Negligent Security

Negligent Security Attorney in New York

Trial Lawyers Who’ve Won Record Verdicts Fighting for New York Injury Victims Since 1995

When a property owner’s failure to maintain adequate security leads to an assault, robbery, or other violent crime, the victim has legal options. Negligent security is a premises liability claim built on a property owner’s duty to protect lawful visitors from foreseeable criminal acts. When that duty is ignored and someone is hurt, a negligent security lawyer in New York can help pursue accountability. Godosky & Gentile has handled personal injury litigation at the highest levels of New York courts since 1995, and we bring that trial-ready approach to every negligent security case we accept.

Our team carries over a century of combined legal experience, includes a former judge, and serves clients throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, Staten Island, and New York State. Consultations are free, available virtually, and we’re reachable around the clock. Hablamos español.

If you or someone you love was injured due to inadequate security on someone else’s property, call our negligent security attorneys in New York today at (212) 742-9706. We don’t collect legal fees unless we obtain a verdict or settlement for you.

A Trial Record That Changes the Negotiation

Insurance carriers and commercial property owners know which firms prepare for trial and which don’t. That reputation affects settlement leverage. At Godosky & Gentile, we build every negligent security case as though a New York jury will decide it, because that preparation can help move serious cases toward full compensation.

Our record across high-stakes litigation reflects that approach: a $65 million medical malpractice verdict, a $25 million excessive force verdict, a $15 million explosion injury verdict, and a $14 million breach of fiduciary duty verdict. These results came from other practice areas, but they reflect the same trial identity we bring to negligent security cases against well-resourced landlords and commercial property owners.

Our credentials reflect consistent peer recognition:

Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating held by multiple attorneys on our team, the highest distinction awarded through peer review
Super Lawyers recognition and inclusion in Best Lawyers in America
Trusted by lawyers and judges throughout New York City for their own legal representation

We use sophisticated expert testimony and rigorous investigative techniques to document security failures, establish foreseeability, and quantify every category of harm our clients have suffered.

Start Your Case with a Free Consultation

Negligent security cases move quickly. Surveillance footage gets overwritten. Maintenance records get altered. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can act to preserve the evidence your case depends on. Call Godosky & Gentile at (212) 742-9706 to speak with a negligent security attorney in New York at no cost and with no obligation. We’re available 24/7, offer virtual meetings, and don’t charge a legal fee unless we obtain a verdict or settlement.

What You Must Prove in a New York Negligent Security Claim

Negligent security cases follow a structured legal framework. To pursue a claim successfully, a plaintiff generally must establish five elements: actual injury; a duty of care owed by the property owner or controller; that the type of criminal act that occurred was reasonably foreseeable; that the defendant failed to implement reasonable security measures; and that this failure was a proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injuries.

Foreseeability of Criminal Activity

New York courts don’t require proof that an identical crime occurred on the property before. Prior incidents need only be substantially similar to the attack that caused harm. Evidence establishing foreseeability can include police dispatch records, prior incident reports filed with the property, and local crime statistics. A high local crime rate isn’t a defense for a property owner. It’s a reason to have acted.

Comparative Negligence

New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule. Even if a plaintiff is found partially at fault, they may still recover a proportionate share of damages. This rule applies even when the plaintiff’s share of fault exceeds 50%.

Third-Party Liability

Responsibility doesn’t rest solely with the property owner. A property management company, commercial tenant, or contractor may also owe a duty of care to injured visitors, depending on who controlled the relevant area and what contractual obligations they held.

Common signs of inadequate security include broken or missing locks, unsecured entry points, non-functioning or absent surveillance cameras, insufficient lighting in stairwells and parking areas, absence of trained security personnel, and security measures that were previously in place but quietly discontinued.

Where Negligent Security Incidents Happen in New York City

Violent crimes and assaults caused by security failures occur across a wide range of property types throughout the five boroughs. Victims are often surprised to learn how many settings give rise to a viable negligent security claim.

Properties frequently involved in negligent security cases include:

Apartment buildings and residential complexes, including NYCHA public housing
Hotel lobbies and guest areas
Parking garages and open-air lots
Nightclubs and entertainment venues
Subway-adjacent properties and transit hubs
Office building lobbies and stairwells
Retail and shopping areas
Hospitals and medical facilities
Bank and ATM locations

Victims may be tenants, guests, customers, patients, delivery workers, or any person lawfully present on the property at the time of the attack.

Injuries & Damages in New York Negligent Security Cases

Negligent security attacks can produce life-altering physical and psychological harm. Gunshot wounds, stab wounds, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord trauma, fractures, and soft tissue damage are common physical outcomes. Many victims also experience lasting psychological harm: PTSD, anxiety, depression, and an ongoing fear of returning to similar environments.

A successful negligent security claim in New York may allow an injured person to pursue compensation for:

Medical expenses, past and future
Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress and psychological trauma
Rehabilitation and therapy costs
Property damage or theft
Loss of consortium
Wrongful death damages in fatal cases

In cases involving egregious or willful disregard for known security risks, punitive damages may also be available.

Steps to Take After a Negligent Security Incident

What you do in the hours and days after an attack can meaningfully affect the strength of your legal claim. Seek medical care immediately, report the incident to the property owner or manager, and document the scene with photographs if it’s safe to do so. Collect witness contact information, preserve clothing and personal items from the incident, and don’t provide recorded statements to any insurer before consulting an attorney.

Surveillance footage, incident logs, and security maintenance records can be deleted or overwritten quickly after a property owner becomes aware of a potential claim. Godosky & Gentile moves fast to send preservation notices, request footage, and gather records before that evidence disappears. Early contact carries no financial risk because we accept negligent security cases on contingency.

Why Choose Godosky & Gentile?

Comprehensive Legal Support
From initial consultation to final resolution, delivering top-tier representation with skill, diligence, and a results-driven approach.
Recognized Expertise
Respected trial attorneys with a reputation for winning complex cases through precision, strategy, and an unwavering pursuit of justice.
Client-Centered Advocacy
Fiercely committed to securing justice and maximum compensation—because every client deserves a powerful voice in the legal system.
Decades of Proven Results
A legacy of success in high-stakes personal injury and catastrophic accident cases, built on relentless advocacy and exceptional legal strategy.

Why New York Negligent Security Victims Turn to Godosky & Gentile

Negligent security cases against commercial landlords, property management companies, and institutions like NYCHA require a firm that opposing counsel genuinely believes can take a case to verdict. Settlement leverage depends on that credibility. Godosky & Gentile has built that reputation through decades of personal injury litigation in New York, and it shapes how we approach every negligent security case from the first call through trial.

Our team includes a former judge, providing insight into how New York courts evaluate duty-of-care arguments and foreseeability evidence in premises liability litigation. Lawyers and judges across New York City have trusted us for their own legal representation, a form of peer endorsement that reflects our standing in this legal community.

We retain expert witnesses whose testimony can establish what industry-standard security practices required for the property type involved. That roster typically includes security industry consultants, forensic investigators, medical professionals, and economic analysts who calculate the full scope of a client’s losses. We don’t collect legal fees unless we obtain a verdict or settlement.

Evidence That Builds a Negligent Security Case

Property owners and their insurers act quickly after an incident. Evidence gets deleted, security systems get repaired, and records can be altered before a victim has retained counsel. Building a strong negligent security claim requires prompt, methodical evidence collection.

Key evidence in these cases includes:

Security camera footage from the property and surrounding areas
Incident and police reports filed at the time of the attack
Prior incident records and police dispatch logs showing a history of criminal activity
Maintenance and inspection records for locks, lighting, and security systems
Witness statements from people at or near the scene
Photographs documenting specific security deficiencies
Expert testimony on industry-standard security practices for the property type involved

Crime statistics and neighborhood criminal history data can also help establish that the attack was foreseeable and that the property owner knew, or should have known, about the risk.

Filing Deadlines for Negligent Security Claims in New York

In New York, the general statute of limitations for a personal injury negligent security claim is often three years from the date of the incident. Missing that deadline can bar the claim entirely.

The timeline shortens significantly when a government entity owns or controls the property. Claims involving NYCHA, a city agency, or a public school generally require a notice of claim filed within 90 days of the incident before any lawsuit can proceed. Whether this shortened deadline applies depends on who owned or controlled the property and the specific facts of the case.

Because deadlines vary and missing them can end a claim before it begins, contact a negligent security attorney in New York as soon as possible. Call Godosky & Gentile at (212) 742-9706 for a free consultation. We’re available 24/7.

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