Can I sue for being shot or stabbed in Washington?
Often, yes. Washington 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, Washington 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 Washington decides if a crime was “foreseeable”
Washington property owners owe the people they invite onto their premises a duty to protect them from reasonably foreseeable third-party crime (Nivens v. 7-Eleven Hoagy’s Corner, adopting Restatement (Second) of Torts § 344). Foreseeability is usually shown by prior similar incidents on or near the property, or other notice that an attack was likely, and it is generally a question for the jury.
Deadlines in Washington
- Negligence / personal injury: generally three years from the date of the incident from the date of the incident.
- Wrongful death: generally three years from the date of death.
Evidence like surveillance footage disappears fast, so it’s important to act quickly.
Fault sharing in Washington
Washington follows pure comparative negligence (RCW 4.22.005): your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, but you are never completely barred — even if you were found mostly at fault.
What you can recover
Washington does not cap compensatory damages — its cap on noneconomic damages was struck down as unconstitutional in Sofie v. Fibreboard, so pain and suffering, medical costs, and lost income are all uncapped. For families, a wrongful-death claim can recover funeral costs and the loss of support and companionship.
Why Washington 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 Washington crime victims and their families with no fee unless we win.
Negligent security in Washington cities
We handle Washington negligent-security cases statewide. If your case happened in one of these cities, start here:
How we handle a Washington 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 Washington. 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 Washington cases as co-counsel with a locally licensed Washington attorney, seeking admission pro hac vice (for the individual case) where the court’s rules permit. Any Washington matter would be handled together with local counsel admitted in Washington.
If you were shot, stabbed, or lost a loved one to a preventable crime in Washington, you can still reach out to us directly. We will review your case for free and, where appropriate, associate with a qualified Washington 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 Washington?
Often, yes. If you were shot on a Washington 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. Washington owners must protect invitees from reasonably foreseeable third-party crime, usually shown by prior similar incidents (Nivens). A free case review will tell you whether you have a claim.
Can I sue if I was stabbed on someone's property in Washington?
Possibly. A stabbing on a Washington 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 Washington?
Generally three 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. Confirm your specific deadline with a lawyer quickly.
Is Michael Haggard licensed to practice in Washington?
Mr. Haggard is licensed in Florida, not in Washington. 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 Washington 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 Washington.
How does Washington decide if a property owner is liable?
Washington owners must protect invitees from reasonably foreseeable third-party crime, usually shown by prior similar incidents (Nivens). 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.