The attacker is not the only question
The civil claim asks whether a property owner, business, landlord, or security company had a legal duty that applied to the facts.
Assaulted On Unsafe Property In Michigan?
Call Before Video, Property Records, Or A Specific Threat Evidence Disappears
Tell us where the assault happened, what was happening immediately before it, what property conditions or security undertakings existed, and what video or police records may exist. These cases need fast records work.
- $300M+ Recovered for Michigan clients
- 400+ 5-star ratings across review platforms
- $0 Upfront. No fee unless we recover
- 1989 Serving Michigan since
- 10 Offices across Michigan
- 24/7 Free case review, any time
What You Need to Know First
Can a business be liable for an assault on its property?
Sometimes, but a crime on the property does not automatically make the business or landlord responsible. Michigan law requires a duty that applies to the specific situation. An immediate threat to an identifiable person, a property defect, or a security undertaking can raise different questions; crime history alone is not enough.
A specific immediate threat can matter
For ordinary third-party criminal acts, Michigan common law focuses on a specific, ongoing situation posing imminent harm to an identifiable person—not general crime history alone.
It costs nothing to find out where you stand.
Since 1989
We Review Duty, Control, Immediate Threat Evidence, And Harm.
Negligent-security claims depend on property control and the precise duty at issue. A specific, ongoing threat can matter for a merchant or landlord’s third-party-crime duty; locks, lighting, lease obligations, or an actual security undertaking can raise separate questions.
Property control
Owner, landlord, tenant, business, event operator, security company, parking operator, or management company.
Specific immediate danger
What staff or property actors knew while the danger was unfolding, who was identifiable, and whether police involvement could reasonably have been expedited.
Separate property or contract duties
Locks, lighting, common-area conditions, security agreements, access control, staffing, policies, training, and emergency response.
Damages and trauma
Physical injury, PTSD, counseling, wage loss, family impact, disability, and wrongful death.
The process
What happens when you call.
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Tell us what happened
Start with when and where you were hurt, your injuries, and your main concern. You do not need every record before you call.
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Discuss what needs attention
We ask about the people involved, any letters or offers you received, and information that could affect the next step.
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Understand your options
We explain whether we may be able to help, what information is still needed, and what representation would involve.
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Decide whether to move forward
A consultation does not commit you to hiring us. Representation begins only after conflict review and a written engagement agreement.
Michigan Legal Center
Our results
The cases. The work.
The difference it made.
$475K
Fall into a hole resulting in a fractured hip
$475K
Slip-and-fall recovery
$957K
Brain damage caused by corporate negligence
Our client suffered brain damage in a case involving negligence by a corporation.
Client reviews
What our clients say
In their own words. Read what clients and families say about working with our team.
★★★★★
It took over ten years to win my injury case against my old landlord they contacted and updated me on everything involving my case and not only did they never give up they (we) won my case.
★★★★★
We have not gone to trial yet, but for the past 2 years I wouldn't choose anyone else to stand behind me and my child. If you want injury lawyers and team members who actually care, CHOOSE Christopher Trainor.
★★★★★
I recently had the pleasure of working with Chris Trainor, Amy DeRouin and their dedicated team regarding two personal claims. I cannot recommend them highly enough! From our very first consultation, it was clear that I was in capable and caring hands. I would trust them with any personal legal matter.
Focus On Your Recovery. Get Help With Your Claim.
Treatment, bills, and insurance questions can arrive at once. We can review your situation and explain how legal help may fit into your recovery.
30-second case check
Is It Time To Review A Michigan Negligent Security Claim?
Use this practical screen to identify the first negligent security facts, records, and legal questions worth reviewing. It does not calculate a deadline. No sign-up and no dollar estimate. Your answers are only included if you submit the free case review below. The result is general information, not legal advice.
Question 1 of 5
Free case review
Talk Through The Negligent Security Facts Before Records Or Options Change.
Share what happened, how it has affected you, and a phone number or email where we can reach you. You can ask for a review before you have every report or insurance document.
- No fee unless we recover. No retainer or hourly bill.
- 400+ 5-star ratings. Across Google and leading review platforms.
Tell Us Where The Attack Happened. We Will Tell You What Records Matter.
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Legal details
Michigan Negligent Security Law, Foreseeability, And Evidence
The main point: Michigan third-party-crime claims require a precise duty analysis. Preserve the immediate-threat evidence, property-control records, and any separate property-condition or contractual-duty proof.
The full breakdown Michigan law, deadlines, evidence, and recovery issues
Negligent Security Cases Start With Duty, Control, And The Exact Facts.
The case is not just whether a crime occurred. It is whether a responsible actor had a duty that applied to the immediate danger, property condition, or security undertaking involved.
Apartment or landlord assault
We review locks, common areas, lease duties, access control, what the landlord knew while a danger unfolded, and preserved records.
Parking lot or business attack
We review the immediate situation, employee knowledge, calls for help, any security undertaking, video, and who controlled the area.
Bar, hotel, or venue violence
We review crowd control, intoxication, security staffing, an ongoing confrontation, policies, and video.
Fatal shooting or assault
We review wrongful death, probate, the applicable duty, preserved evidence, and family-loss proof.
Key Michigan Rules, Deadlines, And Evidence
Michigan negligent-security cases can involve narrow third-party criminal-act duty limits, landlord or business duties, lease common-area obligations, voluntary security undertakings, premises-condition analysis, comparative fault, wrongful death, and incident-record research.
Third-party criminal acts
Under MacDonald and Bailey, a merchant or landlord’s ordinary duty for third-party crime is generally triggered by a specific, ongoing situation posing imminent harm to an identifiable person. The usual response duty is to reasonably expedite police involvement.
Separate property and undertaking duties
Broken locks, lease common-area duties, unsafe physical conditions, or a voluntarily assumed security role can raise separate questions. Kandil-Elsayed concerns premises-condition analysis; it does not erase the MacDonald/Bailey limits.
Landlord duties
MCL 554.139 may matter for residential lease and common-area issues.
Records and location research
Police calls, tenant complaints, incident logs, security logs, work orders, leases, and video can help identify the actual duty and evidence. General crime data alone does not create the ordinary third-party-crime duty.
Wrongful death and trauma
Fatal or severe assault cases may require estate authority, counseling proof, future care, and family-loss documentation.
10 offices statewide
Serving clients across Michigan.
Meet by phone, video, or at any of our Michigan offices.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions: Michigan Negligent Security Lawyer
Can a property owner be liable for a criminal attack in Michigan?
Possibly, but the duty is narrow and fact-specific. For an ordinary third-party-crime claim, Michigan law generally looks for a specific, ongoing situation posing imminent harm to an identifiable person. Separate lease, physical-condition, or security-undertaking duties may require a different analysis.
What evidence helps a negligent security case?
Preserve 911 calls, surveillance, access logs, lighting and lock photos, work orders, lease or security-contract documents, incident reports, staff communications, witness names, and proof of what was happening immediately before the attack.
What if the attacker has not been caught?
A civil claim may still be possible, but it requires proof of an applicable duty, breach, causation, and damages. The attacker’s identity is only one part of the legal analysis.
Do prior crimes at the property matter?
They can help direct investigation, but general prior crime does not by itself create the ordinary Michigan common-law duty to protect against third-party crime. The exact duty, immediate facts, and any separate property or contractual obligation matter.
What if a loved one was killed in an assault?
A fatal negligent-security case may require wrongful-death, probate, applicable-duty, evidence-preservation, and family-loss review.
Our Team Approach
Every case at Christopher Trainor & Associates is a team effort. Our attorneys collaborate on strategy, discovery, and litigation so you get the full strength of the firm behind you—not just a single lawyer. We have built our practice on this collaborative model since 1989.
Meet Our AttorneysRelated resources
Premises Liability Unsafe property, notice, control, landlord duties, government-property issues, and comparative fault. Learn More Wrongful Death Estate authority, family-loss proof, survivor benefits, and evidence preservation after a fatal injury. Learn More Personal Injury Start here when the injury claim needs routing across insurance, liability, evidence, and deadline issues. Learn More Slip And Fall Fall evidence, photos, incident reports, notice, open-and-obvious issues, and medical proof. Learn More Traumatic Brain Injury Concussion, TBI symptoms, imaging, neuropsychology, PIP benefits, and serious-impairment proof. Learn More Spinal Cord Injury Paralysis, lifetime care, home modification, wage loss, and catastrophic-injury damages proof. Learn More
In-depth guide What Evidence Should You Save After A Michigan Slip And Fall? Photos, reports, witnesses, video, records, shoes, clothing, and other proof that can disappear. Read guide In-depth guide Michigan Wrongful Death Deadlines How probate authority, saving statutes, government notice, malpractice timing, and insurance deadlines can overlap. Read guide In-depth guide Traumatic Brain Injury After A Michigan Accident How TBI symptoms, records, family observations, and damages proof are documented after an accident. Read guide