When a Property Owner's Negligence Put You in Danger, You Have the Right to Fight Back
If you were assaulted, robbed, or shot on someone else's property, the crime may not have been random — and the property owner may share the blame. Under Georgia law, property owners have a legal duty to provide adequate security when they know criminal activity is a risk. When they ignore that duty, they can be held liable for the harm that follows. The Foster Firm has represented crime victims across Atlanta, College Park, and Columbus for over 20 years, and we know how to build these cases.
What Is a Negligent Security Claim?
A negligent security claim is a type of premises liability case. It holds property owners, landlords, and managers legally responsible when their failure to provide reasonable security measures — working locks, functioning lights, security cameras, patrols — contributes to a violent crime on their property.
These claims arise in places where people should be able to expect a basic level of safety:
- Apartment complexes and residential communities
- Gas stations and convenience stores
- Hotels and motels
- Parking decks and surface lots
- Nightclubs and entertainment venues
- Shopping centers and retail properties
Georgia law does not require property owners to prevent every possible crime. But when criminal activity has occurred on or near a property before, and the owner does nothing to address the risk, they can be held accountable when someone is harmed as a result.
The Legal Standard: What Foreseeability Means for Your Case
The foundation of every negligent security case is foreseeability. To hold a property owner liable, we must show that they knew — or reasonably should have known — that criminal activity was a danger on their property, and that they failed to take adequate steps to address it.
Foreseeability is established through evidence: prior police reports, crime statistics for the area, incident logs from the property, complaints from tenants or guests, and any prior lawsuits or violations. If a parking deck had multiple robberies in the year before your assault, and the owner never added lighting or cameras, that history matters. It means the danger was foreseeable — and preventable.
When the property owner was on notice and still did nothing, it wasn't a random act. It was a failure with consequences, and Georgia law gives you a path to hold them accountable for it.
$1,000,000
Rideshare Accident Verdict. Client was seriously injured in a collision involving a rideshare vehicle. The case proceeded to trial, and the jury returned a seven-figure verdict.
What You Have to Prove — and How We Prove It
Negligent security cases require more investigation than most personal injury claims. We don't wait for the insurance company to set the terms. From the moment we take your case, we move to preserve evidence before it disappears.
Here is what a successful negligent security claim typically requires:
- A duty to provide security: The property owner had a legal obligation to maintain safe conditions for visitors, tenants, or guests.
- Prior criminal activity: Evidence that crime had occurred at or near the property before your incident, putting the owner on notice.
- Inadequate security measures: The owner failed to install or maintain reasonable protections — lighting, locks, cameras, patrols, or controlled access.
- Causation: The lack of adequate security directly contributed to the crime that harmed you.
- Documented damages: Medical bills, lost income, trauma treatment, and other losses resulting from the incident.
We handle the investigation, the evidence gathering, and the litigation. You focus on your recovery.
Who are the attorneys at The Foster Firm?
The Foster Firm is led by Keith Foster and his wife, [Second Attorney Name] Foster. Both are licensed personal injury attorneys in Georgia with over 20 years of combined practice at the firm. They handle cases personally and take cases to trial when insurance companies refuse to offer fair compensation.
Are The Foster Firm attorneys husband and wife?
Yes. Keith and [Second Attorney Name] Foster are a husband-and-wife attorney team who founded the firm together in 2004. This family-oriented structure means clients receive consistent, personal attention from the attorneys handling their case — not a rotating team of associates.
How long has The Foster Firm been in practice?
The Foster Firm was established in 2004 and has been serving personal injury clients in the greater Atlanta area for over 20 years. The firm has since expanded to serve clients in Douglasville and Columbus, Georgia.
Does The Foster Firm actually go to trial?
Yes. Unlike many personal injury firms that settle every case to avoid litigation, The Foster Firm regularly takes cases to trial. This willingness to litigate is a core part of how the firm secures stronger outcomes — insurance companies negotiate differently when they know your attorney will see them in court.
Who does The Foster Firm represent?
The Foster Firm represents injured adults throughout the greater Atlanta metro, including College Park, South Atlanta, and Douglasville, as well as clients in Columbus, Georgia. The firm has deep roots in the African American community in South Atlanta and College Park, and is committed to providing experienced legal representation to clients who have historically been underserved by the legal system.
Locations and Property Types We Handle Across Georgia
The Foster Firm represents negligent security victims throughout the Atlanta metro area and in Columbus. Our College Park and South Atlanta clients frequently bring cases involving apartment complex shootings, gas station robberies, and parking lot assaults — areas where property owners have long been on notice of elevated criminal activity and have repeatedly failed to respond.
We also represent clients in Douglasville and Columbus, where inadequate security at hotels, convenience stores, and residential properties creates the same pattern of preventable harm. If you were injured in any of these communities, you deserve an attorney who understands the local landscape and is prepared to take your case to trial if that is what it takes to get you a fair result.
Our negligent security practice covers:
- Apartment and housing complex shootings and assaults
- Hotel and motel attacks
- Gas station and convenience store robberies
- Parking deck and surface lot assaults
- Nightclub and bar violence
- Sexual assaults on commercial or residential property
Why The Foster Firm Handles These Cases Differently
Most personal injury firms settle quickly and move on. We built this firm on a different standard. As a husband-and-wife attorney team with over 20 years of practice, we have the courtroom experience and the case history to back up what we tell insurance companies and property owners: we will take this to trial.
That posture changes outcomes. When a defense team knows your attorney is willing to litigate, the settlement conversation starts from a different place. Our case results include million-dollar recoveries, and we have earned them by being willing to do the work most firms avoid.
We take negligent security cases on a contingency basis — no fees unless we win. Every case begins with a free consultation, and we handle everything from evidence preservation to expert witnesses to courtroom preparation so you never have to carry the weight of this process alone.
Every client we represent is a person, not a case number. We grew up in and around these communities. We understand what it means to be harmed in a place where you were supposed to be safe, and we take that personally.
Frequently Asked Questions About Negligent Security in Georgia
Can I sue a property owner if I was the victim of a crime on their property?
Yes, if the property owner failed to provide reasonable security and that failure contributed to the crime, you may have a valid negligent security claim under Georgia premises liability law. The key is demonstrating that the criminal activity was foreseeable — meaning the owner knew or should have known about the risk and failed to act.What if the person who attacked me is never caught or has no money?
The identity or financial status of the person who committed the crime does not determine whether you have a case. Negligent security claims are brought against the property owner or manager — not the attacker. In many cases, the property owner's insurance is the source of recovery.How do I prove the property owner knew about the risk?
We build foreseeability through evidence: prior police reports at or near the property, crime statistics for the area, tenant or guest complaints, maintenance records showing neglected security systems, and any prior incidents documented on the property. This is the investigative work we do on your behalf from the moment we take your case.What kinds of damages can I recover in a negligent security case?
Recoverable damages typically include medical expenses, lost wages, future medical treatment, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. In cases involving sexual assault or severe trauma, courts may also consider the long-term psychological impact as part of the damages calculation.How long does a negligent security case take to resolve?
The timeline depends on the complexity of the case, the strength of the evidence, and whether the property owner's insurer is willing to negotiate in good faith. Some cases resolve in months. Others require litigation and take longer. What we can tell you is that we do not pressure clients to accept inadequate settlements — we are prepared to go to trial when that is what it takes.
You Were Put in Danger. We Help You Hold the Right People Accountable.
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