Negligent Security Lawyers in Scranton

Injured Because a Property Lacked Security? Speak Directly with an Attorney

An assault, robbery, shooting, or other violent act can lead to a criminal case against the attacker and a separate civil claim against a property owner or occupier. The civil claim may involve broken locks, unsecured entrances, poor lighting, ineffective access control, missing security cameras, inadequate staffing, or ignored warnings about prior incidents.

At Abrahamsen, Conaboy & Abrahamsen P.C., we handle personal injury matters for people in Scranton and throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. We examine whether a foreseeable danger, inadequate precautions, and the resulting injury support a negligent security claim. A crime occurring on private property isn’t enough by itself to establish liability.

Call (570) 712-5545 to speak directly with our attorneys about the incident, the property’s security conditions, and any evidence that may require prompt attention.

How Pennsylvania Law Determines Property Owner Liability

Property owner liability depends on which risks were known or reasonably foreseeable and what precautions were appropriate under the circumstances. Prior criminal activity, safety complaints, recurring disturbances, and visible property conditions may indicate whether a reasonable owner should have anticipated the danger.

Notice also matters. Actual notice means the owner knew about a danger. Constructive notice means the condition existed long enough or was apparent enough that the owner reasonably should have known about it. The available proof must also connect the inadequate security to the injury, not merely establish that criminal conduct occurred on the property.

A Pennsylvania negligent security case may require proof of:

• A legal duty: The owner or occupier owed the injured person reasonable care under the circumstances.
• A security failure: Reasonable precautions were missing, inadequate, or improperly maintained.
• Causation: The security failure contributed to the circumstances that allowed the injury to occur.
• Damages: The victim sustained physical, financial, or emotional losses.

Under Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence rule, compensation can be reduced by an injured person’s assigned share of fault. Recovery is generally barred only when that share is greater than the defendants’ combined causal negligence. The rule’s effect depends on the specific facts.

Preserving Evidence After an Inadequate Security Incident

Security evidence can disappear quickly. Surveillance footage may be overwritten, property conditions can change, and witnesses’ memories may fade. We investigate incidents, gather available records, handle insurer communications, negotiate claims, and prepare cases for trial when necessary.

Relevant evidence may include:

• Surveillance footage and photographs of entrances, lighting, locks, gates, parking areas, or sight lines.
• Police reports, property incident reports, witness statements, and emergency response records.
• Maintenance records, access logs, security policies, staffing information, and prior complaints.
• Records concerning earlier criminal activity or warnings provided to property management.
• Medical records, employment documents, and other proof of injuries and financial losses.

The Scranton Police Department provides crime-mapping access and procedures for requesting incident reports. These resources may identify useful records, depending on the incident and its location.

Compensation & Deadlines After a Security-Related Injury

An inadequate security incident may cause physical injuries, psychological trauma, or both. Potential damages can include medical treatment, rehabilitation, counseling, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other documented losses. A fatal attack may also raise wrongful death issues for surviving family members.

Pennsylvania generally allows two years to file a lawsuit seeking damages for personal injury or death caused by negligence. Exceptions and special rules may change the deadline. Waiting can jeopardize both the claim and records needed to establish what happened.