Negligent Security Attorney Corpus Christi

Your Safety Matters: Legal Advocates for Security Negligence Injuries

If you were attacked, assaulted, or injured because a business or property owner failed to provide reasonable security in Corpus Christi, you may have a claim for negligent security. Texas law requires property owners and managers to take sensible steps to reduce foreseeable crime on their premises. When they cut corners and someone gets hurt, the law allows victims to pursue compensation for their losses.

Gonzales Law Firm represents people harmed by security negligence throughout Corpus Christi and Nueces County, including apartments on the South Side, hotels near the bayfront, retail centers along SPID, restaurants and bars downtown, and parking lots across the city. Our firm has served the community for over 43 years, and our attorney has been Board-Certified in Personal Injury Law since 1998. We know how to investigate these cases and hold negligent parties accountable.

Call (361) 309-4243 or request your free case evaluation now. We will listen and explain your options. Hablamos español. 

What Is Negligent Security in Texas?

Negligent security is a type of premises liability claim. It arises when a property owner or occupier fails to implement reasonable measures to prevent foreseeable crime, and a visitor, resident, or customer is injured as a result. Reasonable measures depend on the location and history of the property, but they commonly include adequate lighting, functioning locks and gates, security patrols or cameras, trained staff, and clear policies for addressing threats.

When the absence of such measures contributes to a violent incident, the property owner may be liable for the harm that follows. These claims often involve criminal acts by third parties, but the legal question focuses on the property owner’s negligence in failing to reduce foreseeable risks.

Common Places Where Negligent Security Occurs in Corpus Christi

• Apartment and condominium complexes with broken gates or non-functioning door locks
• Hotels and motels near the bayfront or highway corridors with poor lighting or lax guest controls
• Bars, restaurants, and nightclubs with inadequate bouncer staffing or failure to separate violent patrons
• Shopping centers, retail stores, and strip malls along SPID and Staples with dark parking lots and no cameras
• Office buildings and parking garages without security patrols or emergency call systems
• ATMs and bank branches lacking visible surveillance or lighting
• Events and venues that fail to plan for crowd control or entry screening

Texas Negligent Security Law: What You Must Prove

To win a negligent security case in Texas, an injured person generally must establish four elements.

Duty

Property owners and occupiers who invite customers, guests, or tenants onto their premises owe a duty to take reasonable steps to make the property safe. In negligent security cases, this means addressing foreseeable criminal activity through reasonable security measures.

Breach

A breach occurs when a property owner fails to take those reasonable steps. Examples include ignoring prior incidents on the property, failing to maintain lighting or access controls, or not having appropriate security policies, staffing, or training.

Causation

You must show that the lack of reasonable security more likely than not contributed to the incident. For example, if a parking lot light had been out for months, and the darkness allowed an attacker to approach unseen, that failure may be a substantial factor in your harm.

Damages

Finally, you must prove actual losses, such as medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, mental anguish, or property damage.

Evidence We Use To Build Your Case

Negligent security cases are fact-intensive. Our team moves quickly to gather and preserve key evidence before it disappears.

Core Evidence Sources

• Incident and police reports documenting the crime, time, and conditions
• Crime history and prior incidents on or near the property to establish foreseeability
• Maintenance logs showing broken lights, gates, locks, or cameras left unrepaired
• Surveillance footage from the property and nearby businesses
• Property policies, security contracts, and staffing schedules
• Witness statements from employees, tenants, patrons, and first responders
• Expert evaluation of lighting levels, camera placement, and physical security design
• Medical records linking injuries to the incident

How Our Corpus Christi Negligent Security Lawyer Helps

From the first call to resolution, we focus on building leverage for your claim and reducing your stress.

Our Process

• Listen and evaluate. We review what happened, your injuries, and your goals, then outline next steps.
• Preserve evidence. We send preservation letters, request video, and inspect the scene.
• Investigate liability. We analyze crime patterns, security plans, staffing, and maintenance records.
• Document damages. We coordinate with your medical providers and collect proof of financial losses.
• Negotiate aggressively. We present a compelling claim package to the insurer or defense counsel.
• Prepare for trial. If the property owner will not resolve the case fairly, we are ready to file suit and present your case to a jury.

Who May Be Responsible

Depending on the facts, multiple parties may share responsibility.

Potential Defendants

• Property owners and out-of-state holding companies
• Property managers and management companies
• Security contractors or staffing agencies
• Event promoters or venue operators
• Bars, restaurants, hotels, and retail tenants
• Maintenance vendors are responsible for lighting, locks, or cameras

Common Forms of Security Negligence

Negligent security comes in many forms. Recognizing them early can help shape a winning strategy.

Frequent Failures We See

• Broken or missing lighting in parking lots, stairwells, and walkways
• Nonfunctioning locks, gates, or keycard systems at apartment complexes
• Lack of trained security personnel at high-risk times or locations
• Failure to monitor or retain surveillance footage
• Ignoring prior assaults, robberies, or trespassing reports
• Poor crowd control at nightlife venues or events
• Inadequate policies for responding to threats or escorting patrons

Compensation You May Seek

Every case is unique, but Texas law allows victims of negligent security to pursue compensation for both economic and non-economic losses.

Types of Damages

• Medical expenses, from emergency care to rehabilitation and therapy
• Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
• Pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life
• Scarring, disfigurement, and physical impairment
• Property loss or damage
• In fatal incidents, wrongful death and survival damages for eligible family members

Deadlines and the Texas Statute of Limitations

In many Texas personal injury cases, you generally have two years from the date of the incident to file suit. There can be exceptions that shorten or lengthen these deadlines, and claims against governmental entities may require quick notice. The sooner you speak with a negligent security attorney in Corpus Christi, the better we can protect your rights and preserve evidence.

What To Do After an Assault or Injury on Unsafe Property

Taking a few informed steps can protect your health and your claim.

Practical Steps

• Seek medical care immediately and follow your treatment plan.
• Report the incident to the police and the property owner or manager.
• Photograph the scene, lighting conditions, locks, gates, and any visible hazards.
• Save damaged clothing or property and keep copies of bills and receipts.
• Do not give recorded statements to insurers before you get legal advice.

Contact Gonzales Law Firm to discuss your options.

Why Choose Gonzales Law Firm

You deserve counsel with the skill, resources, and dedication to take on sophisticated property owners and their insurers.

Our Qualifications

• Decades of service. Our firm has advocated for injury victims in Corpus Christi for over 43 years.
• Board-Certified leadership. Our attorney has been Board-Certified in Personal Injury Law since 1998.
• Local insight. We understand security challenges common to apartments, hotels, and businesses across Nueces County.
• Focused representation. We limit caseload to provide attentive, responsive service.
• Trial readiness. We prepare every claim as if it will be presented to a jury.
• Bilingual team. We can assist you in the Spanish language

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifies as negligent security in Texas?

Negligent security occurs when a property owner fails to take reasonable steps to deter foreseeable crime, such as providing adequate lighting, working locks and gates, surveillance, trained staff, and clear security policies, and that failure contributes to someone’s injuries.

Do I have a claim if a criminal, not the owner, attacked me?

Yes. These cases often involve third-party criminal acts. The question is whether the property owner’s inadequate security allowed the crime to occur or made it more likely to happen. If so, the owner may be held responsible for your injuries.

How do you prove a property owner knew crime was foreseeable?

We examine prior police reports and incident logs, complaints from tenants or customers, and crime history around the property. If similar events occurred before, the owner should have implemented reasonable measures to reduce the risk.

What if the property says a broken light or camera was just fixed?

Maintenance records, work orders, and time-stamped photos and videos often reveal whether repairs were delayed or incomplete. We look for patterns and gaps that show the owner knew, or should have known, about persistent security issues.

Can I recover if I was partially at fault?

Texas follows proportionate responsibility rules. If you are less than 51 percent at fault, your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of responsibility. If a property owner’s negligence primarily caused the harm, you may still recover.

How long will my negligent security case take?

Timeframes vary based on the severity of injuries, the volume of evidence, and whether the defense accepts responsibility. We move quickly to preserve evidence and pursue a fair resolution, while preparing for trial when necessary.

What does it cost to hire your firm?

We handle negligent security cases on a contingency fee. You pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you. We will explain the fee terms clearly during your consultation.

Start Protecting Your Future After a Corpus Christi Security Failure

Evidence fades quickly, and property owners move fast to limit their exposure. If you were injured because of negligent security in Corpus Christi, Texas, take control now by getting informed guidance and a tailored plan for your case.

 Schedule a no-cost consultation with Gonzales Law Firm today at (361) 309-4243  or send a message through our contact form. No pressure case review. Hablamos español.