ATLANTA NEGLIGENT SECURITY LAWYERS

When lax security leads to assault or injury, our trial-ready team brings the resources and record to fight for full justice.

When you patronize a business or visit someone else’s property, you have a fair expectation that you will be kept safe. In Georgia, businesses and property owners have a legal obligation to protect their guests from unreasonable safety hazards—including criminal attacks. If you or your loved one was assaulted on another person’s premises, you may be able to hold a business or property owner liable through a negligent security claim. Here, our Atlanta negligent security lawyers provide an overview of Georgia’s negligent security laws.

Businesses and Property Owners Must Keep “Premises and Approaches” Safe

Negligent security claims fall under premises liability laws. Under Georgia law (OCGA § 51-3-1), an Atlanta property owner or property occupier can be legally liable for “damages to such persons for injuries caused by his failure to exercise ordinary care in keeping the premises and approaches safe.” The responsibility to keep customers, guests, and other invitees safe extend beyond merely removing hazards. Property owners must also provide adequate security.

Negligent Security: Failure to Protect Guests from Criminal Attacks

A Georgia property owner/occupier has a duty to provide reasonable security. What constitutes “adequate” security under the law is highly contextual. It always depends on the specific circumstances of the case. As a general rule, businesses should provide security that is at least as good as the security offered by similar businesses under similar circumstances. The larger the company, the greater their duty to provide security. Some possible examples of negligent security include: 

• Broken or defective locks on doors or windows;
• Poor screening at entrances/exits; 
• No working security cameras;
• No trained security guards on the premises; 
• Poor or non-existent lighting. 

These are complex cases. Do not assume that you are unable to hold an Atlanta, GA property owner liable for negligent security measures. An experienced premises liability attorney will investigate your case and determine exactly what steps should be taken to get you the best outcome.

Injured Victims Deserve the Maximum Financial Compensation

Through a negligent security lawsuit in Georgia, you can seek money for economic and non-economic damages. Negligent property owners and big insurance companies do not make the claims process easy. At Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys, our Atlanta premises liability lawyers work aggressively to get people justice and the maximum damages. Through a negligent security claim in Georgia, you may be entitled to recover financial compensation for: 

• Emergency medical treatment; 
• Other hospital/medical bills
• Lost current and future earnings;
• Pain and suffering; 
• Disfigurement or disability; and
• Wrongful death.

Call Our Experienced Negligent Security Attorneys Today

At Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys, our Atlanta negligent security attorneys have the skills and legal expertise to represent victims of negligent security. If you or your loved one was injured because a business/property owner failed to provide adequate security, we are here to help. Contact us now for a no-cost, no-obligation review of your case. From our Atlanta office, our firm represents injured victims throughout Georgia, including in Cobb County, Fulton County, and DeKalb County.

Frequently Asked Questions About Negligent Security in Atlanta, GA

1. What is negligent security, and why do I need a negligent security lawyer in Atlanta, GA?

Negligent security occurs when a property owner or manager in Atlanta fails to provide reasonable security measures, allowing foreseeable criminal attacks like assaults or shootings on their premises. Under Georgia law (OCGA § 51-3-1), property owners must keep premises and approaches safe for guests and invitees. A skilled negligent security lawyer in Atlanta, GA, can investigate failures such as poor lighting, broken locks, or inadequate security personnel to hold negligent owners accountable and help victims recover compensation for injuries.

2. What types of cases does a negligent security lawyer in Atlanta handle?

A negligent security lawyer in Atlanta handles cases involving criminal attacks due to inadequate security, including apartment shootings, assaults in parking lots, hotel attacks, robberies at businesses, and violence at apartment complexes or other properties in Fulton County, Cobb County, DeKalb County, and surrounding areas. These fall under Georgia premises liability, where owners are liable for not taking reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable crimes.

3. Who can be held liable in a negligent security claim in Atlanta, GA?

In Atlanta, GA, property owners, managers, landlords, apartment complexes, hotels, businesses, and occupiers can be held liable under Georgia law if they fail to exercise ordinary care in providing adequate security. A negligent security lawyer can evaluate evidence of negligence—like lack of cameras, trained guards, or proper lighting—and pursue claims against responsible parties in the greater Atlanta metro area.

4. What compensation can I recover with help from a negligent security lawyer in Atlanta?

Victims of negligent security in Atlanta may recover damages including medical bills, hospital expenses, lost wages (current and future), pain and suffering, disfigurement, disability, and wrongful death benefits. A dedicated negligent security lawyer in Atlanta, GA, will fight to maximize your recovery by proving the property owner’s failure under Georgia premises liability laws contributed to the criminal attack.

5. How do I know if my assault or shooting was due to negligent security in Atlanta?

If you were attacked in an Atlanta apartment complex, parking lot, hotel, or business where security was inadequate—such as broken gates, poor lighting, no surveillance, or untrained staff—and the crime was foreseeable, it may qualify as negligent security. A negligent security lawyer in Atlanta can review prior crimes on the property, Georgia law requirements, and evidence to determine if the owner breached their duty to keep premises safe.

6. What should I do after a crime due to negligent security in Atlanta, GA?

After a violent crime in Atlanta caused by negligent security, seek immediate medical care, report the incident to police, document the scene (photos of hazards), and preserve any evidence. Then, contact a negligent security lawyer in Atlanta, GA, for a free case review to investigate liability and build a strong claim under Georgia premises liability law.

7. How long do I have to file a negligent security lawsuit in Atlanta, Georgia?

In Georgia, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, including negligent security, is generally two years from the date of the incident. However, exceptions may apply in wrongful death or other cases. Consult an experienced negligent security lawyer in Atlanta promptly to protect your rights and ensure timely filing in Fulton, Cobb, DeKalb, or surrounding counties.

8. Why choose an experienced negligent security lawyer in Atlanta for my case?

Choosing a knowledgeable negligent security lawyer in Atlanta, GA, ensures thorough investigation of security failures, expert handling of complex Georgia premises liability claims, and aggressive pursuit of justice against negligent property owners. With deep local experience in high-risk areas like apartment complexes and parking lots, they can help victims across the Atlanta metro area secure the compensation they deserve.