Apartment Complexes and Shopping Centers: The Hidden Dangers of Inadequate Security

Falodun Law
Oct 5
3 min read

Updated: 2d

Inside a dimly lit parking garage with cars and bright light from exit

When you enter an apartment complex, shopping center, or parking garage, you expect one simple thing — to feel safe. But too often, property owners cut corners on security, ignore warning signs, or fail to fix dangerous conditions that put lives at risk.

At Falodun Law, we’ve seen how these lapses can lead to devastating assaults, robberies, or even shootings. Victims are left traumatized, struggling with medical bills, emotional pain, and a sense of betrayal — all because someone else failed to take reasonable precautions.

Understanding Negligent Security

Negligent security falls under premises liability law, which holds property owners responsible for maintaining reasonably safe conditions. This duty doesn’t just mean fixing broken stairs or cleaning up spills — it includes providing adequate security when crimes are foreseeable.

Examples of negligent security:

Apartment buildings with repeated break-ins but no working security cameras.
Shopping centers that ignore prior assaults in parking lots.
Hotels with unlocked or poorly lit entrances.

In these situations, owners and management companies may be legally liable for failing to protect residents and guests.

The Role of Foreseeability

The key question in negligent security cases is foreseeability — could the crime have been reasonably anticipated?

Courts in Maryland and D.C. often consider:

Prior criminal incidents on or near the property.
The type of business and its known risks.
Complaints or reports that management ignored.
Whether safety measures (lighting, locks, guards, or cameras) were in place.

If the danger was foreseeable and preventable, the law allows victims to seek compensation through a civil lawsuit.

Common Security Failures

Negligent security can take many forms, including:

Broken gates or doors that allow intruders access.
Insufficient lighting in stairwells or parking lots.
Lack of surveillance cameras or monitoring.
Untrained or absent security guards.
Ignoring tenant complaints or prior threats.

These are not small oversights — they are failures that can lead directly to injury or loss of life.

Who Can Be Held Responsible?

Depending on the facts, several parties may share liability, including:

Property owners or landlords who failed to maintain safety measures.
Management companies that ignored tenant complaints.
Security contractors who didn’t perform their duties.

At Falodun Law, we conduct thorough investigations — reviewing police reports, prior incident logs, maintenance records, and surveillance footage — to hold every responsible party accountable.

What to Do If You’ve Been a Victim of Negligent Security

If you were attacked or injured on someone else’s property, take these steps immediately:

Call the police and get a copy of the report.
Seek medical attention right away.
Document everything — photos, videos, witness names.
Report the incident to management in writing.
Contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible.

🎯 Evidence disappears quickly — surveillance footage is often erased within days. Acting fast can protect your rights.

How Falodun Law Can Help

We believe that no one should suffer because of another’s negligence. Our firm fights to secure full compensation for:

Medical expenses and future care.
Lost wages and loss of earning capacity.
Pain, suffering, and emotional trauma.
Security and counseling costs for victims rebuilding their lives.

Whether you were attacked in a parking garage, apartment hallway, or shopping plaza, we’ll stand by your side — demanding justice and accountability from those who failed to protect you.