Negligent Security Clients who meant business, and the results show it

Virginia Beach Negligent Security Lawyer

Holding Property Owners Accountable

If you were attacked or assaulted on someone else's property, the property owner may bear legal responsibility for what happened. When a business, landlord, or property owner fails to provide adequate security and that failure allows a crime to occur, victims have the right to pursue compensation, not just from the attacker, but from the party whose negligence made the attack possible.

Kalfus & Nachman PC represents victims of negligent security incidents across Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads, fighting to hold property owners and their insurers accountable for preventable harm. We’re backed by decades of experience, over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements, and a team of award-winning attorneys.

We handle claims arising from attacks and injuries at:

Apartment complexes and rental properties
Hotels and motels
Bars, clubs, and restaurants
Parking garages and surface lots
Shopping centers and retail stores
Convenience stores and gas stations
Entertainment venues and event spaces
The Virginia Beach Oceanfront and boardwalk area

Attacks that result from inadequate security are preventable. Call (855) 880-8163 or contact us online for a FREE consultation.

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Our Recent Case Results we mean business

Over a billion dollars recovered in settlements & Verdicts

$10.9 Million Traumatic Brain Injury
Settlement for our 2-year-old client who suffered a skull fracture and traumatic brain injury due to a faulty hotel balcony railing
$10.5 Million Truck Accident
Settlement for our client who suffered a traumatic brain injury from a truck accident
$7 Million Auto Accident
Settlement for our client who suffered severe and permanent back & spinal cord injuries resulting in paralysis
$5.147 Million Truck Accident
Settlement for our client who suffered a traumatic brain injury due to a tractor trailer accident
$2.15 Million Premises Liability
Settlement for our client who sustained multiple severe orthopedic injuries due to a ruptured steel tank
$2.1 Million Truck Accident
Settlement for our client who sustained multiple internal injuries as a result of a collision with a dump truck

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What Is Negligent Security?

Negligent security is a form of premises liability. Property owners and businesses that invite the public onto their premises have a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions, including taking appropriate measures to protect visitors from foreseeable criminal acts.

When a property owner knows, or should know, that criminal activity is a risk on their premises and fails to take reasonable precautions, they may be held liable when a crime occurs and someone is hurt. The claim is not against the attacker alone. It runs against the party whose failure to act created the conditions that allowed the crime to happen.

Proving a Negligent Security Claim

These cases turn on two related questions: was the crime foreseeable, and were the security measures in place adequate given that risk? A successful claim requires establishing:

Duty. The property owner owed you a duty of care as a visitor, tenant, customer, or guest.
Breach. The security measures in place were inadequate given the reasonably foreseeable risk of criminal activity at that location.
Causation. The inadequate security caused or allowed the attack to occur — reasonable security measures would have prevented or deterred it.
Damages. You suffered physical injuries, emotional harm, or other compensable losses as a result.

Foreseeability is typically the central disputed issue. Property owners and their insurers routinely argue that the crime was random and unpredictable.

Building the case means establishing what the owner knew or should have known, often by analyzing any prior incidents at the property, documented crime patterns in the area, prior complaints, and whether the owner took any meaningful steps in response.

Evidence That Matters in These Cases

Negligent security claims require a developed factual record. Important evidence includes:

Prior crime incidents reported at or near the property
911 call history and police reports for the location
Surveillance footage from the scene
Security staffing records and shift logs
Lighting conditions and maintenance records
Lock, access control, and entry point documentation
Management policies and written security procedures
Expert testimony on applicable industry security standards

Much of this evidence is in the possession of the property owner or their insurer. Securing it before it is lost, overwritten, or withheld is one of the most consequential early steps in these cases.

Compensation in a Negligent Security Case

If a property owner's failure to provide adequate security contributed to your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for:

Emergency medical treatment and ongoing care
Mental health treatment and therapy
Lost wages during recovery
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress and post-traumatic stress disorder
Permanent disability or impairment
Wrongful death damages when an attack proves fatal

How Long Do You Have to File?

Virginia's personal injury statute of limitations is generally two years from the date of the attack. Cases involving government-owned properties such as public housing, transit facilities, or public venues may involve notice requirements with significantly shorter windows.

Beyond the legal deadline, surveillance footage is frequently overwritten within days and security records can disappear quickly. Early legal review is essential to preserving the evidence these cases depend on.

Negligent Security FAQ

Can I Sue the Property Owner If the Attacker Is Also Facing Criminal Charges?

Yes. A civil negligent security claim against the property owner is entirely separate from any criminal prosecution of the attacker. The two proceedings run on different tracks, involve different standards, and do not affect each other. You do not need to wait for the criminal case to resolve before pursuing a civil claim.

What If There Had Been No Prior Crimes at That Property?

Prior incidents at the exact location strengthen a claim but are not always required. Crime patterns in the surrounding area, the nature of the business, and the owner's own awareness of security risks can all be relevant to foreseeability. The full circumstances are evaluated, not just the property's individual crime history.

What If I Was a Tenant Who Was Attacked at My Apartment Complex?

Landlords owe tenants a duty to maintain reasonably safe common areas and to address known security risks on the property. Broken entry locks, inadequate lighting in parking areas, and inoperative security systems are among the conditions that can support a negligent security claim by a tenant. Apartment complex cases are among the more common negligent security claims we handle.

What If the Attacker Was Never Identified or Caught?

The identity of the attacker is not required to pursue a negligent security claim. The claim is against the property owner, not the individual who committed the crime. The focus is on whether the owner's failure to provide adequate security allowed the attack to occur.

Call (855) 880-8163 For a FREE Consultation

When they fail that responsibility, Kalfus & Nachman PC holds them accountable. We represent negligent security victims across Virginia Beach and are ready to review your case.

Call (855) 880-8163 or contact us online for a FREE consultation. Se habla español.

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