clients have to say and review our case results to learn about results we have achieved.
Filing Deadline for Negligent Security Claims
Florida law limits how long you have to file a negligent security claim. Under the current statute of limitations, you generally have two years from the date of the incident to take legal action. If the case involves a wrongful death, the deadline is two years from the date of death.
Missing this deadline could mean losing your right to seek payment for good. The sooner you call, the sooner we can start to build your case and preserve key evidence.
Contact a Gainesville Negligent Security Lawyer for a Free Case Review
If you or a family member was hurt due to negligent security at a property in Gainesville, Florida, or the wider Alachua County area, you have the right to seek answers. Our personal injury law firm handles negligent security cases on a contingency basis. You pay nothing up front, and we do not get paid unless we recover money for you.
Contact us today or call (321) LAWSUIT to set up a free case review with a Gainesville negligent security lawyer. We can talk about what happened, look at the strength of your claim, and explain what steps to take next.
We serve clients in Gainesville and nearby areas, including High Springs, Newberry, Archer, Micanopy, Hawthorne, Waldo, Alachua, and all of North Central Florida.