Were you injured in an assault, shooting, or another crime due to negligent security on a Dallas, Texas property? A Dallas negligent security lawyer at Trujillo Gonzalez, P.C. can investigate whether a property owner ignored clear safety risk and put you in harms way.
Contact our Dallas office today at (972) 550-6818 to discuss your case with one of our experienced attorneys.
Why Hire Trujillo Gonzalez, P.C. for Your Negligent Security Case?
Property owners and insurance companies rarely admit they cut corners on safety. But if you got hurt on a property, that may be the reason.
An experienced Dallas negligent security attorney can help you prove your claim.
Clients in Dallas, Texas, trust our Dallas premises liability lawyers because:
- Our founding attorney has tried over 300 cases and arbitrations to verdict, gaining the respect of opposing lawyers.
- Our legal work has earned recognition from Texas Lawyer Magazine and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
- We have won numerous seven-figure verdicts and settlements for our injured clients.
- We provide full legal services in both English and Spanish.
- We operate on a contingency fee structure, so you pay no upfront legal fees.
Contact us today to find out if the property owner can be held accountable for your injuries.
What Is Negligent Security?
Negligent security is a form of premises liability. It applies when a property owner or manager fails to take basic safety measures to protect visitors from predictable criminal acts.
The attacker is directly responsible for the crime, but the property owner may also share financial liability for creating an unsafe environment that allowed the attack to happen.
Your legal status on the property ultimately determines the duty of care owed to you. Property owners owe residents, paying customers, and invited guests reasonable safety measures. If you were on the property for a lawful reason, you likely have grounds for a claim.
When Is a Property Owner Liable in Texas?
Texas law does not automatically hold property owners responsible for every crime on their premises. Under Timberwalk Apartments v. Cain (Tex. 1998), property owners only owe a duty to protect visitors if the risk of violent crime was unreasonable and foreseeable.
To determine foreseeability, courts analyze previous crime patterns in the area using five key factors:
- Proximity of similar crimes that happened on or very close to the property
- Recency of prior crimes near the area
- Frequency of the criminal acts reported
- Similarity of the offenses to the attack you suffered
- Documentation of the incidents so that the owner should have known about them
Additionally, under Del Lago Partners v. Smith (Tex. 2010), a property owner can be held liable if they fail to react when an immediate danger unfolds on the premises.
Our team will review your conduct on the property and evaluate what the owner knew about safety risks.
Where Do Negligent Security Incidents Occur in Dallas?
Negligent security claims can arise at any commercial or residential site open to the public. Common locations include:
- Apartment complexes
- Residential communities
- Parking lots
- Hotels
- Short-term rentals
- Bars/nightclubs
- Entertainment venues
- Shopping malls
- Convenience stores/gas stations
- Standalone ATMs
In many cases, the type of location/business can put owners on notice of a need for reasonable security to protect guests. Examples include bars, nightclubs, and entertainment venues, but these aren’t the only ones.
Common Security Failures That Lead to Attacks
Many violent crimes occur because property managers neglect basic security repairs. Frequent safety failures include:
- Broken security gates, exterior doors, or entry locks
- Inadequate or burned-out lighting in walkways and parking areas
- Missing or non-functioning security cameras
- Insufficient or untrained security personnel
- Ignored safety complaints from tenants or customers
- Lack of security patrols in high-crime neighborhoods
- Failure to conduct background checks on staff members
Each of these may suggest evidence of negligence on the part of a property owner, maintenance company, or security contractor.
Key Evidence Needed for Your Case
Building a strong negligent security claim requires many types of evidence. An experienced attorney will gather the proof you need, which may include:
- Dallas police dispatch logs and 911 call records for the address
- On-site incident reports and written tenant complaints
- Security guard contracts and shift schedules
- Surveillance camera video footage
- Property maintenance requests and repair logs
- Lease agreements and property safety policies
- Records of previous lawsuits involving the same location
Evidence is especially important under Texas’s proportionate responsibility system. Under these rules, a jury distributes fault percentages among all parties, including the criminal. Property owners frequently attempt to shift all fault onto the attacker. But your claim does not require police to catch the criminal, and we can show how deficient security protocols allowed the attack to happen.
Types of Compensation Available in Negligent Security Cases
Violent attacks on poorly secured properties often cause life-altering harm. Victims may suffer gunshot or stab wounds, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and severe psychological trauma like PTSD. In the worst cases, these attacks lead to wrongful death.
A successful personal injury or premises liability claim can secure financial compensation for economic and non-economic damages including:
- Current medical expenses and long-term treatment costs
- Lost wages and reduced future earning capacity
- Physical pain, suffering, and emotional anguish
- Permanent physical impairment and disfigurement
- Funeral expenses and loss of companionship in wrongful death cases
Under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, most personal injury and negligent security claims must be filed within two years of the incident. Wrongful death lawsuits must also be filed within two years of the date of death. If you miss these deadlines, you will lose you right to seek the compensation mentioned above.
Contact a Dallas Negligent Security Attorney at Trujillo Gonzalez PC CToday
You trusted a property owner to maintain a safe environment. If their failure to provide adequate security led to your injuries, you deserve answers and fair financial recovery.
Our attorneys protect your rights throughout the legal process by:
- Investigating the property’s criminal history and safety record
- Sending formal evidence preservation letters to secure video footage and maintenance records
- Identifying all potentially liable individuals and corporate entities
- Managing negotiations with the property owner’s insurance representatives
- Preparing a comprehensive lawsuit to present in court if a fair settlement is not reached
Contact Trujillo Gonzalez, P.C. to speak with a Dallas negligent security lawyer today.
