Attacked because of poor security in Phoenix: when the property can be liable

If you were attacked at a Phoenix apartment, bar or store, the owner may share the blame. Arizona asks whether the owner had a legal duty to you, based on a special relationship or public policy. You generally have 2 years to sue. On city property, a claim is due in 180 days.

Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (32)

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Maricopa victim compensation: (602) 506-4955. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

When is a Phoenix property owner liable for an attack?

Arizona decides this differently from many states. Whether a crime was foreseeable does not decide if a duty existed. The duty comes from a special relationship recognized by the law, or from public policy. A landlord and tenant, or a business and customer, are common examples, but it depends on the case.

That means a lawyer will look at why you were there before asking about past crime. After that, the facts of the security matter. A broken gate, dead lights in a parking lot and a guard post nobody filled are the things that win or lose these cases.

Violent crime is part of life on some Phoenix properties. Police listed 8,385 aggravated assaults in the city through November 2024 and 2,779 robberies. Those are citywide numbers. They do not show that any one property was unsafe. For that, you need records about that address.

What Phoenix records can prove a property knew about crime?

RecordWhy it mattersWhere it comes from
Calls for service and police reports at the addressShows what happened there beforePhoenix Police portal or 100 W. Washington St.
Crime abatement noticeOwners must be sent an official notice with report numbersPhoenix Police precinct Community Action Officers
Crime Free Multi-Housing statusA phase certifies minimum security requirementsPhoenix Police program
Security guard licenseA state unit licenses guards and agenciesDPS Licensing, (602) 223-2361
Liquor license historyThe state enforces overservingDepartment of Liquor Licenses and Control

Phoenix Police say abatement statutes require owners to take reasonable, necessary steps to reduce crime on their property. An owner who got a notice and did nothing has a hard story to tell. Requests go in order received, and timing depends on size. Ask early.

Does it matter where in Phoenix I was attacked?

  • Apartment complex: landlords must keep common areas clean and safe, and a lease cannot excuse a landlord's legal liability.
  • Bar or nightclub: the state says a licensee is responsible for parking lot problems it is aware of.
  • Hotel, store or gas station: the question is the relationship with you and what the business did about known risks.
  • Sky Harbor Airport: the City of Phoenix runs it, and Phoenix Police officers work there, so the 180-day city claim applies.
  • Light rail or transit center: use the Valley Metro claim process, also 180 days.

Who pays after an attack on a Phoenix property?

The owner's or manager's liability insurer is usually the source, along with any security company's insurer. The attacker rarely has money. Fault is also split in a way you should understand. The jury considers everyone who contributed, and each defendant pays only its own percentage. If most of the blame lands on the attacker, the property owner pays only its share.

Separately, the Maricopa County program can help with medical, counseling and wage costs. Applications are handled locally through county attorneys' offices, and you can call (602) 506-4955. Payment is not certain, and it does not pay for pain and suffering. Your own fault reduces an award, but it does not end the claim.

What should I do after being attacked in Phoenix?

  1. Call 911 and get medical care. If you are in danger, leave first.
  2. Report it even if you feel unsure. Non-emergency line: 602-262-6151.
  3. Tips can go to Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS. In Spanish, 480-TESTIGO.
  4. Write down what you saw: lights, gates, cameras, guards, and who you told before.
  5. Ask the property in writing to save video. Most systems overwrite quickly.
  6. Keep your lease, receipts or tickets that show why you were there.
  7. Talk to a lawyer about the deadline before you sign anything from the owner's insurer.

Questions

How long do I have to sue for negligent security in Phoenix?

Generally 2 years. For a public entity, a claim is due in 180 days. A lawsuit against a public entity must follow within one year.

Can I sue if the attacker was never caught?

Possibly. A claim against the property does not require an arrest. The jury can still count the unknown attacker's fault.

Does my lease stop me from suing my Phoenix landlord?

Not for a landlord's legal liability. Arizona does not let a rental agreement excuse it.

Who checks if a security guard in Phoenix is licensed?

The Arizona DPS Licensing Unit, which also reviews public complaints. Call (602) 223-2361.

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Sources (32)

  1. Arizona Supreme Court, Quiroz v. ALCOA (2018), checked 2026-11-09. “duty is based on either special relationships recognized by the common law or relationships created by public policy”
  2. A.R.S. § 12-542, checked 2026-11-08. “within two years after the cause of action accrues”
  3. phoenix.gov, checked 2026-11-08. “Be filed with the City Clerk Department within 180 days after the cause of action accrues,”
  4. Maricopa County Attorney, Victim Related Information, checked 2026-11-09. “please contact the Victim Compensation Program at (602)506-4955”
  5. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, checked 2026-11-09. “Victim Compensation may help pay for out-of-pocket expenses including: medical costs, funeral expenses, mental health counseling, wage loss, transportation costs, and crime scene cleanup.”
  6. A.R.S. 12-2506, checked 2026-11-09. “the trier of fact shall consider the fault of all persons who contributed to the alleged injury”
  7. Arizona Supreme Court, Quiroz v. ALCOA (2018), checked 2026-11-09. “foreseeability is not a factor in determining duty”
  8. Phoenix Police, 2024 Part 1 Crimes, checked 2026-11-09. “| Aggravated Assault | 697 | 718 | 734 | 2,149 | 733 | 893 | 736 | 2,362 | 729 | 788 | 803 | 2,320 | 809 | 745 | 0 | 1,554 | 8,385 |”
  9. Phoenix Police, 2024 Part 1 Crimes, checked 2026-11-09. “| Robbery | 281 | 234 | 251 | 766 | 251 | 227 | 259 | 737 | 232 | 252 | 288 | 772 | 279 | 225 | 0 | 504 | 2,779 |”
  10. phoenix.gov, checked 2026-11-08. “The following 10 options are available on the portal to submit Public Record requests:”
  11. phoenix.gov, checked 2026-11-08. “Public Record and Services Bureau 100 W. Washington St. Phoenix, AZ 85003”
  12. Phoenix Police, Crime Abatement Information, checked 2026-11-09. “The property owner must be sent an official notice and copies of report numbers to begin the process.”
  13. Phoenix Police, Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program, checked 2026-11-09. “Phase Two will certify that the rental property has met minimum-security requirements”
  14. Arizona DPS, Licensing, checked 2026-11-09. “The Unit also receives and reviews public complaints”
  15. Arizona DPS, Licensing, checked 2026-11-09. “Phone: (602) 223-2361”
  16. Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control, FAQ, checked 2026-11-09. “The most highly enforced areas are overserving and selling to minors.”
  17. Phoenix Police, Crime Abatement Information, checked 2026-11-09. “require owners of property to take actions that are reasonable and necessary to reduce/eliminate the crime occurring on their properties”
  18. phoenix.gov, checked 2026-11-08. “Various factors affect processing time including the request size, complexity, and nature of the records sought.”
  19. A.R.S. 33-1324, checked 2026-11-09. “Keep all common areas of the premises in a clean and safe condition.”
  20. A.R.S. 33-1315, checked 2026-11-09. “Agrees to the exculpation or limitation of any liability of the landlord arising under law”
  21. Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control, FAQ, checked 2026-11-09. “Is a licensee responsible for problems that occur in his parking lot? Yes, if he is aware of the problem.”
  22. Phoenix Sky Harbor, Ride Share, checked 2026-11-08. “City of Phoenix Aviation Department 2485 E. Buckeye Road Phoenix, AZ 85034”
  23. Phoenix Sky Harbor, PHX Check-In, checked 2026-11-08. “Phoenix Police Department's Airport Bureau”
  24. Valley Metro, Notice of Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Valley Metro Attention: Risk Management 101 N. 1st Avenue, Suite 1300 Phoenix, AZ 85003”
  25. A.R.S. 12-2506, checked 2026-11-09. “Each defendant is liable only for the amount of damages allocated to that defendant in direct proportion to that defendant's percentage of fault”
  26. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, checked 2026-11-09. “resides locally in each of Arizona's 15 county attorney's offices”
  27. Maricopa County Attorney, Victim Related Information, checked 2026-11-09. “does not cover property loss or damage, pain, and suffering, collisions ruled to be an accident”
  28. A.R.S. 12-2505, checked 2026-11-09. “the claimant's action is not barred, but the full damages shall be reduced in proportion”
  29. City of Phoenix, Contact the Phoenix Police Department, checked 2026-11-08. “Non-Emergency - 602-262-6151”
  30. City of Phoenix, Contact the Phoenix Police Department, checked 2026-11-08. “480-TESTIGO (480-837-8446) (en español)”
  31. A.R.S. 12-821.01, checked 2026-11-09. “within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues”
  32. A.R.S. § 12-821, checked 2026-11-08. “shall be brought within one year after the cause of action accrues and not afterward”

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