Negligent Security Attorney in Honolulu
Over 20 Years of Hawaii Personal Injury Experience, Including Time on Both Sides of These Claims
When a property owner fails to provide reasonable security and someone is attacked or injured as a result, that owner may be held civilly liable under Hawaii premises liability law. Negligent security claims hold businesses, landlords, and property managers accountable when their failure to protect visitors enables preventable criminal harm. We handle these claims for injured victims throughout the Hawaiian Islands.
Jon S. Jacobs brings a perspective most attorneys can’t offer: four years as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu, followed by six years in insurance defense before founding Law Office of Jon S. Jacobs, LLLC in 2013. That background means we know how these cases are built and how the other side can challenge them. With over 20 years of personal injury experience in Hawaii, we pursue maximum compensation for victims facing medical bills, lost income, and the lasting effects of a violent attack.
If you or someone you know was harmed because of inadequate security on another’s property, contact us today for a free consultation. Call (808) 736-0020 to speak with our team.Where Negligent Security Claims Arise in Honolulu
Negligent security incidents happen across a wide range of property types. Hawaii’s active hospitality and commercial landscape means both residents and visitors can find themselves injured on properties where basic security precautions were ignored or neglected.
Common settings for these claims include:
- Hotels and Resorts: Failure to monitor common areas, unsecured entry points, or inadequate staffing after reported prior incidents
- Bars and Nightclubs: Insufficient security personnel, poor lighting in parking areas, or failure to address known patterns of violence
- Apartment Complexes: Broken or non-locking entry gates, inoperable security cameras, or poor lighting in stairwells and hallways
- Parking Garages and Lots: Lack of functioning surveillance, inadequate lighting, or absence of security patrols in areas with known criminal activity
- Shopping Centers and Retail Establishments: Failure to employ adequate security or respond to repeated incidents on the premises
- Entertainment Venues: Overcrowding, understaffed security, or failure to control access at entry points
Properties in areas with a known history of criminal activity carry a heightened duty to address foreseeable risks. When a property owner ignores that duty and someone is harmed, the victim may have a claim not only against the perpetrator but against the property owner as well.
Proving a Negligent Security Claim in Hawaii
Negligent security cases require establishing four core elements. First, the property owner owed a duty of care to the person on the premises. Second, criminal activity was foreseeable based on prior incidents, police reports, or the nature of the property. Third, the owner failed to take reasonable steps to address that foreseeable risk. Fourth, that failure directly caused the victim’s injuries.
Foreseeability is typically the most contested issue. Courts examine whether similar crimes had occurred at the same location or in the surrounding area, whether the property type is one where criminal activity is commonly associated, and whether the owner had received complaints or warnings. A third party committing the attack doesn’t automatically sever the property owner’s liability if their failure to provide adequate security was a contributing cause.
Evidence in these cases may include police and incident reports documenting prior crimes, surveillance footage, maintenance records for security equipment, records of prior complaints to the property owner, and expert testimony on industry-standard security practices.
Compensation Negligent Security Victims May Pursue
Injuries from violent attacks can be severe and long-lasting. Victims may be entitled to pursue compensation for emergency and ongoing medical treatment, lost wages and diminished earning capacity, physical pain and suffering, and emotional distress or psychological trauma, including PTSD. In cases where the property owner’s conduct was especially reckless, punitive damages may also be available.
Hawaii’s comparative fault rules allow the defense to argue the victim was partially responsible for the incident. Our team anticipates these arguments and builds cases designed to address them.
Why Clients Throughout the Hawaiian Islands Choose Law Office of Jon S. Jacobs, LLLC
Jon S. Jacobs’s background shapes how we handle every negligent security claim. His time as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney developed extensive jury trial experience. His six years in insurance defense revealed exactly how carriers and property owners evaluate and contest personal injury claims. Together, that background informs how we investigate, negotiate, and litigate on behalf of our clients.
Jon S. Jacobs has been recognized in Honolulu Magazine’s Best Lawyers and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America for personal injury litigation. He is a member of the Hawaii Association for Justice and the American Association for Justice. Clients receive direct, one-on-one communication throughout their case, not handoffs to less experienced staff.
Contact a Negligent Security Lawyer in Honolulu for a Free Consultation
Under Hawaii Revised Statutes section 657-7, personal injury claims must generally be filed within two years of the date of injury. Missing that deadline can permanently bar a victim from pursuing compensation, regardless of how strong the underlying claim may be. The sooner you speak with an attorney, the more options you preserve.
At Law Office of Jon S. Jacobs, LLLC, we offer free initial consultations with no obligation. Call (808) 736-0020 to discuss your situation with our team.
You want a lawyer who understands the specifics of your situation. With more than 19 years of legal experience, Attorney Jon S. Jacobs can be trusted to apply his knowledge and resources to your case and strive for optimal results.
