Austin Negligent Security Lawyer

Legal Help After A Crime On Unsafe Property

When a property owner in Austin fails to provide basic safety measures, innocent visitors, tenants, and patrons pay the price. Being the victim of a violent crime—whether an assault, robbery, or physical attack—leaves physical and psychological scars that can last a lifetime. While the criminal justice system focuses on prosecuting the perpetrator, it does not compensate you for your medical bills, lost income, or emotional trauma.

At the Law Offices Of Vic Feazell, P.C., we hold negligent property owners, corporate landlords, and security companies accountable when their failure to secure a building or business premises leads to preventable harm. Led by former District Attorney Vic Feazell—a trial attorney recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records for winning a record-setting $58 million libel verdict—our legal team brings relentless investigation and courtroom authority to complex premises liability claims across Central Texas.

Why Choose Our Legal Team for Your Security Claim:

• Decades of High-Stakes Litigation Experience: Former prosecutor Vic Feazell and our litigation team understand how to gather police reports, analyze crime grids, and establish criminal foreseeability.
• Million-Dollar Results: Our firm has recovered multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death victims across Texas.
• No Out-of-Pocket Costs: We work on a strict contingency fee basis. You pay no upfront retainers or legal fees unless we successfully recover financial compensation on your behalf.

Contact our firm today at (254) 938-6885 to schedule a free consultation.

Understanding Negligent Security in Texas

Negligent security is a subset of premises liability law. It is based on the principle that property owners and managers have a legal duty to provide "reasonable" security measures to protect lawful visitors from foreseeable criminal acts by third parties.

In Austin’s rapidly growing landscape, from the bustling nightlife of 6th Street to the expanding residential complexes in North Austin, the definition of "reasonable" changes based on the location and the history of crime in the area. If a business knows—or should have known—that crime was a risk and failed to act, they may be liable for the resulting damages.

Properties That Require Security

Not every property requires a 24/7 armed guard, but certain environments carry a higher "duty of care" due to their nature or history. Common Austin locations where negligent security often occurs include:

• Apartment Complexes and Gated Communities: Landlords must ensure that gates, door locks, and common area lighting are functional.
• Hotels and Motels: Guests have a right to expect secure room entries and monitored hallways.
• Parking Garages and Lots: Dimly lit or unmonitored parking structures are prime locations for robberies and physical assaults.
• Shopping Centers and Malls: High-traffic retail areas require adequate patrol to deter shoplifters and protect patrons.
• Bars and Nightclubs: Establishments serving alcohol have a heightened responsibility to manage crowd control and prevent violent altercations.
• Banks and ATMs: Financial institutions must provide visibility and security for customers handling cash.
• Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities: Patients and staff require protection from unauthorized visitors in sensitive areas.

Common Examples of Inadequate Security

Negligent security isn't always about what a property owner did; it’s usually about what they failed to do. At Law Offices Of Vic Feazell, P.C., we investigate cases involving:

• Broken or Non-Existent Locks: Failure to repair broken window latches or door locks in residential or hotel settings.
• Inadequate Lighting: Dark stairwells, alleys, or parking lots that provide cover for criminal activity.
• Lack of Security Cameras: Failing to install or maintain CCTV systems that could deter or record criminal acts.
• Poorly Trained Security Guards: Hiring "security" personnel who lack the training to intervene or who fail to patrol the premises as required.
• Failure to Warn: Not notifying residents or patrons about a recent string of crimes in the immediate vicinity.
• Unsecured Perimeter: Broken fences or gates that allow unauthorized individuals easy access to private property.

Who is Liable for Negligent Security?

Determining liability in an Austin negligent security case requires a deep dive into ownership and management structures. Depending on the circumstances, the following parties may be held responsible:

• Property Owners: The entity that owns the land or building is primary in the line of responsibility.
• Property Management Companies: These firms are often hired to handle day-to-day operations, including maintenance and security protocols.
• Security Companies: If a third-party security firm was contracted to provide guards or monitoring and failed to perform their duties, they may be sued for negligence.
• Business Tenants: In some commercial leases, the specific business (like a retail store or restaurant) is responsible for the security within their leased space.

To win a case, our legal team must prove that the crime was foreseeable. This usually involves analyzing "crime grids" from the Austin Police Department to show that the area had a history of similar incidents, making the property owner’s failure to upgrade security a clear act of negligence.

Negligent Security FAQs

What do I have to prove to win a negligent security case?

You must generally prove four elements:

1. You were lawfully on the property.
2. The owner had a duty to provide reasonable security.
3. They breached that duty.
4. The breach directly led to your injuries from a foreseeable criminal act.

Can I sue if the criminal was never caught?

Yes. A premises liability lawsuit is a civil matter against the property owner, not a criminal case against the perpetrator. While a criminal conviction can help your case, it is not required to seek compensation from the landlord or business owner.

How much is my case worth?

The value depends on the severity of your injuries, the degree of negligence shown by the property owner, and the long-term impact on your life. Compensation can cover medical expenses, therapy, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering.

Is there a time limit to file a claim in Austin?

In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims (including negligent security) is generally two years from the date of the incident. However, you should act much faster to ensure evidence like surveillance footage is preserved.

A Reputation Built Under National Scrutiny

Vic Feazell's career has been examined by more than local press. He was featured in Netflix's true crime docuseries The Confession Killer, profiled by 60 Minutes and ABC's 20/20, and his early work as McLennan County's youngest-ever District Attorney remains part of the public record. For clients evaluating who should investigate a crime that happened on someone else's property, that level of public accountability is a meaningful signal — this is a firm whose track record has been reported on, not just self-published.

Rooted in Austin and Central Texas Since 2005

Founded by Vic Feazell in 2005, our firm has spent nearly two decades representing injured Texans, with a dedicated office at 6618 Sitio Del Rio Blvd. in Austin. That local presence matters in negligent security cases, where proving foreseeability often depends on knowing a property's history, its neighborhood, and how Austin PD crime data applies to a specific address. We're not reviewing your case from out of state — we're working from inside the community where the incident happened.

Real Results for Real Victims

While every negligent security case is different, our firm's overall case history reflects a pattern of pursuing full accountability rather than early settlements — including recoveries of $11 million in a catastrophic injury matter and $1 million in a wrongful death case. We bring that same standard to every negligent security claim: thorough investigation, aggressive negotiation, and a willingness to go to trial when a property owner or insurer refuses to take responsibility.

To speak with our team, call (254) 938-6885 today.