New York City Negligent Security Lawyer
Property owners in New York City have a legal obligation to keep their premises reasonably safe, and that includes protecting people from foreseeable criminal acts. When a building owner, landlord, or property manager fails to provide adequate security and someone gets attacked, robbed, or assaulted as a result, that failure can form the basis of a serious civil claim. New York City negligent security cases hold property owners accountable for the harm that flows from their inaction, whether that means broken locks that were never fixed, a doorman who was removed to cut costs, or a parking structure with no working cameras. At Cohan Law Firm, we represent victims across Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens who were hurt on someone else’s property because proper security was never provided.
What Makes Security “Negligent” Under New York Law
Not every crime that happens on private property creates a viable claim. The law asks whether the property owner knew or should have known that criminal activity was a real possibility, and whether reasonable security measures could have prevented what happened.
That foreseeability question is where these cases are won or lost. If a residential building in the Bronx had multiple prior incidents of robbery in its stairwells and management never installed functioning key-card access, a subsequent assault in that same stairwell is a very different situation than a first-time incident at a property with no history of crime. Courts look at whether there was a pattern of criminal activity at or near the location, whether the owner was put on notice, and whether the security measures in place were appropriate for the risk.
New York courts have applied this framework across a wide range of property types, including apartment buildings, nightclubs and bars, hotels, parking garages, shopping centers, hospitals, and transit facilities. The physical location matters, but so does the category of the premises and what a reasonable operator in that category would have done differently.
Where These Incidents Happen in NYC, and Why It Matters
The geography of this city shapes these cases in practical ways. A large residential building in Harlem with a single entrance and hundreds of tenants carries different security expectations than a boutique hotel in Midtown. A nightclub in Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood that operates past 2 a.m. faces foreseeable risks that demand more than a single unarmed doorman. A subway-adjacent parking facility in Queens has known security vulnerabilities that operators in the industry are well aware of.
When we investigate a negligent security claim, the location itself becomes evidence. We look at the New York Police Department’s precinct-level crime data for the area, prior incident reports filed with building management, 311 complaints, and maintenance records. In dense urban environments like New York City, property managers and commercial operators often have access to information about safety conditions that would be harder to establish in a lower-density market. That cuts both ways: the same data that shows foreseeability is often data the owner had and ignored.
Public housing developments operated by NYCHA have their own set of security obligations and a documented history of elevator failures, broken intercom systems, and inadequate lobby lighting that has contributed to serious incidents. Private landlords across all five boroughs have a similar record. These are not abstract legal theories; they are patterns that show up in inspection reports, work orders, and tenant complaints long before someone gets hurt.
Injuries That Come Out of These Cases and the Damages Available
The physical consequences of an assault, robbery, or sexual attack can last for years. Stab wounds, gunshot injuries, traumatic brain injuries from beatings, and broken bones from violent falls are common in these cases. So are psychological injuries: post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and the long-term disruption to a person’s ability to work and maintain relationships.
New York law allows victims to recover compensation for medical expenses, both past and future, as well as lost income and reduced earning capacity. Pain and suffering damages are available, including the emotional and psychological component of the harm. In cases involving especially serious conduct, courts may also award punitive damages, though these are reserved for situations where the defendant’s behavior rises to the level of recklessness.
One aspect of damages that clients often underestimate is the ongoing cost of mental health treatment. A single violent incident can require years of therapy. A negligent security claim should account for the full scope of that ongoing care, not just the emergency room bill from the night of the attack.
Questions We Hear From Negligent Security Clients
Can I file a claim if the person who attacked me was never caught or convicted?
Yes. A criminal prosecution is separate from a civil claim against the property owner. Your claim is not against the attacker; it is against the owner or operator who failed to provide adequate security. You do not need a criminal conviction, or even an arrest, to pursue a civil case.
What if I was a visitor rather than a tenant or paying customer?
New York property law extends protection to invited guests, visitors, customers, and even certain licensees depending on the circumstances. The fact that you were not a tenant or an employee does not automatically disqualify you from making a claim. What matters is whether you were lawfully on the premises and whether the owner had a duty to keep you safe.
How long do I have to file a negligent security case in New York?
For most private property claims, the statute of limitations in New York is three years from the date of the incident. However, if the property is owned or operated by a government entity, such as NYCHA or a city agency, you may be required to file a Notice of Claim within 90 days. Missing that deadline can permanently bar your claim, so the sooner you speak with an attorney the better.
What evidence is most important in these cases?
Security camera footage, maintenance records, prior incident reports, police reports from the surrounding area, and internal communications between building management are all critical. Much of this evidence is in the hands of the property owner, and some of it, like security footage, gets overwritten quickly. Getting legal counsel involved early helps preserve evidence before it disappears.
What if I was partially at fault for being somewhere dangerous?
New York follows a comparative fault rule, which means your recovery may be reduced if you are found to have contributed to the circumstances of your injury. But comparative fault rarely eliminates a claim entirely, and it does not prevent you from filing one. Property owners frequently raise comparative fault arguments as a defense tactic; an attorney can help you evaluate how that argument applies to the facts of your specific case.
Do these cases usually go to trial?
The majority of civil cases in New York settle before trial. That said, some property owners and their insurers resist early settlement, particularly in high-value cases, and being prepared to litigate matters. A property owner who knows the other side will not go to trial has less incentive to offer a fair settlement. The strength of your legal position affects the outcome of settlement negotiations just as much as it would affect a verdict.
How much does it cost to hire Cohan Law Firm for a negligent security case?
Cohan Law Firm handles these cases on a contingency basis, which means there are no fees unless we recover compensation for you. There are no upfront costs and no hourly charges.
Talk to a Negligent Security Attorney in New York City
Properties across this city generate incidents that were preventable, and property owners rarely volunteer accountability. If you were assaulted, robbed, or attacked on someone else’s premises because the security was inadequate, you have the right to pursue a claim and to understand what it is actually worth. At Cohan Law Firm, we represent victims of premises negligence throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens. We keep our clients informed from the first call through resolution, and we do not charge anything unless we recover for you. If you want to speak with a New York City negligent security attorney about what happened and whether you have a viable claim, contact us today for a free and confidential consultation. Hablamos Español.