Negligent Security at Hotels, Clubs & Businesses
Injured at a NYC business due to poor security? Leitner Warywoda represents victims of assaults and injuries at hotels, bars, nightclubs, and retail locations.
- The question
- Was the crime foreseeable?
- Where we practice
- NYC · Long Island · Statewide
- Fee
- No fee unless we recover
Assaulted or Injured at a NYC Venue? You May Have a Case.
Whether you're staying at a hotel, enjoying a night out, or shopping at a store, you expect a reasonable level of safety. But when business owners fail to provide proper security, serious and even life-changing injuries can occur. At Leitner Warywoda, we represent victims across New York City and Long Island who were assaulted, attacked, or otherwise harmed in businesses where inadequate security measures enabled the violence.
Common Locations for Commercial Negligent Security
Negligent security can happen anywhere the public is invited. Some of the most common hotspots for these cases include:
- Hotels and motels with broken locks, unmonitored entrances, or unauthorized guests
- Bars, lounges, and nightclubs with poor bouncer protocols or overcrowding
- Retail stores and malls with lax shoplifting response and no security presence
- Concert venues and event spaces where fights or stampedes occur
- Restaurants and fast food chains in high-crime areas without cameras or lighting
- Office buildings and coworking spaces with unrestricted public access
These incidents may involve assaults, sexual assaults, stabbings, shootings, or robberies—all preventable with basic safety measures.
The Duty of NYC Business Owners
Under New York premises liability law, businesses have a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm. That includes:
- Hiring trained security personnel
- Installing cameras, alarms, or metal detectors
- Addressing prior incidents of crime or violence
- Keeping entrances, exits, and parking areas secure
- Monitoring crowd behavior and ejecting disruptive patrons
When business owners fail to implement these precautions, they may be liable for injuries that result—even if the crime was committed by a third party. Our job is to prove that better security would have made a difference, and that your suffering could—and should—have been avoided.
Fighting for Victims of Public Venue Violence
We know these cases can be intimidating. You might feel like you’re going up against a major hotel chain, nightclub, or corporate entity—but you’re not alone. The team at Leitner Warywoda is ready to dig into the details, uncover evidence, and hold businesses accountable for the environments they create.
If you were injured at a business in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, or Long Island, we’re ready to fight for you. Consultations are free, and we don’t charge a fee unless we win.
Related topics.
- Apartment BuildingsInjured due to poor security in a New York apartment building? Leitner Warywoda holds landlords accountable for assaults and safety failures in NYC & Long Island.Read more
- How To File A Negligent Security ClaimGet expert help with your injury claim in NYC. Leitner Warywoda assists victims in securing fair compensation for negligent security.Read more
- Parking Lots & GaragesWere you attacked in a NYC parking lot or garage due to poor lighting or security? Leitner Warywoda helps victims file negligent security claims across NYC & Long Island.Read more
From the first call to a resolution.
- 1
A real conversation, free
You tell us what happened. We tell you honestly whether it looks like a case, what the deadlines are, and what we would need to see.
- 2
We investigate before we file
Records, scene evidence, witnesses, and review by qualified experts. Most of what wins a case is gathered before a complaint is ever served.
- 3
Litigation, built for trial
Depositions, motions and expert disclosure, prepared as though the case will be tried, because defendants offer their best number to firms that are ready to try it.
- 4
Resolution, your decision
Settle or try it: that choice is yours, made with a clear picture of the offer, the risk and the timeline.
Recent negligent security recoveries.
Slip and fall.
Slip and fall.
Slip and fall on private property.
Slip and fall on private property.
Slip and fall involving a municipality.
Premises liability, private property.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Frequently asked questions.
Can I sue a bar or nightclub if I was attacked inside?
Possibly. A bar, club, or concert venue that knows or should know of a likely risk of violence, for example from prior fights, an intoxicated or aggressive patron, or an argument that escalates over time, must take reasonable steps to protect guests. Those steps may include adequate security staff, controlling entry, and intervening or calling police. A sudden, unexpected attack with no warning is harder to pin on the venue, so the timeline of events matters.
Is a hotel responsible if I was assaulted in my room?
A hotel may be liable when a security failure it knew or should have known about allowed the attack, such as broken room locks, unsecured side entrances, key cards given to the wrong person, or ignoring reports of a suspicious individual. Hotels are not responsible for every crime on the property, but they must take reasonable precautions in light of the risks they know about. Guest complaints, incident logs, and key card records can be important evidence.
Can a store or business be liable for a robbery or attack on its premises?
Yes, if the crime was reasonably foreseeable and the business failed to take reasonable steps to prevent it. Foreseeability is usually shown through prior similar crimes at or near the location. Businesses with known risks, such as late-night operations or repeated incidents, may be expected to provide lighting, cameras, staff training, or security personnel. The owner of the building and a separate company that operates the business can sometimes share responsibility.
Can a security company be sued along with the property owner?
Sometimes. A private security company hired to protect a hotel, club, or business may be liable if its guards failed to perform the duties it agreed to and that failure contributed to an attack, such as leaving a post or failing to respond. The security company's contract with the property owner often defines what it was supposed to do. Naming all responsible parties early is important because each may carry separate insurance.