Negligent Security
Negligent Security Lawyer in Phoenix
Premises Liability Claims for Preventable Crimes in Phoenix
When a property owner fails to provide reasonable security and someone is harmed as a result, that failure can form the basis of a legal claim. Rafi Law Group represents Phoenix-area clients injured because of negligent or inadequate security, treating these cases as a distinct category within our premises liability practice alongside slip and fall and dog bite claims.
Negligent security is a premises liability claim. It arises when a property owner’s failure to maintain reasonable security measures allows a foreseeable crime to occur and someone is hurt because of it. The property owner doesn’t have to commit the crime to be held responsible.
If you were injured due to inadequate security on someone else’s property, call us at to discuss what happened and whether you may have a claim.
What Counts as a Negligent Security Failure
Property owners owe visitors a duty of reasonable care to maintain safe premises. When they cut corners on security, the results can be devastating. Common failures that give rise to a claim include:
- Inadequate or broken lighting in parking areas, stairwells, and entryways
- Insufficient or poorly trained security staff who can’t identify or respond to threats
- Malfunctioning locks or access-control systems that allow unauthorized entry
- Ignored prior incidents where the owner knew crimes had occurred on the property and took no corrective action
That last point matters more than many people realize. A property owner who knew about prior criminal activity and did nothing to address it may have a harder time arguing the harm was unforeseeable.
Where These Claims Commonly Arise
Certain property types generate negligent security claims far more often than others, typically because of high foot traffic, transient visitors, or understaffed security operations. Claims frequently arise at apartment complexes, parking lots and garages, hotels, bars and nightclubs, and shopping centers. Each involves a property owner or operator with a legal obligation to protect the people on their premises.
Who Can Be Held Liable
Liability in a negligent security case doesn’t always fall on a single party. Depending on how the property is managed and what security arrangements are in place, responsibility may extend to the property owner, a landlord or property management company, or a contracted security company that failed to perform its duties. In some cases, more than one party shares fault.
How Arizona Law Applies to These Cases
Property owners in Phoenix carry a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions for visitors. In Arizona premises liability cases, establishing that duty was breached requires showing one of three things: the property owner created the dangerous condition, the owner knew the condition existed, or the condition existed long enough that the owner should have discovered it. These same standards apply directly to security failures.
Foreseeability plays a central role. When prior similar incidents occurred on a property and the owner took no action, courts weigh that history in determining whether reasonable security measures should have been in place. Cases arising from negligent security are generally tried in Maricopa County Superior Court.
Arizona’s Comparative Negligence Rule & Filing Deadline
Arizona follows a comparative negligence rule, which means an injured person can recover damages even if they were partly at fault. Compensation is reduced in proportion to their share of responsibility, but a partial fault finding doesn’t end the case.
The filing deadline matters. Under Arizona Revised Statutes 12-542, personal injury claims, including those based on negligent security, must be filed within two years of the date of injury. Waiting too long can forfeit the right to seek compensation, so speaking with an attorney as soon as possible is important.
Rafi Law Group: Arizona Premises Liability Attorneys
Founded by Brandon B. Rafi in 2015, we have grown into one of Arizona’s larger personal injury practices, with 25 attorneys and more than 250 support staff serving clients across the state. We’ve recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for injured Arizonans and served more than 50,000 clients at offices in Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma, and beyond.
Premises liability cases built on negligent security failures require careful investigation: preserving surveillance footage, documenting lighting conditions, obtaining prior incident reports, and identifying every responsible party before they can respond. Our team moves quickly on all of it.
Talk to a Phoenix Negligent Security Attorney at No Cost
We handle negligent security claims on a contingency-fee basis, meaning there’s no fee unless we recover compensation for you. Our team is available 24/7, and we offer bilingual English and Spanish legal services to serve the full Phoenix community.
Contact Rafi Law Group at to get started. We can review your situation, explain your options, and discuss where your case stands.