You should feel safe where you live. That’s not asking too much. When apartment owners skip essential security measures, and someone gets hurt because of it, Georgia law allows those victims to take legal action. Property owners have a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions. This includes protecting residents from foreseeable crimes. If you were attacked, robbed, or injured because your apartment complex didn’t provide adequate security, you might have a valid premises liability claim. Council & Associates, LLC represents Georgia residents who’ve been harmed by negligent property management. We understand how these cases work.
Establishing Landlord Liability For Security Failures
Not every crime that happens at an apartment complex creates legal liability. Georgia courts require you to prove specific things. First, the landlord needed to know about security risks. Or they should have known. This usually means showing a pattern of criminal activity on the property or nearby. Previous assaults, break-ins, or thefts demonstrate awareness of potential dangers. Second, the existing security measures weren’t good enough given those known risks. What’s considered reasonable depends entirely on context. A complex that’s seen multiple violent incidents needs stronger protections than one in a quiet, low-crime neighborhood. Third, you must connect the security failure directly to your injuries. The missing or broken security features need to have contributed to what happened to you.
Common Security Deficiencies In Apartment Complexes
Some security failures show up repeatedly in Georgia apartment complexes. These are the deficiencies that often lead to tenant injuries:
- Broken or missing locks on entrance doors and gates
- Security cameras that don’t work or don’t exist
- Poor lighting in parking lots, stairwells, and walkways
- Damaged windows or doors in common areas that never get fixed
- No security personnel despite high crime rates in the area
- Broken fencing that lets anyone walk onto the property
A Stonecrest premises liability lawyer can review your situation and determine whether the security failures at your complex meet Georgia’s legal standards for negligence.
Foreseeability Matters In Georgia Cases
Here’s what Georgia courts really care about: Was the criminal activity foreseeable? If similar crimes happened repeatedly at your apartment complex or right around it, the landlord should’ve seen it coming. They should’ve done something about it. Police reports matter here. So do crime statistics for the surrounding area. Your attorney can pull records showing the crime history at your complex and in nearby neighborhoods. This information proves the property owner either knew about security threats or reasonably should have known.
Types Of Compensation Available
When you’re a victim of crime at an apartment complex with inadequate security, you can seek compensation for several types of harm. Medical expenses come first. That’s everything from emergency treatment and surgery to ongoing therapy and future care needs. You can also recover lost income for the time you couldn’t work during recovery. Pain and suffering account for both physical injuries and the emotional trauma you’ve experienced. If your property was damaged or stolen during the incident, that’s compensable too. And if you’re dealing with permanent disability or disfigurement from the attack, those damages factor into your claim as well.
Time Limits For Filing Your Claim
Georgia doesn’t give you forever to file a premises liability lawsuit. Most cases must be filed within two years of your injury date. Miss that deadline and you’ve lost your right to compensation. It doesn’t matter how strong your case is. There’s another reason to act quickly. Evidence disappears. Security footage gets deleted or recorded over. Witnesses move to different cities. Memories get fuzzy. Starting the legal process early means preserving the evidence you’ll need. A Stonecrest premises liability lawyer can begin collecting evidence right away and build the strongest possible case while everything’s still fresh.
Taking Action Against Negligent Property Owners
Inadequate security at your apartment complex shouldn’t cost you your safety, your health, or your financial stability. Georgia law recognizes that property owners who fail to provide reasonable protection against foreseeable crimes can be held accountable. Start by documenting everything related to your incident. Take photos of security deficiencies. Keep your police report. Save all medical records. Then reach out to an attorney who knows Georgia premises liability law inside and out. They’ll evaluate your specific circumstances and help you understand your options for moving forward.
