In a community where many residents and visitors drive between destinations, risk can concentrate around predictable “transition zones,” including:
- Parking lots and ramps tied to retail, restaurants, and apartment buildings
- Entryways, vestibules, and back doors used for deliveries and access
- Sidewalk routes and poorly lit paths people use at night or in bad weather
- Transit-adjacent areas where foot traffic and waiting periods increase exposure
When an incident happens in one of these areas, the defense often argues the event was unforeseeable or that “security was in place.” The case then turns on whether the property’s safety choices matched what the owner knew (or should have known) about local risk and the site’s layout.


