Can I sue for being shot or stabbed in Arizona?
Often, yes. Arizona 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, Arizona 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 Arizona decides if a crime was “foreseeable”
In Arizona, a property owner who controls the premises owes a duty of reasonable care to protect people from foreseeable third-party crime (Martinez v. Woodmar). Arizona treats foreseeability as defining how much security is required rather than whether a duty exists, and whether the owner acted reasonably is generally a question for the jury.
Deadlines in Arizona
- 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.
Evidence like surveillance footage disappears fast, so it’s important to act quickly.
Fault sharing in Arizona
Arizona follows pure comparative fault: your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, with no bar (except where a plaintiff intentionally caused the harm).
What you can recover
Arizona does not cap compensatory damages — its constitution prohibits caps on damages for personal injury or death. For families, a wrongful-death claim can recover funeral costs and the loss of support and companionship.
Why Arizona 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). We help Arizona crime victims and their families with no fee unless we win.
Negligent security in Arizona cities
We handle Arizona negligent-security cases statewide. If your case happened in one of these cities, start here:
How we handle a Arizona case — working with local counsel
The Haggard Law Firm is based in Coral Gables, Florida, and Michael A. Haggard is licensed to practice law in Florida. Mr. Haggard is not licensed in Arizona. Negligent security and crime-victim litigation is the firm’s core focus, and because of the national reputation the firm has built in this specific area, Mr. Haggard regularly works on Arizona cases as co-counsel with a locally licensed Arizona attorney, seeking admission pro hac vice (for the individual case) where the court’s rules permit. Any Arizona matter would be handled together with local counsel admitted in Arizona.
If you were shot, stabbed, or lost a loved one to a preventable crime in Arizona, you can still reach out to us directly. We will review your case for free and, where appropriate, associate with a qualified Arizona attorney to pursue it.
This page is attorney advertising and general information only; it is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Michael A. Haggard is licensed in Florida. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sue for being shot in Arizona?
Often, yes. If you were shot on a Arizona 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. Arizona recognizes a duty to protect against foreseeable third-party crime; how much security was required, and whether the owner acted reasonably, is generally a jury question. A free case review will tell you whether you have a claim.
Can I sue if I was stabbed on someone's property in Arizona?
Possibly. A stabbing on a Arizona 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 Arizona?
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. Confirm your specific deadline with a lawyer quickly.
Is Michael Haggard licensed to practice in Arizona?
Mr. Haggard is licensed in Florida, not in Arizona. Because negligent-security litigation is his firm's core focus and the firm has a national profile in these cases, he regularly serves as co-counsel with a locally licensed Arizona attorney and, where the court permits, appears pro hac vice for the individual case. You can contact the firm directly, and where appropriate it will associate with qualified local counsel in Arizona.
How does Arizona decide if a property owner is liable?
Arizona recognizes a duty to protect against foreseeable third-party crime; how much security was required, and whether the owner acted reasonably, is generally a jury question. 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.