Can I sue for being shot or stabbed in New York?
Often, yes. New York 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, New York 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 New York decides if a crime was “foreseeable”
New York property owners and landlords owe a duty to take minimal precautions to protect tenants and visitors from foreseeable third-party crime (Mason v. U.E.S.S. Leasing). Foreseeability is shown by prior similar crimes on or near the premises and the surrounding pattern of neighborhood crime; you must also show the inadequate security was a cause of the harm.
Deadlines in New York
- Negligence / personal injury: generally three 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 New York
New York follows pure comparative negligence: your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, but you are never completely barred.
What you can recover
New York 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 New York 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 New York crime victims and their families with no fee unless we win.
How we handle a New York 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 New York. 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 New York cases as co-counsel with a locally licensed New York attorney, seeking admission pro hac vice (for the individual case) where the court’s rules permit. Any New York matter would be handled together with local counsel admitted in New York.
If you were shot, stabbed, or lost a loved one to a preventable crime in New York, you can still reach out to us directly. We will review your case for free and, where appropriate, associate with a qualified New York 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 New York?
Often, yes. If you were shot on a New York 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. New York owners owe a duty to take minimal precautions against foreseeable crime, shown by prior similar incidents and ambient neighborhood crime (Mason). A free case review will tell you whether you have a claim.
Can I sue if I was stabbed on someone's property in New York?
Possibly. A stabbing on a New York 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 New York?
Generally three 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 New York?
Mr. Haggard is licensed in Florida, not in New York. 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 New York 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 New York.
How does New York decide if a property owner is liable?
New York owners owe a duty to take minimal precautions against foreseeable crime, shown by prior similar incidents and ambient neighborhood crime (Mason). 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.