Des Moines Iowa Negligent Security Attorney
Retailers, parking garage operators, and rental property managers can be held liable for injuries that result from crimes occurring on their property when inadequate or defective security is provided. Injuries can occur in residential and commercial buildings, shopping centers and parking facilities, hotels and casinos, amusement parks, airports, healthcare facilities, nightclubs and bars, as well as universities and public schools. Inadequate security can lead to assaults, robbery, sexual assault and homicide. While a lack of security cameras or uniformed security guards play a role in criminal attacks, inadequate training and screening of security personnel can also lead to situations where customers and patrons are injured or killed. At the law office of Roxanne Conlin & Associates, P.C., we hold retailers, businesses, parking garage owners, and others financially responsible for injuries that occur as the result of inadequate security. We look at crime statistics for an area, what measures were in place – if any – and what should have been done to provide better security.
Don’t assume being a victim of crime is simply a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Hold those responsible for poor or inadequate security accountable for your injuries – contact negligent security lawyer Roxanne Conlin today.
What Constitutes Negligent Security
The law office of Roxanne Conlin & Associates, P.C., represents victims of crime in cases involving the following kinds of security lapses:
- Lack of security cameras
- Absence of security personnel
- Attack in a parking lot
- Broken security latch on entry door to apartment
- Absence of adequate lighting in stairwells or parking garage
- Absence of security phones
Why Inadequate Security Creates Liability
The general rule of law is that the owner or operator of the premises has a duty to keep the premises in a reasonably safe condition or at least warn customers of a dangerous condition which the owner or operator caused, knows about, or should have known about. For example, a retail store selling electronics equipment should realize its customers will leave the store with expensive items attractive to criminals. Additionally, if there is a history of robbery or theft in the area, they should be aware of a danger to their customers. Failure to install security cameras or employ security guards may violate the retailer’s duty of care to their customers.
Legal Process For Negligent Security Claims
Pursuing a negligent security case requires showing how a property owner failed to take reasonable safety steps. As an Iowa premises liability attorney, Roxanne Conlin begins by gathering detailed facts, reviewing crime patterns and documenting the conditions that allowed the incident to occur. This foundation helps demonstrate foreseeability and the property owner’s breach of basic safety obligations.
Key steps in the negligent security lawsuit process include:
- Gathering evidence: Police reports, medical records, surveillance footage and witness statements help establish what happened.
- Proving liability: Showing the owner ignored risks, failed to correct hazards or neglected to provide adequate security measures.
- Evaluating damages: Determining losses such as medical bills, lost income, emotional harm and long-term effects.
- Pursuing compensation: Victims may seek inadequate security compensation in Iowa through settlement or trial when an agreement cannot be reached.
Each step strengthens the case and reinforces the victim’s legal rights after assault in Iowa.
Negligent Security In Apartment Complexes
Apartment residents depend on landlords to keep both individual units and shared spaces safe. As a Des Moines crime victim lawyer, Ms. Conlin often handles cases involving predictable dangers that management ignored, leading to violent crimes. Poor maintenance and lack of monitoring create preventable risks for tenants and guests.
Common failures in apartment security include:
- Broken latches or unsecured entry doors: Allowing intruders to enter without resistance.
- Poor lighting: Dark hallways, stairwells and parking areas that conceal threats.
- Lack of security patrols: No monitoring in high traffic or high-risk locations.
- Ignored warnings: Management failing to respond to reports of suspicious activity or repeated incidents.
These issues violate crime prevention legal standards in Iowa and give tenants grounds to hold owners accountable.
Specific Types Of Injuries Resulting From Negligent Security
Criminal acts linked to inadequate security can lead to severe physical and emotional injuries that affect victims long after the incident. These injuries often require lengthy recovery periods and ongoing support under victim support and negligent security in Iowa resources.
Examples of injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries from violent assaults or falls during attacks
- Broken bones caused by physical altercations or attempts to escape danger
- Stab or gunshot wounds from violent criminal activity
- Soft tissue and nerve damage resulting in long-term mobility limitations
- Psychological trauma, including anxiety, fear and post-traumatic stress
Understanding these injuries helps clarify why victims often need security negligence legal advice in Iowa to protect their long-term well-being.
Contact Negligent Security Attorney Roxanne Conlin
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured as a result of negligent security then you may have the right to file a legal action. If you have questions regarding a property owner’s legal liability in providing security for patrons and customers, contact 515-283-1111, today and schedule an appointment to discuss your case.


