By Christopher Dyer, Partner at Lucas, Macyszyn & Dyer Injury Attorneys · Member, The Florida Bar · Last updated October 13, 2026
If you were assaulted or hurt by someone else’s crime on a property, at an apartment complex, a parking lot, a store, or a hotel, the property owner may share responsibility if inadequate security helped make it possible. This is called negligent security, and here is how these claims work in Florida.
When a property owner may be liable
Property owners have a duty to take reasonable steps to keep visitors safe, and that can include security when crime is foreseeable. Inadequate security might look like broken or missing lighting, a broken gate or lock, no cameras where they are expected, or ignored prior incidents in the area. Florida addresses premises liability for third-party crimes, including a specific framework for multifamily residential properties (Fla. Stat. § 768.0706), so how these claims are evaluated can depend on the type of property and the security measures in place.
1. Get to safety and report the crime
Your safety comes first. Call 911, get medical care, and make sure the crime is reported to police, since that report is important evidence. Report it to the property or business management too.
2. Preserve the evidence
Photograph the conditions that contributed, the broken lighting, the failed gate or lock, and note anything you know about prior incidents there. Security-camera footage, if it exists, can be crucial and is often overwritten quickly, so it helps to have an attorney request it promptly. Fault can be shared under comparative negligence (Fla. Stat. § 768.81).
What to do next
Get to safety, get medical care, and make sure police document the crime.
Photograph the security conditions that contributed.
Note prior incidents and identify any cameras before footage is lost.
Talk to a local attorney, who can move quickly to preserve evidence.
Frequently asked questions
Can a property owner be responsible for a crime someone else committed? Sometimes. If crime was foreseeable and the owner failed to take reasonable security measures, they may share responsibility. Florida sets out a framework for these claims, including for multifamily residential properties under Fla. Stat. § 768.0706.
What counts as inadequate security? Common examples include broken or missing lighting, a broken gate or lock, missing cameras where they are expected, and ignoring a known pattern of crime.
Why does timing matter so much? Security-camera footage is often overwritten within days. Acting quickly gives the best chance to preserve it.
Talk to a real attorney, free
If you or someone you love was hurt because of inadequate security in New Port Richey or anywhere in Pasco County, we are ready to help. Get a free case evaluation: no pressure, no obligation, and no fee unless we win your case. (Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.)
Christopher Dyer is a partner at Lucas, Macyszyn & Dyer Injury Attorneys and a member of The Florida Bar. The firm has more than 20 years of experience and has recovered over $100 million for injured clients across West Central Florida.
This article is general information about Florida law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different. Talk to an attorney about your specific situation.
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