Can You Get Compensation for Being Robbed in NY?

Yes. Under New York premises liability law, property owners have a duty to provide reasonable security measures to protect visitors from foreseeable criminal acts. If a landlord, business owner, or property manager failed to meet that duty — through broken locks, no lighting, or inadequate security personnel — and that failure contributed to your robbery, you may have a valid negligent security claim. The key question courts ask is whether the criminal act was foreseeable given the location and history of crime there.

Foreseeability means the property owner knew or should have known that criminal activity was likely on or near their property. New York courts look at factors like prior robberies or assaults at the same location, crime statistics for the neighborhood, and whether the owner had received complaints about safety. If similar crimes had occurred before, a court is more likely to find that the owner was on notice and had a duty to act.

To succeed in a New York negligent security case, you generally must show: (1) the property owner owed you a duty of care; (2) they breached that duty by failing to maintain reasonable security; (3) that breach was a proximate cause of your robbery and resulting injuries; and (4) you suffered actual damages such as physical injury, psychological trauma, lost wages, or medical expenses. Evidence like prior incident reports, security camera footage, and expert testimony on industry security standards all strengthen the case.

In most New York negligent security cases, the statute of limitations is three years from the date of the incident under CPLR 214. However, if the property owner is a government entity such as a public housing authority, you may have as little as 90 days to file a Notice of Claim and only a year and 90 days to commence suit. Acting quickly is critical: evidence disappears, witnesses forget details, and missing a deadline can permanently bar your claim.