Philadelphia personal injury lawyer<\/a> serving clients throughout Montgomery County, MyPhillyLawyer handles negligent security cases involving apartment complexes, commercial properties, entertainment venues, and more. Our office is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe types of crimes that trigger negligent security claims include assault, robbery, sexual assault, battery, stabbings, and shootings. The connecting thread in every case is that the property owner knew or should have known that a crime was possible, and they failed to take reasonable steps to stop it. That failure is what creates civil liability, separate and apart from any criminal case against the attacker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where Negligent Security Incidents Happen in Conshohocken<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Conshohocken sits along the Schuylkill River in Montgomery County, just northwest of Philadelphia via the I-76 Schuylkill Expressway. The borough has grown into a busy commercial and residential hub, with restaurants and bars along Fayette Street, apartment complexes near the waterfront, office buildings along Washington Street, and parking garages serving the commuter rail station on the SEPTA Regional Rail line. That growth brings foot traffic, and foot traffic brings the need for adequate security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even though Conshohocken’s overall violent crime rate is lower than the national average, crimes still happen here. According to FBI Uniform Crime Report data, Conshohocken recorded 3 violent crimes and 115 property crimes in 2024. Property crimes, including larceny and motor vehicle theft, make up the vast majority of reported offenses. Parking lots, garages, and dimly lit areas near the river trail are common settings for these incidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The issue in a negligent security case is not just the overall crime rate for the borough. It is whether crime was foreseeable at that specific property. A bar that has had multiple fights, a parking garage with broken lights, or an apartment complex where tenants have reported suspicious activity all carry a higher duty to provide security. When owners of those properties look the other way, they can be held civilly liable for what happens next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Negligent security incidents in Conshohocken can occur at hotel properties near the expressway, restaurant and bar venues, multi-family residential buildings, retail shopping areas, and parking structures. Each of these locations has its own security obligations under Pennsylvania law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Pennsylvania Law Defines a Property Owner’s Security Duty<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Pennsylvania premises liability law classifies visitors into three categories: invitees, licensees, and trespassers. The classification determines the level of duty the property owner owes. Invitees, meaning people who enter a property for a business purpose, receive the highest protection. A customer at a bar, a tenant in an apartment, or a guest at a hotel are all invitees. Property owners owe invitees a duty to inspect the property, fix dangerous conditions, and warn visitors of risks that cannot be immediately corrected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a negligent security case, two legal concepts are especially important: foreseeability and notice. Foreseeability means the crime that occurred was a predictable risk given the circumstances. Notice means the property owner knew or should have known about the security risk. If prior crimes happened at the same location, if tenants complained about broken locks, or if the area had a documented history of criminal activity, a court can find that the owner had notice and that harm was foreseeable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A negligent security claim arises when a property owner or occupier has a lapse in security measures that results in a guest becoming the victim of a violent crime on their premises. These cases usually involve violent crime such as sexual assault, rape, robbery, assault, battery, shootings, stabbings, and homicide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Common security measures that owners are expected to maintain include warning signs, locks, safety lighting, security guards, motion sensor lights, alarms, fencing, security cameras, and screening those who enter the property. When any of these measures are absent or broken, and a crime occurs as a result, the property owner may face civil liability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pennsylvania also recognizes that more than one party can share responsibility. A property management company, a private security firm hired to patrol the premises, or a building developer may all share liability depending on the facts. Your attorney’s job is to identify every responsible party and pursue each one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Proving a Negligent Security Claim in Pennsylvania Court<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To win a negligent security case in Pennsylvania, you must prove four elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages. Each element requires specific evidence, and building that evidence takes time. Starting the process early matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Duty is established by showing the property owner owed you a legal obligation to provide reasonable security. Breach means they failed to meet that obligation, such as by ignoring broken locks, failing to install lighting, or not hiring security staff despite a known crime problem. Causation connects the breach directly to your injury. Damages are the actual losses you suffered, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For a valid negligent security claim, there must be a history of crime or a high level of risk in the area where the assault took place. If crime was frequent in the area, or the property owner knew or should have known about the potential for violence, they could be found negligent if they failed to provide adequate security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Evidence in these cases includes surveillance footage, police reports, prior incident reports at the property, maintenance records showing broken equipment, lease agreements, and witness statements. Your attorney may also work with security experts who can testify about what reasonable security measures should have been in place. This type of expert opinion can be powerful in front of a jury at the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, where these cases are typically filed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence rule, codified at 42 Pa. C.S. \u00a7 7102, also applies to negligent security cases. Under that statute, if you are found to share some fault for your own injury, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. You can still recover as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50%. If you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you are barred from recovery entirely. This makes it critical to work with an attorney who can build the strongest possible case on your behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Compensation You Can Recover and the Filing Deadline<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A successful negligent security claim in Pennsylvania can result in compensation for a wide range of losses. Medical expenses are recoverable, including emergency room treatment, surgery, physical therapy, and future care if your injuries are permanent. Lost wages cover income you missed while recovering, and lost earning capacity addresses situations where your injuries affect your ability to work long-term. Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life are also compensable under Pennsylvania law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In cases involving especially reckless conduct by a property owner, such as repeatedly ignoring documented security failures, a court may also award punitive damages. These are meant to punish the defendant and deter similar behavior, not just to compensate the victim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit in Pennsylvania is set by 42 Pa. C.S. \u00a7 5524. That statute requires that actions to recover damages for personal injury caused by negligence be commenced within two years. Missing that deadline almost always means losing your right to sue, regardless of how strong your case is. Two years sounds like a long time, but evidence disappears quickly. Surveillance footage is overwritten. Witnesses move. Property owners repair or replace the very conditions that caused your injury. Acting quickly protects your claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your loved one was killed as a result of a crime enabled by negligent security, Pennsylvania’s wrongful death statute provides a separate path to compensation for surviving family members. The same two-year deadline applies. MyPhillyLawyer handles both personal injury and wrongful death claims arising from negligent security incidents throughout the Conshohocken area and the greater Philadelphia region. Call us at (215) 227-2727 or Toll Free: 866-352-4572 to speak with our team about your situation. There is no fee unless we recover for you, though clients remain responsible for case expenses if there is no recovery. We want to hear your story and help you understand your rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAQs About Conshohocken PA Negligent Security Claims<\/h2>\n\n\n\nCan I sue a property owner if I was attacked on their property in Conshohocken?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Yes, you may have a valid civil claim against the property owner if the attack was foreseeable and the owner failed to provide reasonable security. Pennsylvania premises liability law holds property owners responsible when their neglect of security measures allows a preventable crime to occur. The fact that a third party committed the crime does not automatically shield the property owner from civil liability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What types of properties can be held liable for negligent security in Pennsylvania?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Almost any type of property can be the subject of a negligent security claim. This includes apartment complexes, bars and restaurants, hotels, parking garages, office buildings, retail stores, and entertainment venues. The key factor is whether the property owner owed a duty of care to the person who was harmed and whether the crime was foreseeable given the circumstances at that location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How long do I have to file a negligent security lawsuit in Pennsylvania?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Under 42 Pa. C.S. \u00a7 5524, you have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in Pennsylvania. This deadline is firm. If you miss it, you will almost certainly lose your right to sue. Because evidence like surveillance footage and incident reports can disappear quickly, it is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible after the incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What if I was partially at fault for the situation that led to the attack?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule under 42 Pa. C.S. \u00a7 7102. If you are found to share some responsibility for what happened, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. You can still recover damages as long as your share of fault is 50% or less. Only if you are found to be more than 50% at fault are you barred from recovery entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What should I do immediately after being attacked due to poor security on a property?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Report the incident to law enforcement and get a copy of the police report. Seek medical attention right away, even if your injuries seem minor at first. Document the scene with photos or video if you can safely do so. Note any security failures you observed, such as broken lights, missing cameras, or unlocked doors. Keep records of all medical treatment and expenses. Then contact a personal injury attorney to discuss your legal options before evidence is lost or altered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n