{"id":16649,"date":"2026-10-29T23:20:44","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T04:20:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/areas-served\/upper-darby\/upper-darby-pa-negligent-security-lawyer\/"},"modified":"2026-10-29T23:20:44","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T04:20:44","slug":"upper-darby-pa-negligent-security-lawyer","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/es\/areas-served\/upper-darby\/upper-darby-pa-negligent-security-lawyer\/","title":{"rendered":"Upper Darby PA: Abogado especializado en casos de seguridad negligente"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Upper Darby is one of the most densely populated townships in Pennsylvania, sitting just west of Philadelphia along the Route 3 corridor in Delaware County. Shopping centers, apartment complexes, parking lots, and entertainment venues line the 69th Street corridor and surrounding neighborhoods. When property owners at these locations fail to provide reasonable security, people get hurt. If you or someone you love was attacked, robbed, assaulted, or otherwise harmed on someone else&#8217;s property in Upper Darby, you may have a legal claim against the owner. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/\">Philadelphia personal injury lawyer<\/a> at MyPhillyLawyer can review your situation and help you understand your options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Table of Contents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#what-negligent-security-means-under-pennsylvania-law\">What Negligent Security Means Under Pennsylvania Law<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#upper-darby-properties-where-negligent-security-claims-commonly-arise\">Upper Darby Properties Where Negligent Security Claims Commonly Arise<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#how-to-prove-a-negligent-security-claim-in-pennsylvania\">How to Prove a Negligent Security Claim in Pennsylvania<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#damages-you-can-recover-in-an-upper-darby-negligent-security-case\">Damages You Can Recover in an Upper Darby Negligent Security Case<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#pennsylvanias-two-year-deadline-to-file-a-negligent-security-lawsuit\">Pennsylvania&#8217;s Two-Year Deadline to File a Negligent Security Lawsuit<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faqs-about-upper-darby-pa-negligent-security-claims\">FAQs About Upper Darby PA Negligent Security Claims<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-negligent-security-means-under-pennsylvania-law\">What Negligent Security Means Under Pennsylvania Law<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Negligent security is a type of premises liability claim. It applies when a property owner fails to provide adequate security measures, and that failure leads to a preventable crime or injury on their property. Pennsylvania law holds property owners and occupiers responsible for keeping their premises reasonably safe for visitors. That duty extends beyond fixing broken stairs or wet floors. It also includes protecting guests from foreseeable criminal acts by third parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The legal foundation comes from Pennsylvania&#8217;s premises liability doctrine, which classifies visitors as invitees, licensees, or trespassers. Customers at a store, shoppers at the 69th Street retail district, and tenants in an Upper Darby apartment building are typically considered invitees. Property owners owe invitees the highest duty of care. That means regularly inspecting the property, fixing known hazards, and maintaining security measures that match the risk level of the location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The key question in any negligent security case is foreseeability. Was the crime that occurred something the property owner reasonably should have anticipated? If the property had a history of prior incidents, if the surrounding area had elevated crime rates, or if the owner had received complaints about security problems, the answer is often yes. When a foreseeable crime causes injury because the owner ignored the warning signs, the law allows the victim to seek compensation from that owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Common security failures that give rise to these claims include broken or missing locks, burned-out lighting in parking lots and stairwells, malfunctioning or absent security cameras, lack of trained security personnel, and failure to respond to prior reports of criminal activity on the property. Any one of these failures, when connected to a crime that causes injury, can support a valid legal claim under Pennsylvania premises liability law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"upper-darby-properties-where-negligent-security-claims-commonly-arise\">Upper Darby Properties Where Negligent Security Claims Commonly Arise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Upper Darby&#8217;s dense commercial and residential environment creates numerous locations where inadequate security puts people at risk. The 69th Street Transportation Center, one of the busiest transit hubs in the Philadelphia region, draws thousands of people daily. Parking garages, transit platforms, and adjacent retail spaces all carry a duty to maintain adequate lighting, working surveillance systems, and appropriate security staffing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apartment buildings throughout Upper Darby are another frequent source of negligent security claims. Tenants have a right to expect that hallways, stairwells, laundry rooms, and parking lots are reasonably secure. When landlords ignore broken entry locks, skip camera maintenance, or fail to act after residents report suspicious activity, they breach their duty of care. If a tenant or guest is then assaulted, robbed, or otherwise harmed, the landlord may be held liable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hotels along West Chester Pike and Route 1 also carry security obligations to their guests. A hotel that fails to install adequate door locks, ignores reports of loitering in parking areas, or employs untrained security staff can face a negligent security claim when a guest is harmed. The same applies to bars, nightclubs, convenience stores, shopping centers, and entertainment venues throughout the township.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Schools and public gathering spaces carry their own security obligations as well. Any location that regularly invites the public onto its property and fails to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm can be held accountable. If you were injured at any of these types of locations in Upper Darby or the surrounding Delaware County area, the circumstances of your case deserve a serious legal review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-prove-a-negligent-security-claim-in-pennsylvania\">How to Prove a Negligent Security Claim in Pennsylvania<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Proving negligent security in Pennsylvania requires establishing four core legal elements. First, the property owner must have owed you a duty of care. If you were lawfully on the property as a customer, tenant, or guest, this element is generally satisfied. Second, the owner must have breached that duty by failing to provide reasonable security measures. Third, that breach must have directly caused your injuries. Fourth, you must have suffered actual damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Foreseeability is the element that property owners most often dispute. They may argue that the crime was random and unpredictable. Your legal team will counter this by gathering evidence of prior criminal incidents at the property, police reports from the surrounding area, maintenance records showing ignored security equipment, and any complaints made to management before the incident. Properties with a high crime rate or in high crime rate areas place a greater obligation on the owner or possessor to increase security measures. For example, if a property has experienced several assaults or robberies, the landlord has a duty to install security cameras, ensure proper lighting, or hire additional security personnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Evidence collection matters enormously in these cases. Surveillance footage is often overwritten within days. Witness memories fade. Police reports and maintenance logs can be harder to obtain as time passes. Acting quickly after an incident gives your legal team the best opportunity to gather the proof needed to build a strong case. Document your injuries with photographs, seek medical treatment immediately, and report the incident to the property owner or manager in writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pennsylvania&#8217;s modified comparative negligence rule, codified at 42 Pa. C.S. \u00a7 7102, also applies to negligent security claims. Under this rule, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. However, as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50 percent, you can still recover damages. Property owners and their insurers routinely attempt to shift blame onto the victim, so having experienced legal representation is critical to protecting your recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"damages-you-can-recover-in-an-upper-darby-negligent-security-case\">Damages You Can Recover in an Upper Darby Negligent Security Case<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A successful negligent security claim in Pennsylvania can result in compensation for a wide range of losses. The law recognizes both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are the out-of-pocket costs tied directly to your injury. Non-economic damages compensate you for the personal toll the incident takes on your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Economic damages typically include all medical expenses related to the incident. Emergency room treatment, surgeries, hospitalization, physical therapy, prescription medications, and future medical care all qualify. If your injuries prevent you from working, you can recover lost wages for the time you missed. If the harm is severe enough to affect your long-term earning capacity, that future income loss is also recoverable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and diminished quality of life. Victims of violent crimes often experience lasting psychological harm that is just as real and just as compensable as physical injuries. If you suffered a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, or a serious burn injury during a violent attack caused by inadequate security, those injuries carry significant non-economic value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In cases involving particularly reckless conduct by a property owner, punitive damages may also be available. These are designed to punish conduct that goes beyond ordinary negligence. For example, if a property owner had repeated warnings about dangerous conditions and deliberately refused to act, a court may award punitive damages in addition to compensatory ones. Every case is different, and the damages available depend on the specific facts of your situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"pennsylvanias-two-year-deadline-to-file-a-negligent-security-lawsuit\">Pennsylvania&#8217;s Two-Year Deadline to File a Negligent Security Lawsuit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Time is a critical factor in any negligent security claim. Under 42 Pa. C.S. \u00a7 5524, Pennsylvania law gives injured victims two years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations. If you miss it, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case, and you will lose your right to any compensation, regardless of how strong your claim may be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two years may feel like a long time, but negligent security cases require substantial investigation before a lawsuit can be properly filed. Your legal team needs time to gather surveillance footage, obtain police and incident reports, identify witnesses, retain security experts, and document the full scope of your damages. Starting early gives your case the foundation it needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are limited circumstances where the two-year clock may be paused, or &#8220;tolled.&#8221; If the injured person is a minor, the statute of limitations typically does not begin to run until they turn 18. Other tolling circumstances exist but are narrow and fact-specific. Do not assume an exception applies to your situation without speaking with a lawyer. The safest approach is to treat the two-year deadline as firm and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you were harmed at a property in Upper Darby, whether near the 69th Street Shopping District, along Garrett Road, or anywhere else in Delaware County, do not wait to get legal guidance. The attorneys at MyPhillyLawyer, with their principal office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, are ready to evaluate your claim. Call us at (215) 227-2727 or Toll Free: 866-352-4572. There is no fee unless we recover compensation for you, though clients should be aware that they may also be responsible for case expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faqs-about-upper-darby-pa-negligent-security-claims\">FAQs About Upper Darby PA Negligent Security Claims<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What types of properties can be held liable for negligent security in Upper Darby?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Any property that regularly invites the public or tenants onto its premises can potentially be held liable. This includes apartment buildings, hotels, shopping centers, parking lots, bars and nightclubs, convenience stores, transit facilities, and entertainment venues. The key is whether the property owner had a duty to protect you and failed to meet that duty by providing inadequate security measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I file a negligent security claim if the attacker was never caught or convicted?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. A negligent security claim is a civil lawsuit against the property owner, not a criminal case against the attacker. You do not need a criminal conviction to pursue civil liability. Your claim focuses on whether the property owner failed to provide reasonable security, not on the identity or criminal status of the person who harmed you. Civil and criminal cases are entirely separate proceedings under Pennsylvania law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if I was partially at fault for what happened to me?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule under 42 Pa. C.S. \u00a7 7102. If you are found to be partially at fault, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. You can still recover damages as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50 percent. Property owners and their insurance companies often try to blame victims to reduce or eliminate their liability, which is why having legal representation matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I know if the crime that happened to me was &#8220;foreseeable&#8221; under Pennsylvania law?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Foreseeability is determined by looking at the history of the property and the surrounding area. If the property had prior incidents of crime, if the owner had received complaints about security, or if the area had a documented pattern of criminal activity, courts are more likely to find that the crime was foreseeable. Evidence such as police reports, prior incident logs, and maintenance records all help establish foreseeability in your case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What should I do immediately after being attacked or harmed due to inadequate security?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Seek medical attention right away, even if your injuries seem minor. Report the incident to the property owner or manager in writing and request a copy of any incident report. Photograph your injuries, the scene, and any visible security failures such as broken lights or damaged locks. Preserve any text messages or communications related to prior security complaints. Then contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights before evidence is lost or the statute of limitations expires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What types of properties can be held liable for negligent security in Upper Darby?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Any property that regularly invites the public or tenants onto its premises can potentially be held liable. This includes apartment buildings, hotels, shopping centers, parking lots, bars and nightclubs, convenience stores, transit facilities, and entertainment venues. 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If you are found to be partially at fault, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. You can still recover damages as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50 percent. Property owners and their insurance companies often try to blame victims to reduce or eliminate their liability, which is why having legal representation matters.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How do I know if the crime that happened to me was \\\"foreseeable\\\" under Pennsylvania law?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Foreseeability is determined by looking at the history of the property and the surrounding area. If the property had prior incidents of crime, if the owner had received complaints about security, or if the area had a documented pattern of criminal activity, courts are more likely to find that the crime was foreseeable. 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When property owners at these locations fail to provide reasonable security, people get&hellip;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":0,"parent":9871,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-16649","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16649","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16649"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16649\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myphillylawyer.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16649"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}