Attorney Michael Rehm — (800) 978-0754
San Francisco Negligent Security Attorney
Property owners and commercial operators in San Francisco have an obligation to take reasonable steps to protect people on their premises from foreseeable criminal attacks. When inadequate security measures — broken lighting, unmanned entry points, absent security personnel in documented high-crime areas, or failure to respond to prior incidents — contribute to an assault, robbery, or other violent crime, the property owner or operator may bear civil liability for the resulting injuries. This is the negligent security doctrine, and it applies to a wide range of San Francisco commercial environments: BART and Muni stations, parking garages, hotels, apartment buildings, shopping centers, bars, and nightclubs. Attorney Michael Rehm represents people injured through negligent security throughout San Francisco and San Francisco County. These claims are filed in San Francisco Superior Court, 400 McAllister Street.
The Foreseeability Standard
The central question in a negligent security case is whether the criminal attack was foreseeable given what the property owner knew or should have known about conditions on and around the property. California courts apply a foreseeability analysis rooted in Civil Code § 1714 and the duty articulated in Ann M. v. Pacific Plaza Shopping Center (1993) 6 Cal.4th 666. Prior similar incidents on or near the property are the most powerful evidence of foreseeability. The general crime rate in the area, the nature of the business, the time of day, and documented complaints about security conditions all bear on whether reasonable security measures should have been in place.
What Constitutes Adequate Security
Adequate security depends on the specific property, the foreseeable risks, and industry standards for the type of establishment. A hotel in a high-crime district that provides no security personnel and leaves exterior doors propped open at night has not taken reasonable precautions. A parking garage with documented assaults that fails to maintain working lighting and camera systems has not taken reasonable precautions. A nightclub that allows overcrowding and fails to break up escalating altercations has not taken reasonable precautions. Expert testimony from a security consultant is typically required to establish the standard of care applicable to the specific property and the nature of the deviation from that standard.
BART and Muni Station Claims
BART and SFMTA are public entities operating transit stations throughout San Francisco. Claims for injuries resulting from criminal attacks at BART stations are brought against BART as a public entity under Government Code § 835. Claims against SFMTA for Muni station injuries follow the same framework. Both require a government tort claim under Government Code § 911.2 within six months of the incident. Missing this deadline can potentially bar a lawsuit. Tolling may apply depending on the facts.
Filing Deadlines
The personal injury statute of limitations is two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Claims against public entities require a government tort claim within six months under Government Code § 911.2. None of these deadlines are self-executing and tolling may apply.
Related Pages
Attorney Michael Rehm represents negligent security victims throughout San Francisco on a contingency fee basis. No fee without a recovery. Call (800) 978-0754 to arrange a free consultation.
The information on this page is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case turns on its own facts. The law can change — statutes are amended, cases are decided, and regulations are revised; nothing on this page should be relied upon as a statement of current law without verification. Deadlines and legal bars discussed on this page are general guides — whether a particular deadline applies, has run, or is subject to tolling, and whether a particular doctrine bars or limits recovery in your case, requires individual analysis. Contact Attorney Michael Rehm to discuss the specific facts of your situation.