Violent crime on commercial property can be foreseeable — shown by prior incidents on the same premises, ignored trespass complaints, security systems left broken for months. Florida negligent security law can let victims hold property owners accountable when inadequate security contributes to an attack in Fort Lauderdale. These cases changed significantly under Florida’s 2023 tort reform, and building them now demands real trial lawyers. Silva & Silva reviews negligent security cases at no cost, in English or Spanish.

Negligent Security Lawyers

in Ft Lauderdale, FL

Negligent Security Attorneys
Serving Ft Lauderdale, FL

Being assaulted, robbed, or sexually attacked on someone else’s property can leave you with devastating physical injuries, psychological trauma, and financial losses — on top of the knowledge that it might have been prevented. Silva & Silva represents negligent security victims throughout Broward County and South Florida, pursuing accountability against the property owners and managers who failed to provide the security measures that could have stopped the crime. We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis — no fees unless we recover. If you were harmed due to a property owner’s inadequate security, call us today for a free, confidential case review. If you were victimized at a Fort Lauderdale hotel, Las Olas Boulevard venue, parking garage, apartment complex, or commercial property due to inadequate security, Silva & Silva is ready to help.

Hotel, motel & resort negligent security
Apartment & condominium security failures
Nightclub, bar & entertainment venue attacks
Parking lot & parking garage assaults
Sexual assault due to inadequate access control
Robbery & attack at retail stores & shopping centers
Inadequate lighting, broken locks & absent security personnel
Excessive force by security guards & bouncers

Immediate Case Evaluation

Negligent security cases in Fort Lauderdale often turn on foreseeability evidence: prior crime on the property, ignored warnings, and broken security measures. An attorney can start building that record early — police call logs, incident histories, and security contracts — the way a trial demands.

How Did Florida’s 2023 Tort Reform Change Negligent Security Cases in Fort Lauderdale?

House Bill 837 rewrote this area of law. Under section 768.0701, Florida Statutes, the jury must now consider the fault of ALL who contributed to the injury — including the criminal attacker — which lets property owners argue the criminal, not the landlord, should bear the fault. And under section 768.0706, owners of multifamily residential properties (five or more units) can earn a presumption against liability — but only by substantially implementing the statute’s required security measures, completing a documented crime-prevention (CPTED) assessment by a designated practitioner, and providing crime-deterrence and safety training to employees by the statutory deadlines. These defenses make case selection and evidence work more important than ever: showing the owner never implemented the safe-harbor measures the statute rewards, knew about prior crime, and left protective measures broken. Negligent security claims arising in Fort Lauderdale, when properly venued in Broward County, are generally filed in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit. Injury lawsuits over $50,000 with Broward County venue are heard at the Broward County Central Courthouse, 201 S.E. 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale; claims that qualify for federal jurisdiction may proceed in the Southern District of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Division.

How Long Do Crime Victims Have to File a Civil Claim in Florida?

Negligence claims accruing after March 24, 2023 must generally be filed within two years (section 95.11(5)(a), Florida Statutes); earlier incidents may carry the prior four-year period. A wrongful-death claim against the property owner generally must be filed within two years of the death and brought by the decedent’s personal representative. The civil case is independent of any criminal prosecution — you do not have to wait for the criminal court, and critical security-camera evidence may not wait either.

What Should Victims and Families Do After an Attack in Fort Lauderdale?

Make sure the crime is reported and get the police report number. Seek medical and, where needed, psychological care — both matter to your recovery and your claim. Many of the most serious injuries in Fort Lauderdale are treated at Broward Health Medical Center, the city’s Level I trauma center. Preserve everything: photos of the scene, broken locks or gates, dark stairwells, and the names of witnesses. Then contact an attorney right away — video may be overwritten or deleted quickly, so prompt preservation requests matter. Silva & Silva offers free case reviews for Fort Lauderdale negligent security matters, in English or Spanish.

If inadequate security may have contributed to an attack on you or a loved one in Fort Lauderdale, Florida law can give you a civil path — but the clock and the cameras are already running. Call Silva & Silva at 305-445-0011 for a free, confidential consultation. No fees unless we recover.

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