Oklahoma Negligent Security Lawyers

Civil claims against property owners whose poor security let a violent crime happen. Free, confidential consultations in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and across Oklahoma.

The attack was not your fault, and it may not be only the attacker's

A property owner can be held responsible when poor security made a violent crime more likely and someone was hurt. Apartment complexes, hotels, bars, parking lots and shopping centers invite people onto their property. They are expected to take reasonable steps to keep those people safe, such as working lights, locks that close, cameras that record and staff who respond to threats.

Negligent security claims are part of our work for victims of crime. A civil case like this is separate from any criminal case against the attacker. It focuses on what the property owner knew and what it failed to do.

Our team is all women, with two attorneys and two paralegals. Laurie Koller serves on the Board of Advisors of the National Crime Victim Bar Association. Laura Martinez speaks Spanish.

You can bring a civil case even if no one was ever arrested.

Talk to us

Free, confidential consultation

Consultations are free and confidential. Tell us as much or as little as you want about what happened, and we will explain your options.

Cases we handle

Places where security failed

Apartment complexes

Broken gates and locks, dark walkways and ignored complaints from tenants.

Hotels and motels

Unsecured doors, keys that were never changed and no one watching the halls.

Bars and clubs

Too few staff, no screening and fights that were allowed to grow.

Parking lots and garages

Poor lighting, cameras that did not work and no patrols.

Shopping centers

Known crime problems with no added security.

Schools, daycares and nursing homes

Unmonitored entrances and visitors no one checked.

When a property owner is responsible

A property owner may be responsible when a crime on its property was foreseeable and reasonable security could have helped prevent it. Foreseeable usually means the owner knew or should have known about the risk. Past crimes on the property or nearby, complaints from tenants or guests, and earlier threats can all show that the danger was known.

The question is not whether the owner could have stopped every crime. It is whether the owner took reasonable steps given what it knew. A dark parking lot with a history of robberies, an apartment gate that stayed broken for months, or a bar that kept serving a guest who had already threatened people can all point to a failure.

Evidence in a negligent security case

These cases are built on what the property looked like and what the owner knew before the attack. Common evidence includes:

Some of this evidence disappears quickly. Video is often recorded over, and broken lights and locks get fixed after an attack. If this happened to you, it helps to talk with a lawyer early. Call (918) 221-3861 for a free, confidential conversation.

A civil case is separate from the criminal case

You do not need an arrest, a criminal trial or a conviction to bring a negligent security claim. The criminal case is brought by the state against the attacker. Your civil case is brought by you, uses a different standard of proof, and can be against the property owner, the management company or a security contractor.

That matters because attackers are sometimes never found, and when they are, they rarely have money to pay for the harm. The property owner and its insurance are often the ones able to pay for medical care, counseling and lost income. Oklahoma also runs a Crime Victims Compensation Program that may help with some costs. It has its own rules and deadlines and is separate from a lawsuit.

Deadlines and your next step

Deadlines apply to these claims, and a claim against the attacker and a claim against a property owner may not run on the same clock. Some deadlines are short. Please talk to a lawyer about your deadline rather than waiting.

If the attack was a sexual assault, you can also read about our civil claims for sexual assault survivors. When you are ready, send our team a private message or call (918) 221-3861. We will start by listening.

You can bring a civil case even if no one was ever arrested.

How we work

How we handle negligent security cases

You set the pace

You decide how much to share and when. We will not push you to relive the attack.

We look at the property

We gather crime history, maintenance records, video and staffing records.

We protect your privacy

We talk with you early about steps that may limit who sees your name.

Compensation

What a civil case can recover

Money does not undo an attack. It can pay for recovery and make a property owner answer for its choices. Depending on the case, that may include:

Client reviews

What our clients say

"Laurie is a true advocate for her clients. Her passion and dedication to helping victims is unparalleled. Thank you Laurie for being a fearless leader in creating change."

Lexlee O.

This team is capable and leaves no stone unturned. The best decision I made was hiring this team for my case.

Mary W.

Knowledgeable, honest, experienced, compassionate, determined. Laurie is the first attorney I'll call for legal advice and guidance. Without question, I'm all in.

Cari B.

Common questions

Questions about negligent security

Can I sue a property owner for a crime someone else committed?

Sometimes, yes. A property owner can be responsible for its own failure to provide reasonable security when a crime was foreseeable. The claim is about the owner's choices, like broken locks, dark lots or ignored threats, not about blaming the owner for the attacker's acts. We look closely at what the owner knew before the attack.

The attacker was never caught. Do I still have a case?

You may. A negligent security claim is against the property owner, management company or security contractor, so it does not depend on an arrest or conviction. What matters is what the owner knew and what it did about it. Video, police reports and property records can still tell the story.

What makes a crime foreseeable?

Usually, past events. Earlier crimes on or near the property, police calls, complaints from tenants or guests, and known threats can show the owner knew or should have known about the risk. Even one serious threat that was reported to the owner and then ignored can matter. We look for these records early.

How long do I have to bring a claim?

Deadlines apply, and different claims can have different deadlines. Some are short. The safest step is to talk to a lawyer about your deadline as soon as you can. Waiting can also mean losing video and other evidence that shows how the property looked on the day you were hurt. The consultation is free and confidential.

You do not have to have all the answers

Call us. We will start by listening.

Tell us how we can help

Your message is confidential.