What to Do After a Crime on a Property
What happened was not your fault, and there is no single right way to respond. If it helps, here are some steps you can consider, with your safety and wellbeing first.
Get to safety and get care
Your safety and medical care come first. Get help right away, and keep the records, which also document the harm for any claim.
Report the crime if you choose
Reporting to the police can help create a record, though a civil claim does not depend on charges or a conviction. Whether to report is your choice.
Note the property and conditions
If you are able, note the property and owner, and anything about the security — lighting, locks, gates, cameras, or the absence of staff. Photograph the conditions if it is safe to.
Keep names and records
Get names and numbers for any witnesses, and keep anything related — reports, receipts placing you there, or messages. You do not need to gather evidence yourself, but what you have can help.
Talk to someone about your options
A free, confidential conversation can explain your options and take on the investigation from there — including obtaining the property's crime history and records.
The deadlines and rules depend 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.
Not sure where you stand?
A quick, confidential review can tell you — about two minutes, no cost, no obligation.
This is general information, not legal advice. Every situation is different, and the law differs by state.