Can I sue for being shot or stabbed in Florida?
Often, yes. Florida property owners owe a duty to take reasonable steps to protect people on their premises from foreseeable crime. When a business or landlord ignores a known danger and someone is shot or stabbed as a result, Florida law can hold the owner financially responsible — through a negligent-security claim. You are not suing for the crime itself; you are suing the property owner for the security failures that made a foreseeable attack possible. This is separate from any criminal case against the attacker.
How Florida decides if a crime was “foreseeable”
Florida uses a totality of the circumstances test. A property owner can be held liable when a violent crime was reasonably foreseeable based on all the circumstances — prior similar crimes on or near the property, the nature and location of the premises, and the level of crime in the area. Prior similar crimes are powerful evidence but are not a strict prerequisite.
Deadlines in Florida
- Negligence / personal injury: generally two years from the date of the incident from the date of the incident.
- Wrongful death: generally two years from the date of death.
Florida shortened the personal-injury deadline from four years to two years in 2023 (HB 837), so the two-year limit applies to incidents on or after March 24, 2023. Evidence like surveillance footage disappears fast, so it’s important to act quickly.
Fault sharing in Florida
Florida follows modified comparative negligence with a 50% bar (since HB 837 in 2023): your compensation is reduced by your share of fault, and you recover nothing if you are found more than 50% at fault.
What you can recover
Florida does not cap compensatory damages — medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering — in an ordinary negligence case. For families, a wrongful-death claim can recover funeral costs and the loss of support and companionship.
Why Florida victims choose The Haggard Law Firm
The firm has handled nearly 500 negligent-security cases nationwide and secured the largest negligent-security verdict in U.S. history ($102.7 million). The firm is based in Coral Gables, Florida, and has secured the state’s landmark negligent-security results, including the $102.7 million verdict. We help Florida crime victims and their families with no fee unless we win.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sue for being shot in Florida?
Often, yes. If you were shot on a Florida property that failed to provide reasonable security against a foreseeable risk, you may be able to sue the property owner for negligent security — separately from any criminal case against the shooter. Florida applies a totality-of-the-circumstances foreseeability test, weighing prior crime and all the surrounding circumstances. A free case review will tell you whether you have a claim.
Can I sue if I was stabbed on someone's property in Florida?
Possibly. A stabbing on a Florida property with inadequate security is handled the same way as a shooting — if the attack was foreseeable and the owner failed to provide reasonable security, the owner may be liable. The claim is against the property owner, not only the attacker.
How long do I have to file a negligent-security claim in Florida?
Generally two years from the date of the incident from the date of the incident for a negligence claim, and two years from the date of death for wrongful death. Florida shortened the personal-injury deadline from four years to two years in 2023 (HB 837), so the two-year limit applies to incidents on or after March 24, 2023. Confirm your specific deadline with a lawyer quickly.
How does Florida decide if a property owner is liable?
Florida applies a totality-of-the-circumstances foreseeability test, weighing prior crime and all the surrounding circumstances. If the crime was foreseeable and the owner failed to provide reasonable security, they can be held responsible.
What does it cost to hire the firm?
Nothing up front. We work on contingency — no attorney's fees unless we recover compensation for you.