Florida Negligent Security Attorney

I also served with the U.S. Army’s elite 3rd Ranger Battalion, where I was trained and worked as an EMT. That medical background gives me a deep understanding of the trauma caused in violent criminal attacks, from gunshot wounds to blunt force injuries, which strengthens the presentation of damages in every Florida negligent security case I handle.

What Is a Negligent Security Claim in Florida?

Under Florida law, property owners must take reasonable steps to protect tenants, guests, and customers from foreseeable criminal activity. A negligent security claim arises when a crime occurs on a property with inadequate or improperly maintained safety measures.

Common negligent security factors in Florida include:

• Poor or nonexistent lighting
• Broken gates, locks, or doors
• Unmonitored or nonworking security cameras
• Lack of security guards or improperly trained guards
• Uncontrolled access to buildings or parking lots
• Failure to respond to repeated prior crimes
• Failure to warn tenants or guests about known dangers

The key issue is “foreseeability,” meaning whether the property had a history of crime or warning signs the owner chose to ignore. When property owners fail to act, they may be legally responsible for the resulting injuries or death.

Common Locations for Negligent Security Incidents

Negligent security claims frequently arise at locations such as:

• Apartment complexes and gated communities
• Hotels, motels, and resorts
• Gas stations and convenience stores
• Parking lots and garages
• Nightclubs, bars, and restaurants
• Shopping centers and strip plazas
• College housing and dormitories
• Office buildings and business centers

These properties often show clear crime patterns , repeated robberies, assaults, shootings, and 911 calls, yet many owners fail to take the basic steps required to keep people safe.

How We Build Strong Negligent Security Cases

Our approach combines decades of litigation experience, my background as a former insurance-defense attorney, and my medical knowledge as an EMT-trained Army Ranger. We build negligent security cases with precision and thoroughness:

1. Rapid evidence recovery — securing surveillance footage, crime-scene photos, law enforcement records, and witness statements immediately.
2. Crime pattern analysis — obtaining police call logs, prior incident reports, and local crime grids to prove foreseeability.
3. Property-wide security assessment — evaluating lighting, access points, cameras, locks, gates, guard procedures, and maintenance history.
4. Medical and trauma documentation — using my EMT background to work with doctors and trauma specialists to document injuries and long-term damages.
5. Corporate responsibility investigation — identifying all liable entities: ownership groups, management companies, and contracted security providers.
6. Trial readiness — my law partner, Christian Van Riper, a former prosecutor, brings exceptional trial skill to every litigated case.

Insurance companies take our cases seriously because we prepare them as if every one will go before a jury.

Why Choose Tim Nies and Christian Van Riper of Van Riper & Nies Attorneys?

• Decades of personal injury and premises liability experience, both on the defense and victim side.
• Tim is a former insurance-defense attorney, who knows the defense strategies of Florida insurance companies from the inside.
• Tim is an Army Ranger veteran and EMT with a strong strong understanding of trauma and injury mechanisms.
• Proven experience in violent crime and negligent security cases across Florida.
• Former prosecutor (Christian Van Riper) provides unmatched courtroom strength.
• Direct access to your lawyers throughout your case; we thoroughly prepare clients for every event.
• Convenient offices in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, and Broward Counties.
• We handle negligent security cases on a contingency-fee basis. Meaning, you pay no fees or costs unless we win for you.

Florida Personal Injury Law Office Locations & Contact Information

Contact us for a free and confidential consultation at any of our South Florida offices: