Nashville Negligent Security Lawyer Attacked Where You Should Have Been Safe?
If you were assaulted, robbed, or shot at an apartment complex, hotel, bar, parking garage, or store, the property owner may be legally responsible for failing to protect you. Former prosecutor Tim Gilbert holds negligent property owners accountable — and goes after the insurance coverage that can actually pay for your recovery.
- No fee unless we win
- Free, confidential consultation
- Available 24/7
- Former prosecutor & insurance defense attorney
When a Property Owner’s Shortcuts Open the Door to Violent Crime
Negligent security is a type of premises liability claim. It applies when someone is hurt by a criminal act that the property owner or manager could have reasonably prevented — with working locks, adequate lighting, functioning cameras, trained security staff, or a simple warning.
Under Tennessee law, businesses and property owners have a duty to take reasonable steps to protect people on their property from criminal acts that are foreseeable. Prior crimes on or near the property, earlier complaints, and the nature of the business all bear on whether an attack should have been anticipated.
The person who attacked you is still responsible for what they did. But they are rarely identified, rarely insured, and rarely able to pay. A negligent security claim focuses on the party that had the power to prevent the attack — and the insurance policy that covers it.
Negligent Security Cases We Handle in Nashville
Violent crime on commercial and residential property is often a security problem the owner already knew about.
Apartment Complexes
Broken gates, burned-out lights, and unsecured breezeways. Landlords who control common areas must address known dangers there.
Hotels & Motels
Unsecured room access, unmonitored hallways, and properties with a history of police calls.
Parking Lots & Garages
Poor lighting, dead cameras, and no patrols in places where robberies and carjackings are predictable.
Bars, Clubs & Venues
Inadequate or untrained security staff, overcrowding, and failure to stop fights before they turn violent.
Gas Stations & Convenience Stores
Late-night locations with repeated robberies and no meaningful changes to protect customers.
Shopping Centers & Retail
Large properties that cut security budgets despite ongoing crime in their lots and storefronts.
What We Have to Prove — and How We Prove It
Duty
You were lawfully on the property — as a tenant, guest, customer, or patron — and the owner or manager controlled it.
Foreseeability
We pull police call logs, crime data, incident reports, and complaints to show the danger was known or should have been.
Breach
The owner failed to take reasonable precautions: repairs, lighting, cameras, guards, or warnings.
Causation & Damages
Reasonable security would likely have prevented or reduced the harm, and you suffered real injuries and losses.
Surveillance Video Can Be Erased in Days
Many systems record over footage automatically. The sooner we send a preservation demand, the better your chance of keeping the evidence that proves your case.
Could You Have a Negligent Security Case?
Check anything that applies. This isn't legal advice, just a quick way to see whether your situation is worth a free conversation.
Every case is different. Even if you only check one box, call us. We’ll tell you honestly whether we can help.
A Former Prosecutor Who Knows How Crimes Are Investigated
He knows the criminal side.
As a former prosecutor, Tim knows how police reports, detective files, 911 records, and criminal cases are built — and how to use them to prove an attack was foreseeable.
He knows the insurer’s playbook.
As a former insurance defense attorney, Tim saw how property owners and their insurers try to shift blame to the attacker or the victim. He knows how to answer those arguments.
He actually tries cases.
Insurers value cases based on whether your lawyer will go to trial. Tim has tried cases before judges and juries, and the other side knows it.
You work with him directly.
No hand-offs to case managers. You get Tim’s attention, honest answers, and no fee unless we win.
How Property Owners Try to Avoid Responsibility
Property owners and their insurers defend these claims aggressively. Expect to hear:
“Only the criminal is to blame.”
Our answerTennessee law lets a jury weigh the owner’s fault alongside the attacker’s.
“We couldn’t have seen it coming.”
Our answerPrior incidents and police records often tell a different story.
“It was your fault.”
Our answerTennessee uses modified comparative fault — you can recover as long as you are less than 50% at fault.
“The video is gone.”
Our answerThat’s why an early preservation letter matters.
Tennessee’s Filing Deadline for Negligent Security Claims
Tennessee gives injury victims one of the shortest filing windows in the country. Miss it, and you will likely lose your right to recover — no matter how strong your case.
In some cases where the attacker is criminally charged, Tennessee law may extend the deadline to two years. The rules are technical, so don’t rely on the extension without talking to a lawyer first.
Your Rights as a Crime Victim Go Beyond the Criminal Case
A criminal prosecution punishes the offender. It usually does not pay your medical bills or replace your income. A civil negligent security claim is separate from the criminal case: you do not need the attacker to be caught, charged, or convicted to pursue the property owner.
Tennessee also runs a state Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund that may help eligible victims with certain expenses. We can help you understand how that fund, a civil claim, and any criminal restitution fit together so you don’t leave money on the table.
Negligent Security Questions, Answered
Can I sue if the person who attacked me was never caught?
Yes. A negligent security claim is against the property owner or manager for their own failure to provide reasonable security. The attacker does not have to be identified for you to pursue that claim.
Does the attacker have to be convicted first?
No. Your civil case is separate from any criminal case and uses a lower standard of proof. A conviction can be helpful evidence, but it is not required.
Can I sue my landlord for a crime at my apartment complex?
Often, yes. Landlords who control common areas — parking lots, gates, hallways, stairwells — can be responsible when they ignore known security problems such as broken locks, poor lighting, or a history of crime on the property.
Who can be held responsible?
Depending on the facts, the property owner, property management company, security contractor, or business operating on the premises may share responsibility. We investigate every party that had a hand in security.
What if I was partly at fault?
Tennessee follows modified comparative fault. You can still recover as long as you are less than 50% at fault, though your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.
How much does it cost to hire you?
Nothing up front. We handle negligent security cases on a contingency fee basis — no fee unless we win. Your first consultation is free and confidential.
How long do I have to file?
Generally one year from the date of the attack in Tennessee. In some cases involving criminal charges, it may be two years. Because evidence like surveillance video disappears quickly, contact a lawyer as soon as possible.
You Deserved to Be Safe. Let’s Hold Them Accountable.
Talk with Nashville negligent security lawyer Tim Gilbert today. Free, confidential, and available 24/7.