If you were injured during a violent crime on someone else’s property in Lakeland, FL, a negligent security claim may allow you to seek compensation from the property owner. Under Florida law, property owners have a legal duty to protect lawful visitors from foreseeable criminal acts. When they fail and someone gets hurt, they can be held financially responsible. A Lakeland negligent security lawyer at Spetsas Buist can evaluate your case and advise you on how to move forward.
Our attorneys spent years representing security companies and insurers before switching to plaintiff work. That background gives us direct insight into how the defense tries to minimize or deny liability claims. Call our negligent security law firm at (321) LAWSUIT for a free consultation. You will speak with your lawyer directly, and you pay nothing unless we recover money for you.
Negligent Security and Premises Liability in Lakeland
Negligent security falls under premises liability law in Florida. It applies when a property owner’s failure to provide reasonable safety measures contributes to a criminal act that injures someone. Unlike slip and falls or other premises liability accidents caused by physical hazards, negligent security involves third-party criminal conduct the owner should have anticipated.
The legal basis for holding property owners responsible rests on foreseeability. If a property owner knew or should have known about security risks, such as prior crimes, inadequate security infrastructure, or documented complaints, they have a duty of care to act. When they ignore those risks and someone is harmed, they can be held liable for the victim’s losses.
What Property Owners Must Do to Protect Visitors
The security measures a property owner must provide depend on the type of property and the level of risk. All property owners in Florida owe a duty of care to people lawfully on their premises. Steps that owners should take include installing working security cameras, providing adequate lighting in parking lots and entry points, maintaining functional locks and access systems, and employing security personnel at high-risk locations.
Florida Statutes § 812.173 sets additional rules for convenience stores open late at night, requiring working cameras, bright lighting, silent alarms, and at least two employees on duty between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Where These Claims Arise in Lakeland
Lakeland sits in Polk County along the I-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando. That mix of commercial and residential development creates many settings where negligent security cases occur, including apartment complexes near South Florida Avenue and Lake Parker, hotels along US 98, retail centers near Lakeland Square Mall and Lakeside Village, bars in the Downtown Lakeland district, gas stations on US 92 and Memorial Boulevard, and parking garages near the RP Funding Center and Florida Southern College.
A bar owner who draws crowds but does not hire security staff may be liable if a patron is assaulted. A landlord who knows about break-ins but fails to fix a broken gate could face a claim from a tenant who is harmed. Our personal injury attorneys investigate these failures to determine who should be held accountable.
Compensation for Victims of Inadequate Security
Violent crimes caused by inadequate security can leave victims with lasting harm. If you were hurt because a property owner failed to provide reasonable protection, you may be able to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering from injuries such as broken bones and lacerations, mental anguish and PTSD, loss of quality of life, and wrongful death damages if a loved one was killed.
Insurance companies will often try to settle for less than the case is worth. Having an experienced personal injury lawyer in Lakeland on your side helps ensure the full scope of your losses is documented and pursued.
How Our Firm Handles Negligent Security Cases
When we take on a case, our team moves quickly to preserve evidence before property owners can destroy it. We secure surveillance footage, security logs, and incident reports. We retain independent security experts, review the property’s crime history, and identify all liable parties and their insurance coverage, including property owners, management companies, business operators, contracted security firms, and HOAs.
Our negligent security lawyers used to defend businesses and insurers in these cases. We know their strategies. We prepare every case as if it is going to trial, which strengthens our position at the settlement table. Review our case results and read what our clients have said about our work.
Filing Deadline for Negligent Security Claims
You do not have unlimited time to pursue a claim. Under Florida’s statute of limitations, you generally have two years from the date of the incident or attack to take legal action. For wrongful death cases, you have two years from the date of death to file a lawsuit.
Missing this deadline could permanently bar you from filing a lawsuit. The sooner you seek medical attention and contact an attorney, the sooner we can prove your claim and build your case.
Contact a Lakeland Negligent Security Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you were injured because of a lack of security at a property in Lakeland or anywhere in Polk County, you may have a right to compensation. Our personal injury law firm takes negligent security cases on a contingency basis. In other words, you do not pay us anything upfront, and we don't get paid unless we recover money for you.
Call us at (321) LAWSUIT to schedule a free consultation with a Lakeland negligent security lawyer. You can also reach us online.
Areas We Serve Near Lakeland, Florida
Our negligent security attorneys represent injury victims throughout Lakeland and across Polk County. If you were assaulted or harmed due to inadequate security in or near any of the following communities, we can help:
- Winter Haven (33880, 33881, 33884, 33885)
- Bartow (33830)
- Auburndale (33823)
- Plant City (33563, 33565, 33566, 33567)
- Mulberry (33860)
- Haines City (33844)
- Davenport (33836, 33837, 33896, 33897)
- Polk City (33868)
We also handle negligent security and premises liability cases throughout Polk County and along the I-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando.
Frequently Asked Questions About Negligent Security in Lakeland
What is the statute of limitations for filing a negligent security claim in Florida?
You generally have two years from the date of the incident. In wrongful death cases, the deadline runs from the date of death. Acting quickly helps preserve critical evidence and protects your right to compensation.
Can I sue a property owner if I was attacked by a criminal on their property?
Yes. Property owners can be held liable for foreseeable criminal acts on their premises if they failed to provide reasonable security. Your claim against the property owner is separate from any criminal case against the attacker.
What evidence matters when filing a negligent security lawsuit?
Key evidence includes surveillance footage, security logs, incident reports, prior crime data, and expert testimony. Police reports and medical records also play an important role. Our attorneys work to preserve this evidence before it can be lost.
Can I file a negligent security case if I was a visitor, rather than a tenant?
Yes. Property owners owe a duty of care to all lawful visitors, including tenants and guests. If you were legally on someone else’s property and suffered an injury because of inadequate security, you potentially have the right to pursue a claim. This is where a Lakeland negligent security lawyer can help you get compensation.
Do I still have a negligent security case, even if the attacker was never caught?
Yes. A negligent security claim is a civil action against the property owner, not a criminal prosecution. You do not need an arrest or conviction of the criminal attacker to bring a negligent security lawsuit. The focus is on the owner’s failure to provide adequate security.