Last Updated September 19, 2026
Short answer
A property owner or occupier is not automatically liable because a crime occurred on the premises. A negligent-security claim depends on the duty imposed by applicable state law, whether the criminal conduct was sufficiently foreseeable, whether reasonable security measures were required, and whether a failure contributed to the injury.
Assaults, robberies, and other violent incidents at apartments, hotels, parking areas, stores, or other properties can raise questions about the property owner’s legal duties in addition to the attacker’s responsibility. The answer depends heavily on the facts and on whether Alabama or Georgia law applies.
How State Law Affects the Duty to Provide Security
Alabama generally does not impose a duty to protect someone from a third party’s criminal acts unless a recognized special relationship or special circumstances create that duty. Foreseeability of the criminal conduct is central to that analysis.
Georgia premises-liability law also considers whether third-party criminal conduct was reasonably foreseeable and whether the proprietor had reason to anticipate the risk. Georgia courts evaluate foreseeability based on the totality of circumstances relevant to the premises.
Prior incidents can be important in either state, but the complete factual context matters.
The Attacker and the Property Owner Involve Different Claims
A criminal case against the attacker is separate from a civil premises claim. A claim against a property owner must independently establish the legal duty, breach, causation, and damages required by applicable law.
How a claim often moves
- 1
Get medical care and a police report.
- 2
Write down the exact place, the lighting, and anyone who saw it.
- 3
Keep clothing and shoes if they were torn or bloody.
- 4
Speak with an attorney before you give a recorded statement to the property’s insurer.
How Brock & Stout can help
We can investigate the property, prior incidents and complaints, available security measures, police records, video, and medical evidence and evaluate whether the facts support a negligent-security claim under the applicable state law. Contact us for a free consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Personal injury claims are subject to filing deadlines, and the deadline that applies can depend on the facts of the case. Different notice requirements may apply depending on who is involved. Do not use this website to calculate a filing deadline. Speak with an attorney promptly.
No. The claim still has to show the owner or operator failed to use reasonable care and that the failure matters. A crime on the lot is the start of the facts, not the end of the law.
Related resources
- Claims Against the Government — Claims Against the Government
Claims involving a city, county, state agency, or the federal government can be subject to special notice requirements, immunity rules, and procedures that do not apply to an ordinary private-party injury claim. Those requirements can begin before a lawsuit is filed, so prompt legal review is important.
- Evidence in Injury Claims — Evidence in Injury Claims
Evidence is how you show what happened and how you were hurt. Photos, reports, medical records, and witnesses are the usual core. Some evidence, like store video, is overwritten on a short cycle. Ask for it promptly.
- Psychological Effects After an Injury — Psychological Effects After an Injury
A traumatic event can be followed by anxiety, depression, sleep problems, post-traumatic stress, or other psychological symptoms. A qualified healthcare professional should evaluate and diagnose those conditions. When psychological harm is documented and connected to an injury-causing event, it may become part of a personal injury claim.
- Slip and Fall Injury Claims — Slip and Fall Injury Claims
You may have a claim if a property owner or occupier failed to use reasonable care and that failure caused your fall. Wet floors, broken stairs, poor lighting, and unmarked hazards are common fact patterns. Falling is not enough by itself. The owner’s knowledge of the hazard often matters.
- Traumatic Brain Injury After an Accident — Traumatic Brain Injury After an Accident
A traumatic brain injury affects how the brain works and can result from a bump, blow, jolt, or penetrating injury. Symptoms and severity vary, and medical professionals are responsible for diagnosis and treatment. In a personal injury claim, medical records and evidence of changes in work, school, relationships, or daily functioning may become important.
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This page is general educational information about personal injury claims as of the date shown. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not guarantee a result. Facts, insurance coverage, and state law vary. Do not use this website to calculate a filing deadline. Personal Injury Knowledge Center
