blog home Premises Liability Nightclubs, Apartment Buildings, and Crime: Common Sites for Security Failures

Nightclubs, Apartment Buildings, and Crime: Common Sites for Security Failures

By Grant Law Office on May 16, 2025

Many criminal activities can be prevented when property owners take appropriate steps to maintain a safe environment. But when property owners fail to take sensible precautions, victims may have grounds for legal action under Georgia premises liability law.

If you were assaulted, robbed, or injured due to lax security, you may be able to file a claim against the property owner or manager for failing to protect you.

At Grant Law Office, we help injury victims understand their rights and pursue full compensation when unsafe premises and negligent security lead to harm.

Where Security Failures Most Commonly Happen in Atlanta

Atlanta is a dynamic, fast-growing city. Like people living in other large cities, Atlanta residents face growing concerns over crime and safety, especially in certain types of properties.

Apartment Complexes

Many apartment security lawsuits in Atlanta arise from incidents such as assaults, break-ins, and shootings that occur in and around residential properties. Tenants often assume that their buildings are safe, but that’s not always the case.

Common security failures in apartment buildings include:

• Broken gates or unsecured entrances
• Poor or no lighting in parking lots, stairwells, or hallways
• Lack of functioning surveillance cameras
• No security personnel on-site despite a known crime history
• Failure to respond to tenant complaints about safety

If a landlord knows about recurring criminal activity on or near the premises and does nothing to deter it, they can be liable for subsequent harm to tenants or their guests.

Nightclubs and Bars

Nightclub injury claims in Atlanta are common, especially because the over-serving of alcohol, poor crowd control, or fights erupting on the premises can contribute to an unsafe atmosphere.

It also doesn’t help when bar and club owners fail to hire trained security or enforce safety measures, especially during busy weekends or special events.

Typical examples of nightclub or bar security incidents include:

• Assaults by other patrons or staff
• Robberies in poorly lit parking areas
• Stampedes or trampling injuries during overcrowded events
• Inadequate bouncer or security personnel presence

When violence breaks out in a nightclub and a patron is hurt, the owners may try to shift the blame. But under Georgia law, owners, managers, and other personnel can still be held financially accountable for inadequate security that failed to prevent foreseeable danger.

Convenience Stores and Gas Stations

Late-night stores and gas stations in Atlanta often attract crime due to cash on hand and limited visibility. This is all the more reason property owners are responsible for keeping their locations reasonably safe, particularly if they operate in high-crime areas.

Security failures in convenience stores and gas stations may include:

• Lack of surveillance cameras
• Inoperative exterior lighting
• No security guard in place after dark
• Blocked sightlines to windows or exits

Victims of violent robberies or assaults may have strong claims if the property had a history of property crime in Atlanta and the business failed to implement basic safety measures.

Premises Liability Laws and Negligent Security

In Georgia, property owners have a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions for visitors, tenants, and customers. When injuries occur due to foreseeable criminal acts, this is known as negligent security, which is a form of premises liability.

To succeed in an Atlanta negligent security claim, the injured party must show:

1. The crime was foreseeable: There must have been prior criminal incidents on or near the property, or other indicators of risk.
2. The property owner failed to take reasonable precautions: Examples include not hiring security, failing to fix broken locks, or ignoring tenant complaints.
3. The injury occurred because of the lack of security: A direct link must be shown between the security lapse and the harm suffered.

When these elements are proven, the injured person can pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress, and other damages.

Landlord Responsibility in Georgia

Landlord responsibility in Georgia includes more than just providing a livable space. It extends to protecting tenants and lawful guests from known dangers, including crime.

Under Georgia law, landlords may be liable when they:

• Fail to repair broken gates, doors, or locks
• Ignore reports of suspicious activity or prior assaults
• Refuse to invest in basic crime deterrents (like lights and cameras)
• Continue to lease units in dangerous areas without warning tenants

An apartment security lawsuit in Atlanta may arise if a tenant is attacked in a building with a clear history of violent incidents and little to no security upgrades in place.

Why These Claims Are Different from Criminal Cases

It’s important to note that filing an Atlanta negligent security claim is not the same as pursuing criminal charges. In fact, your injury case is a civil matter, which is entirely separate from the criminal prosecution of the offender. This means:

• You don’t have to wait for a criminal conviction to pursue your claim.
• You can hold property owners financially accountable, even if the criminal is never caught.
• Your case is focused on proving negligence, not criminal intent.

In a civil lawsuit, the burden of proof is lower. Instead of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, your Atlanta negligent security attorney must only show that it is more likely than not that the property owner failed to meet their legal duty.

What to Do After a Security-Related Injury

If you’ve been injured due to a bar security incident, nightclub injury, an unsafe apartment complex, or any other type of incident that resulted from inadequate security on private property, there are important steps to take to help protect your claim:

1. Get medical attention immediately. Your health and safety are the top priority.
2. Report the incident to the police and property management. Create a record of the event.
3. Document the scene. Take photos or videos of lighting, security equipment, or signs of forced entry if safe to do so.
4. Identify witnesses. Their testimony could support your claim.
5. Contact an Atlanta premises liability attorney. The sooner you act, the better your chances of preserving evidence and building a strong case.

At Grant Law Office, we act quickly to investigate your claim, secure surveillance footage, gather maintenance records, and assess whether the crime was preventable.

Compensation Available in Negligent Security Cases

When a property owner or manager fails to provide adequate protection and someone is hurt as a result, the victim can seek compensation for:

• Emergency and long-term medical expenses
• Lost income and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Disability or disfigurement

Talk to an Experienced Atlanta Premises Liability Lawyer Today

At Grant Law Office, we provide aggressive representation for clients across the Atlanta metro area. With more than 60 years of combined experience, our husband-and-wife team knows how to hold negligent property owners accountable.

Wayne Grant has been selected as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Personal Injury Litigation by Best Lawyers and is proud to be named among the top 5 percent of attorneys in Georgia by Super Lawyers.

Call us today at (404) 995-3955 to schedule your free consultation. We’re ready to help you pursue justice and recover the compensation you deserve.