Legally Reviewed by Jae Lee, Esq. on June 15, 2025
When a property owner fails to provide adequate security and you are assaulted, robbed, or otherwise harmed as a result, New Jersey law may give you the right to pursue compensation from that property owner — not just from the criminal who attacked you. Negligent security is a category of Bergen County premises liability law that holds property owners accountable when their failure to implement reasonable security measures allows foreseeable criminal harm to occur on their premises.
If you or a family member were harmed at a hotel, apartment building, parking lot, shopping center, bar, or other property in Bergen County due to inadequate security, Jae Lee Law can help you evaluate your claim and pursue the compensation you deserve.
⚠ Time-Sensitive — New Jersey’s 2-Year Filing Deadline Applies to Negligent Security Claims
Harmed on someone else’s property in Bergen County? New Jersey’s 2-year statute of limitations begins from the date of the incident. Missing this deadline ends your right to compensation.
Bergen County negligent security representation. No fees unless we recover compensation for you. Free initial consultation.
What Is Negligent Security?
Negligent security is a form of premises liability in which a property owner is held responsible for injuries caused by criminal acts that occurred on their property because the owner failed to provide reasonable security measures. Under New Jersey premises liability law, property and business owners owe a duty of care to lawful visitors — and that duty includes taking reasonable steps to protect visitors from foreseeable criminal harm.
The central legal question in a negligent security case is whether the harm was foreseeable. If the property owner knew or should have known that criminal activity was a risk — based on prior incidents, the nature of the neighborhood, or the type of establishment — and failed to take reasonable steps to address that risk, they may be legally liable for the harm that results.
Important: In New Jersey, liability for negligent security extends beyond the building itself — it may also apply to private parking lots and back alleys that members of the public use to access a business.
Where Negligent Security Cases Arise in Bergen County
Negligent security incidents can occur in many types of Bergen County properties. Our attorneys handle cases arising from a wide range of locations, including:
Who Can File a Negligent Security Claim in New Jersey?
Any person who was lawfully on a property and was harmed as a result of inadequate security may be able to file a negligent security claim against the property owner or occupier. This includes victims of assault, robbery, sexual assault, and other violent crimes that occurred because the property owner failed to implement reasonable protective measures.
In cases where a victim died as a result of the criminal act — for example, a homicide resulting from a foreseeable failure of security — surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim in addition to any survivorship claims on behalf of the estate.
How to Prove a Negligent Security Claim
To succeed in a negligent security case under New Jersey law, the following elements generally must be established:
Why You Need a Bergen County Negligent Security Attorney
Negligent security cases involve both criminal and civil law dimensions that make them legally complex. Property owners and their insurers often contest foreseeability — arguing that the criminal act was unexpected and that no amount of security could have prevented it. Effectively challenging that defense requires investigation of the property’s crime history, the surrounding neighborhood’s safety record, and the adequacy of the security measures in place.
Compensation Available in Negligent Security Cases
| Type of Compensation | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | Emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment for physical injuries suffered during the criminal act. |
| Lost Wages & Earning Capacity | Income missed during recovery and reduced ability to work due to physical or psychological injuries resulting from the incident. |
| Pain & Suffering | Physical pain and emotional distress — including trauma, anxiety, and PTSD — resulting from the criminal act and its aftermath. |
| Future Care Costs | Long-term medical treatment, counseling, or ongoing care for serious physical injuries or psychological trauma. |
| Wrongful Death Damages | Where the incident proved fatal: funeral costs, lost financial support to surviving family, and loss of companionship. |
Every case is different and is evaluated on its own facts. The categories above describe what may be recoverable, not a promise of any specific amount.
Statute of Limitations for Negligent Security Claims in New Jersey
New Jersey’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims — including negligent security cases — is two years from the date of the incident. For wrongful death claims, surviving family members have two years from the date of death. Missing this deadline permanently extinguishes your right to pursue civil compensation from the property owner. Contact Jae Lee Law as soon as possible after a negligent security incident to protect your claim and preserve the evidence needed to support it.
Frequently Asked Questions — Negligent Security in Bergen County
Can I sue a property owner if I was assaulted on their premises?
Potentially, yes — if the criminal act was foreseeable and the property owner failed to take reasonable steps to prevent it. The property owner is not automatically liable for every crime that occurs on their premises, but when they had notice of potential criminal activity and failed to act, a negligent security claim may be viable.
What if the criminal who attacked me was never caught or convicted?
A civil negligent security claim against the property owner is separate from any criminal prosecution of the attacker. You do not need a criminal conviction — or even a known suspect — to pursue a civil claim against the property owner for inadequate security.
Does negligent security apply to parking lots?
Yes. Under New Jersey law, liability for negligent security extends to private parking lots and back alleys that members of the public use to access a business. If an assault or robbery in a poorly lit, unsecured parking lot was foreseeable, the property owner may be liable.
What if I was assaulted by a security guard?
If a security guard employed by a property owner acted negligently or with excessive force and caused your injury, the property owner may be vicariously liable for the guard’s actions. Our attorneys evaluate whether the guard was properly trained, licensed, and supervised.
Does Jae Lee Law charge fees upfront for negligent security cases?
No. We represent negligent security clients on a contingency fee basis — no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Initial consultations are free of charge.
Harmed by inadequate security in Bergen County? Contact Jae Lee Law for a free case review.
Our attorneys investigate the property’s security failures and pursue civil compensation from the responsible property owner — not just the criminal who harmed you.
