Minneapolis Negligent Security Attorney

Accountability For Property Owners When Security Fails

When you visit an apartment complex, hotel, shopping center, parking ramp, bar, or any other property in Minneapolis, you have the right to expect reasonable safety. Property owners must take steps to protect guests, tenants, and customers from foreseeable harm. When they fail to provide adequate lighting, security staff, surveillance systems, or other basic protections, violent crimes and serious injuries can occur.

If you or a loved one were harmed because a property lacked proper safety measures, our Minneapolis negligent security lawyer at Butwinick Injury Law can help you pursue justice. Our firm fights for victims of shootings, assaults, robberies, and other preventable attacks caused by unsafe premises.

Contact us today at (763) 415-7462 to request a free case review with our team.

Common Forms of Security

Owners and managers of commercial and residential properties in Minneapolis must implement reasonable security measures. What qualifies as “reasonable” depends on the type of property, its location, and the likelihood of crime in the area. Common forms of security include:

• Adequate Lighting: Poor lighting in stairwells, hallways, parking lots, or entrances provides opportunities for crimes to occur unseen. Proper illumination is one of the simplest and most essential safety measures.
• Surveillance Cameras: Cameras deter criminal behavior and allow property owners to monitor activity. In many cases, criminals target properties with obvious gaps in surveillance.
• Security Guards or Staff: High-risk locations—such as bars, nightclubs, apartment complexes with prior incidents, or large public venues—often require trained security personnel.
• Controlled Access: Gated entry, key-card systems, locked exterior doors, and visitor screening can prevent unauthorized individuals from entering.
• Alarm Systems: Motion detectors, door alarms, panic buttons, and other alarm systems help alert staff or law enforcement to potential threats.
• Maintenance of Existing Security: Even when security equipment exists, it must be regularly inspected and repaired. Non-functional locks or cameras can be as dangerous as having no security at all.

Property owners must evaluate risks and take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable criminal activity. When they fail to do so, serious injuries can result.

When Is Security Necessary?

Not every property requires the same level of security, but many Minnesota property owners have a duty to implement safety measures under circumstances where harm is foreseeable.

• History of Crime on the Property: If assaults, robberies, or break-ins have happened before, owners must take greater precautions.
• High-Crime Neighborhoods: Areas with elevated crime rates typically require more robust security, such as surveillance cameras, controlled access, or security guards.
• Properties Open to the Public: Businesses that invite customers inside—like retail stores, gas stations, restaurants, or entertainment venues—owe a duty to provide a reasonably safe environment.
• Late-Night Operations: Bars, clubs, or 24-hour establishments have a greater responsibility to protect guests from violence and disorderly conduct.
• Residential Properties: Landlords must ensure tenants can safely enter and exit the building, access common areas, and remain secure inside their units.

Security becomes required when a reasonable property owner would foresee the possibility of harm and act to prevent it. When they do nothing—or not enough—victims may have a legal claim for negligent security.

Common Examples of Inadequate Security

Negligent security can take many forms. Some of the most common include:

• Broken or missing locks on exterior doors or apartment units
• Non-working or unmonitored surveillance cameras
• Inadequate lighting, especially in garages, walkways, and stairwells
• Lack of security guards at locations with a known risk of violent behavior
• Poorly trained or unqualified security staff
• Failure to control access, such as propped-open doors or malfunctioning key-card systems
• Ignoring prior incidents, such as assaults, threats, or suspicious activity
• Allowing overcrowding in bars or clubs, increasing the risk of fights and injuries

When these failures lead to assaults, shootings, robberies, sexual violence, or other criminal acts, the property owner may be held responsible for resulting injuries.

Who Is Liable for Negligent Security?

Minnesota law holds that property owners and managers must maintain reasonably safe premises. Liability may fall on:

• Commercial Property Owners: Shopping centers, retail stores, hotels, gas stations, and restaurants must take appropriate safety measures to protect guests.
• Landlords and Apartment Complex Owners: Residents have a right to safe living conditions, including secure entry points and functioning safety systems.
• Event or Venue Operators: Concerts, sports arenas, nightclubs, and other venues must manage large crowds and prevent foreseeable violence.
• Security Companies: If a third-party security firm fails to properly train or manage its employees, it may share liability.
• Property Management Companies: Managers responsible for maintenance, staffing, or day-to-day safety may be held accountable for negligence.

Our Minneapolis negligent security attorney can investigate the circumstances, gather evidence, review crime data, interview witnesses, and determine exactly who is responsible for the harm you suffered.

Negligent Security FAQs

What is a negligent security claim?

A negligent security claim arises when a property owner fails to provide reasonable safety measures, leading to a crime that causes injury. The claim focuses on the property owner’s negligence—not the criminal’s actions.

What types of compensation can I recover?

Victims may recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, future treatment, and more.

Do I need to prove the property owner knew about the danger?

Your attorney must show that harm was foreseeable, meaning the owner knew—or should have known—about the risks and failed to act.

What if the criminal was never caught?

You can still file a negligent security claim. Liability is based on the property owner’s actions, not the identity of the attacker.

How long do I have to file a negligent security case in Minnesota?

Minnesota’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally two years, though certain circumstances may affect this timeline.

To speak with a negligent security attorney about your situation, call (763) 415-7462 for a free, confidential consultation.