Bronx Negligent Security Lawyer

Last updated on March 17, 2026

In New York City, property owners, landlords, and business establishments must do more than clean floors and remove visible hazards. They must also protect visitors, tenants, and patrons from foreseeable criminal acts by providing adequate security measures.

At MJP Injury Law, we represent victims of negligent security throughout New York City, including the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island, as well as Nassau and Suffolk Counties. We take on tough cases involving serious injuries caused by security failures—and we hold property owners and businesses accountable.

How Is Negligent Security Defined In New York

Negligent security is a type of premises liability claim. It arises when a property owner, landlord, or business fails to implement reasonable security measures, and someone gets injured as a result of foreseeable criminal activity. These cases often involve:

• Physical assaults in apartment buildings due to broken or malfunctioning locks
• Sexual assaults caused by inadequate building security or failed access controls
• Attacks at ATM machines with no security or lighting
• Injuries due to inadequate security staffing at concerts, stadiums, or sporting events
• Assaults by intruders in hotels, motels, or residential buildings with unsecured entrances
• Excessive force by bouncers or security guards at bars, nightclubs, or private venues

Property owners must anticipate risks and take reasonable steps to prevent harm. If they fail to do so, and you suffer injuries as a result, you may have a valid claim for negligent security.

Where Do Negligent Security Laws Apply?

Negligent security claims apply to many types of properties, including:

• Apartment buildings
• Hotels and motels
• Bars, clubs, and lounges
• Restaurants and retail stores
• Parking garages and lots
• ATM locations and banks
• Event venues, arenas, and stadiums

What Must You Prove In A NYC Negligent Security Case?

To win a negligent security claim, you must prove that:

1. The property owner or business owed you a duty of care
2. They breached that duty by failing to provide adequate security
3. The breach allowed a foreseeable criminal act to occur
4. You suffered injuries as a direct result of that breach

New York law requires property owners and businesses to take reasonable steps to prevent harm from foreseeable criminal conduct. Courts may hold owners liable if they had prior notice of security risks or failed to respond to warning signs.

For example, courts have awarded damages to patrons injured in assaults where:

• The owner failed to call the police despite prior warnings of potential violence
• The establishment failed to provide security despite a history of criminal incidents on site

When Can You Sue A Business For Bouncer Misconduct Or Excessive Force?

You may sue a bar, club, or security company for injuries caused by a bouncer or security guard if:

• The bouncer used excessive force
• The force was within the scope of their employment

Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, employers are vicariously liable for their employees’ actions when those actions are foreseeable and occur during the course of employment. If a bouncer or guard assaulted you while working and their conduct was foreseeable, you may recover compensation from the employer.

Can Tenants Sue Landlords Or Hotels For Inadequate Security?

Yes. Landlords and hotels must take minimal precautions to protect tenants and guests from foreseeable harm, including criminal conduct. You may have a strong negligent security claim if:

• Your building’s front door lock or intercom system wasn’t working
• An intruder entered the building through a negligently maintained entrance
• The landlord failed to fix a known security problem

To prove liability, you must show it was more likely than not that the attacker was an intruder who gained access due to negligent security. Courts won’t hold landlords responsible if another tenant let the assailant in—unless you can prove security failures allowed it.

Why Choose MJP Injury Law For Your Negligent Security Case?

We understand the complex laws surrounding negligent security in New York. We work with investigators, gather surveillance footage, and use witness testimony to establish the foreseeability of criminal acts and the failures of those responsible. Our goal is to maximize your recovery while holding negligent parties accountable.

Call MJP Injury Law today at 718-709-9678 or fill out our online form for a free consultation.

Let our experienced legal team fight to get you the compensation you deserve for injuries caused by negligent security in New York City and Long Island.