If you were hurt because a property owner failed to provide adequate security, you may have a legal claim against the owner, business, or insurance company responsible for those premises. Negligent security claims arise when apartment complexes, hotels, parking lots, bars, schools, and retail stores ignore known crime risks and someone gets hurt as a result.
Attorney Chris Miller represents crime victims and injured people throughout central Missouri. Chris is a former Missouri government attorney who administered the Division of Workers' Compensation who won a case before the Missouri Supreme Court that expanded the rights of working Missourians statewide. Your case is handled personally — no handoffs to associates. Call (573) 499-0200 for a free consultation.
If you were hurt because a property owner failed to provide adequate security, you may have a negligent security claim against the owner, business, or insurance company responsible for the premises. These cases are a subset of premises liability law — and they require proving that the crime was foreseeable and that the property owner failed to take reasonable steps to prevent it.
At Bur Oak Injury Law in Columbia, Missouri, Chris Miller represents crime victims and injured people throughout central Missouri. His background as a former Missouri government attorney who administered the Division of Workers' Compensation gives him insight into how insurers and large institutions evaluate and dispute claims — and how to push back effectively when they do.
Chris also won a case before the Missouri Supreme Court that expanded the rights of working Missourians statewide. That background matters when your legal claim depends on careful proof, Missouri law, and a clear showing that the property owner owed a duty of care. Bur Oak Injury Law handles negligent security cases on a no-fee-unless-we-win basis — free consultation, no obligation.
Negligent security is a premises liability claim against a property owner who failed to take reasonable steps to protect visitors from foreseeable criminal attacks. Property owners in Missouri have a legal duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. When they know — or should know — that people are at risk and they fail to act, they can be held liable for the resulting injuries.
Missouri's Business Premises Safety Act provides that a business has no duty to guard against criminal acts unless it knows or has reason to know that such acts are likely to occur in a particular area of the premises. This foreseeability requirement is central to every negligent security case. Evidence that a crime was foreseeable may include prior police reports for the property, dispatch logs showing repeated calls for service, tenant complaints about broken security systems, or nearby crime trends that a reasonable owner should have recognized.
In a negligent security case, potential defendants include the property owner, commercial landlord, business operator, property management company, or the insurance company that covers the premises. In some cases, a security company or its personnel may also share liability if inadequate training or staffing contributed to the attack.
A negligent security civil lawsuit is separate from any criminal case against the attacker. Victims of crimes due to inadequate security measures can pursue civil lawsuits against property owners for compensation — regardless of whether the attacker is ever caught, prosecuted, or convicted. The civil standard of proof is lower than the criminal standard.
Sources: CDC WISQARS Injury Data · Missouri comparative fault law — RSMo Ch. 537
Negligent security claims can arise at many types of properties — anywhere a property owner knew or should have known that criminal activity was a real risk and failed to take reasonable measures. Bur Oak Injury Law handles cases involving a wide range of commercial and residential settings.
Poor lighting, broken gate controls, unlocked buildings, and unmonitored common areas can allow an attacker to enter apartment complexes and harm tenants or visitors — creating liability for the landlord or property management company.
Hotels and motels may be liable when broken locks, poor surveillance, unsafe hallways, or inadequate staff response allow violent crimes — including sexual assaults — to occur on the property.
Dark parking areas without security cameras, working lighting, or regular patrols create serious risks for visitors and shoppers. Parking facilities account for a significant share of commercial property violent crimes nationally.
Bars and nightclubs may be liable when they over-serve alcohol, ignore escalating threats, fail to control crowds, or operate without adequately trained security guards present on the premises.
Late-night gas stations can become targets when the owner fails to use protective barriers, working lights, surveillance cameras, or security personnel despite known risks in the area.
Shopping centers and convenience stores operating during high-risk hours may need reasonable security measures such as visible cameras, proper lighting, trained employees, and clear emergency procedures.
Educational facilities may face liability when inadequate access controls, weak security protocols, or unmonitored areas allow foreseeable harm to students, staff, or campus visitors.
Broken access systems, unmonitored entry points, and poor after-hours security procedures can expose employees and visitors to preventable harm in commercial office settings.
Missouri's pure comparative fault rule under RSMo Chapter 537 allows victims to recover damages even if they share some partial responsibility for the incident — compensation is simply reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to the victim. Property owners and their insurers frequently try to blame the crime victim or argue the attack was unforeseeable. An attorney who can counter those arguments with evidence is essential to protecting your recovery.
Medical expenses and emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, counseling, future treatment costs, lost wages during recovery, and reduced long-term earning capacity. These damages are based on documented expenses and expert projections.
Pain and suffering, emotional distress, trauma, anxiety, fear, loss of enjoyment of life, and the lasting psychological impact of violent crime. In most Missouri negligent security cases, there is no cap on these damages.
When inadequate security results in a fatality, surviving family members may pursue compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship under Missouri's wrongful death statute. Wrongful death claims must be filed within three years.
In cases involving gross negligence or deliberate disregard for the safety of visitors — such as knowingly operating a high-crime property without any security measures — Missouri courts may award punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages.
Chris Miller personally handles every step of your negligent security case — from the initial investigation through final resolution. No handoffs to associates or paralegals. Here is what the process looks like.
Negligent security claims in Missouri are governed by premises liability law and Missouri's Business Premises Safety Act. To establish liability, you must show that the property owner knew or had reason to know that criminal activity was likely to occur on the premises — and that the owner failed to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm. Evidence of prior criminal incidents on or near the property is often the foundation of foreseeability.
The general statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Missouri is five years from the date of injury under § 516.120 RSMo. Wrongful death claims must be filed within three years. While five years sounds like a long time, evidence in negligent security cases disappears fast — security cameras get overwritten, witnesses move, and property owners repair or upgrade security systems after an incident. Waiting can seriously harm your claim.
After an attack on someone else's property, the property owner's insurance company may contact you quickly — before you know the full extent of your injuries or what security failures contributed to the crime. Do not give a recorded statement or accept any settlement before speaking with an attorney. At Bur Oak Injury Law, we handle all communications with insurance companies and property owners. Call (573) 499-0200 for a free consultation as soon as possible after the incident.
Evidence disappears fast. No fee unless we win. One attorney handles your case personally from the first call through resolution.