Premises Liability | Sexual Assault
If You Were Assaulted on Someone Else's Property, You May Have a Legal Claim
Property owners have a duty to provide reasonable security. When they fail, and you are harmed, you deserve accountability and compensation. CHG Personal Injury Lawyers focuses exclusively on catastrophic injury cases, including those arising from negligent security.
By CHG Lawyers · Published August 18, 2026
Sexual Assault Premises Liability Lawyer
Were you attacked on someone else’s property? Here’s what you need to know: the person who hurt you may not be the only one responsible.
Property owners must provide reasonable security. When they fail to do so, and that failure allows an attack to happen, you may have a separate civil claim against the owner. This claim is independent of any criminal case.
This page explains that claim in plain language for survivors and families—not lawyers. You don’t need legal knowledge to reach out.
Request a free, confidential case evaluation.
Not sure what your next step is?
Talk it through with our team. Your first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.
Get a free consultation | Get a free consultation
Not sure what your next step is?
Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.
Two Paths to Justice After an Attack on Someone Else’s Property
After an assault on someone else’s property, you have two separate legal paths: criminal and civil.
Maybe it happened at an apartment complex. Or a parking lot, garage, hotel, bar, gas station, store, or ATM. You had a right to feel reasonably safe there.
The criminal case punishes the attacker. A civil case can hold the property owner accountable. This happens when their security failures allowed the attack to occur.
Lawyers call this civil claim negligent security—a type of premises liability (the owner’s legal duty to keep property safe). But you don’t need those terms to get help.
Your conversation with us is confidential and judgment-free. We focus on your healing.
Who This Page Is For
This page is for survivors of violent attacks and the loved ones who support them:
- Survivors of sexual assault, rape, or violent attacks on property controlled by someone other than the attacker.
- Family members acting for a loved one, including cases involving permanent injury or wrongful death.
- People unsure whether they have a claim. Legal knowledge is not required.
Our firm focuses exclusively on catastrophic, life-altering harm. We handle serious injuries and the lasting physical and mental damage they cause.
What a Sexual Assault Premises Liability Lawyer Handles
A negligent security claim is a civil case. It holds a property owner responsible when they fail to provide reasonable safety. That failure must allow an attack to happen.
Property owners and managers have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to keep people safe.
Sometimes an owner ignores a known, predictable danger. Then someone is attacked. The owner can be held liable in civil court. “Foreseeable” means the danger was predictable—often because similar crimes had happened there before.
A critical point many survivors don’t know: this civil claim is independent of any criminal case. It moves forward whether or not the attacker is caught, charged, or convicted. Your civil claim stands alone.
This is general legal information, not advice about your case. We can review your facts directly.
Have questions about what happened?
Ask our team directly. Your first conversation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.
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How Property Owner Negligence Enables These Attacks
Attacks on unsafe property often trace back to security failures the owner could have fixed. In negligent security cases, we frequently see:
- No security guards where crime was clearly likely.
- Broken, propped-open, or missing gates, locks, and access controls at apartments and parking structures.
- Poor or broken lighting in lots, garages, stairwells, and walkways.
- Broken, fake, or unmonitored security cameras.
- Careless hiring or supervision of staff, including skipped background checks.
- Ignoring a known history of past assaults, robberies, or violent crime on or near the property.
These attacks happen in predictable places: apartment complexes, hotels, bars, nightclubs, shopping centers, gas stations, ATMs, and college housing. Learn more about negligent security claims.
What We Can Pursue Compensation For
A civil claim can seek money for the harm you’ve suffered and the care you’ll need. Depending on the facts, that may include:
- Medical care—emergency, surgical, and ongoing treatment for physical injuries.
- Long-term mental health care—therapy, counseling, and treatment for PTSD.
- Lost wages and lost future earning power when injuries prevent work.
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress.
- Catastrophic outcomes—permanent impairment, disability, or wrongful death claims brought by the family.
Some attacks cause life-changing physical injuries. A violent assault can cause a spinal cord injury. This can mean permanent loss of movement or feeling, as the Mayo Clinic explains.
Doctors rate spinal cord injuries using the ASIA Impairment Scale—the standard system for nervous system classification, described by the American Spinal Injury Association. The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center track how many Americans live with paralysis.
Every case is different. Amounts depend on specific facts. We never promise a specific result.
Not sure what your next step is?
Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.
How the Process Works: What to Expect
We built our process to protect your privacy and keep you in control:
- Free, confidential case evaluation. We listen first. No pressure, no cost.
- Investigation. We preserve evidence: incident and police reports, camera footage, security staffing records, and the property’s crime history.
- Building the case. We work with security experts. We show the danger was predictable and the owner failed to act.
- Filing the claim. We handle communications. You don’t face the property owner or insurer alone.
- Negotiation and litigation. We push for a fair result and go to court when necessary.
Timeline: These cases typically take months to a few years. Gathering records, proving foreseeability, and court schedules all affect timing. We’ll set honest expectations and keep you informed.
Want to know where you stand?
Tell us what happened. Our team will walk you through your options at no cost.
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Why Work With CHG Personal Injury Lawyers
We focus exclusively on catastrophic, life-changing injury and negligent security cases—not routine matters. That focus shapes how we investigate and fight.
- Experienced, licensed attorneys admitted to the Florida Bar. We’re Florida-based and take cases nationwide.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) support so survivors and families are fully understood.
- Trauma-aware approach that keeps you in control of your story.
- No upfront cost. Your first conversation is free. We work on contingency—our fee comes only from a recovery, under terms we’ll explain.
We follow strict attorney-advertising rules. We don’t guarantee outcomes or make “best” or “#1” claims.
Talk with our team in a free, confidential case evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of lawyer do I need for a sexual assault case?
You need a civil premises liability or negligent security attorney. This lawyer holds a property owner accountable. That civil claim is separate from any criminal case against the attacker.
Can a sexual assault be a premises liability case?
Yes. If a property owner failed to provide reasonable security and that failure allowed the attack to happen, you may have a premises liability claim against the owner.
How much is a sexual assault lawsuit worth?
It depends on the facts, injuries, and losses involved. No lawyer can honestly promise an amount. We can review your case for free.
How much does a lawyer for a sexual assault case cost?
Your first conversation is free. We work on contingency. You pay no attorney’s fee unless there is a recovery, under terms we’ll explain clearly.
Do I have to wait for a criminal conviction to file a civil claim?
No. A civil negligent security claim is independent. It moves forward whether or not the attacker is caught or convicted.
Is my conversation with a lawyer confidential?
Yes. Everything you share with us is confidential and judgment-free.
How long do I have to file a negligent security claim in Florida?
In Florida, most negligence claims that started on or after March 24, 2023 must be filed within two years under Fla. Stat. §95.11. Deadlines vary by state. Contact us promptly so we can confirm the deadline for your situation.
Florida also uses a modified comparative fault rule under Fla. Stat. §768.81. This can affect your claim. We’ll explain how it applies to your facts.
Immediate Support and Your Next Step
Your safety and healing come first. Need support right now? The RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline is available 24/7 at 800.656.HOPE. You can also text HOPE to 64673.
When you’re ready, a civil claim can fund your care and hold a negligent property owner accountable. We handle that fight so you can focus on recovery.
There’s no cost and no obligation to talk with us. Contact CHG Personal Injury Lawyers for a free, confidential case evaluation.
Why Choose CHG for Your Negligent Security Claim
Focused on Catastrophic Injury
We focus exclusively on serious, life-altering injuries—including those caused by violent crime on inadequately secured property. We understand the profound impact of assault and the legal pathways available to you.
Civil and Criminal Are Separate
Your civil negligent security claim against the property owner is independent of any criminal case against the attacker. We pursue your civil rights and fair compensation.
National Reach, Florida Foundation
Based in Florida and licensed to practice in Florida, we handle catastrophic injury cases nationwide. Your assault may have occurred anywhere—we can help.
Plain-Language Guidance
We explain premises liability law in clear terms, so you understand your rights and next steps without legal jargon.
Important: You Are Not Alone, and Time Matters
If you were assaulted, shot, robbed, or attacked on someone else's property—an apartment complex, parking lot, hotel, bar, store, or other business—and the owner failed to provide reasonable security (working locks, lighting, cameras, or guards), you may have a claim. Statutes of limitations apply, so contact us promptly to protect your rights.
What Is Negligent Security, and Do You Have a Claim?
The Situation
You were assaulted, attacked, or harmed by violence on property you did not own—an apartment complex, parking garage, hotel, nightclub, gas station, ATM, or other business. The property owner or manager knew (or should have known) that security was inadequate or that crime was a foreseeable risk.
The Legal Claim
In civil law, this is called 'negligent security' or 'premises liability.' The property owner had a duty to provide reasonable security measures. When they failed to do so, and you were harmed as a result, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses.
Your Recovery
Damages in a negligent security claim may include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses tied to your injury. We evaluate your case to determine what compensation you may pursue.
How We Help
We investigate the property's security history, interview witnesses, gather evidence, and build a strong case on your behalf. We handle all legal work so you can focus on healing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of lawyer do I need for a sexual assault case?
You need a civil premises liability or negligent security attorney. This lawyer holds the property owner accountable. That civil claim is separate from any criminal case against the attacker.
Can a sexual assault be a premises liability case?
Yes. If a property owner failed to provide reasonable security—such as working locks, adequate lighting, surveillance cameras, or security personnel—and that failure allowed an assault to occur, you may have a premises liability claim against the owner.
Is the property owner responsible for the attacker's actions?
The property owner is not criminally responsible for the attacker's crime. However, in civil law, the owner can be held liable if they negligently failed to provide reasonable security that would have prevented or deterred the attack.
What is 'reasonable security'?
Reasonable security depends on the property type and location. It may include working locks and gates, adequate lighting, security cameras, alarm systems, trained security personnel, or other measures appropriate to the risk of crime in that area.
How long do I have to file a claim?
Statutes of limitations vary by state and circumstance. Time is critical—contact us immediately to ensure your claim is filed before the deadline expires.
How are you paid?
We work on a contingency basis: no fees unless there is a recovery. You pay nothing upfront, and we are only paid if we secure compensation for you.