How Prior Crime Makes an Attack Foreseeable
A central question in most negligent security cases is whether the owner should have seen the danger coming. Often, the answer lies in the property's history.
A history of crime is notice
When a property has a record of prior assaults, robberies, or frequent police calls, the owner is on notice that crime is a real risk. That knowledge is often what makes a later crime foreseeable — and inadequate security unreasonable.
The owner’s own records matter
Beyond area crime statistics, a property's own incident reports, complaints, and security assessments can show what it knew and what it chose to do — or not do — about the danger.
This evidence can disappear
Crime histories, complaints, and especially camera footage can be lost over time, and footage is often overwritten within days. Gathering it quickly is one of the most important early steps.
How the investigation works
Establishing foreseeability is our job, not yours. We obtain the crime history and the property's records and work with the evidence to show what the owner knew, handling it so you do not have to.
Frequently asked questions
How would anyone know if a property had prior crime?
Through police records for the area and the property's own incident reports and complaints. Obtaining that history is part of the investigation, and it often shows the owner was on notice of the danger.
This article is general information about Negligent Security injury law, not legal advice. Every case is different — talk to a lawyer about your situation.
The law depends on your state
The steps above apply wherever you were hurt. Filing deadlines, fault rules, and limits on damages differ by state — pick yours for what applies to negligent security.
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