Negligent Security Lawyers

When you check into a hotel, park at a shopping center, or rent an apartment, you trust that the owner has taken basic steps to keep you safe. You assume the lights work. You assume the locks are secure. You assume that if the area is dangerous, they have hired security.

But when property owners prioritize profit over safety, criminals see an opportunity.

At Freeman Childers, we represent victims of assault, robbery, and shootings that occurred on unsafe commercial property. We don't just blame the criminal; we blame the landlord or business owner who created the environment that allowed the crime to happen.

The Legal Standard: "Foreseeability"

To win a negligent security case in Kentucky or Tennessee, we must prove that the crime was "Foreseeable."

• The "Crime Grid": We pull police reports for every crime committed at that location (and the surrounding 1-mile radius) for the past 3 years.

• The Pattern: If a gas station had 10 robberies in the last year and still didn't hire a guard or fix their cameras, the 11th robbery (yours) was foreseeable. The owner knew the danger and chose to ignore it.

Common "Danger Zones" We Investigate

We handle cases involving inadequate security at specific high-risk locations:

1. Hotels & Motels

Roadside motels along I-75 are frequent targets for crime.

• Broken Locks: Doors that don't self-latch or have broken deadbolts.

• Lack of Access Control: Side doors left propped open for anyone to walk in.

• Poor Lighting: Dark parking lots where guests are robbed while unloading luggage.

2. Apartment Complexes

Landlords have a duty to keep common areas safe.

• Broken Gates: Security gates that have been stuck open for months.

• Key Control: Failing to change locks between tenants, allowing a previous resident to enter your unit.

• Laundry Rooms: Isolated, unlit areas with no emergency call buttons.

3. Gas Stations & Convenience Stores

Late-night clerks and customers are vulnerable.

• Loitering: Owners who allow dangerous groups to gather in the parking lot without calling the police.

• ATM Safety: Placing ATMs in dark corners with no visibility.

The Evidence Disappears Fast

In a negligent security case, the evidence is often physical.

• Lighting Surveys: We measure the "foot-candles" of light in the parking lot to prove it was too dark to see an attacker.

• Camera Footage: Most security systems overwrite footage after 7-30 days. We send a Spoliation Letter immediately to force the owner to save the tape.

• Maintenance Logs: We check if they actually repaired the broken fence they promised to fix.

Assaulted on Someone Else's Property?

You are not just a victim; you are a survivor with rights. Call 606-528-1000 to hold the property owner accountable.