Can I sue for being shot or stabbed in Missouri?
Often, yes. Missouri 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, Missouri 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 Missouri decides if a crime was “foreseeable”
Missouri’s Business Premises Safety Act (RSMo § 537.787) governs these claims: a business generally has no duty to guard against third-party crime unless it knows or has reason to know that such crimes are being committed — or are reasonably likely — in a particular area of the premises, and there is time to prevent them. Prior similar incidents and the nature of the business are central (L.A.C. v. Ward Parkway; Nappier v. Kincade).
Deadlines in Missouri
- Negligence / personal injury: generally five years from the date of the incident from the date of the incident.
- Wrongful death: generally three years from the date of death.
Missouri’s five-year personal-injury deadline is longer than in most states — but wrongful-death claims must be filed within three years, and critical evidence disappears fast. Evidence like surveillance footage disappears fast, so it’s important to act quickly.
Fault sharing in Missouri
Missouri follows pure comparative fault (Gustafson v. Benda): your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, but you are never completely barred.
What you can recover
Missouri does not cap compensatory damages in an ordinary negligence case. For families, a wrongful-death claim can recover funeral costs and the loss of support and companionship.
Why Missouri 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 Missouri crime victims and their families with no fee unless we win.
Negligent security in Missouri cities
We handle Missouri negligent-security cases statewide. If your case happened in one of these cities, start here:
- Can I sue for being shot or stabbed in St. Louis?
- Can I sue for being shot or stabbed in Kansas City?
How we handle a Missouri 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 Missouri. 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 Missouri cases as co-counsel with a locally licensed Missouri attorney, seeking admission pro hac vice (for the individual case) where the court’s rules permit. Any Missouri matter would be handled together with local counsel admitted in Missouri.
If you were shot, stabbed, or lost a loved one to a preventable crime in Missouri, you can still reach out to us directly. We will review your case for free and, where appropriate, associate with a qualified Missouri 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 Missouri?
Often, yes. If you were shot on a Missouri 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. Missouri imposes a duty only where the business knew or had reason to know similar crime was reasonably likely in that area of the premises (Business Premises Safety Act, §537.787). A free case review will tell you whether you have a claim.
Can I sue if I was stabbed on someone's property in Missouri?
Possibly. A stabbing on a Missouri 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 Missouri?
Generally five years from the date of the incident from the date of the incident for a negligence claim, and three years from the date of death for wrongful death. Missouri's five-year personal-injury deadline is longer than in most states — but wrongful-death claims must be filed within three years, and critical evidence disappears fast. Confirm your specific deadline with a lawyer quickly.
Is Michael Haggard licensed to practice in Missouri?
Mr. Haggard is licensed in Florida, not in Missouri. 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 Missouri 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 Missouri.
How does Missouri decide if a property owner is liable?
Missouri imposes a duty only where the business knew or had reason to know similar crime was reasonably likely in that area of the premises (Business Premises Safety Act, §537.787). 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.