# Legal Herald: Crime Victims

> Hurt in a shooting, stabbing or assault? How state crime victim compensation works and when you can sue a property owner for negligent security.

Website: https://crime-victims.legalherald.com/
Part of: [Legal Herald](https://legalherald.com/llms.txt)
Last Updated: 2026-11-06

## Guide
- [Crime Victims' Rights: Compensation and Negligent Security Claims](https://crime-victims.legalherald.com/) (reviewed by Laurence Banville, Esq.)

## FAQ

### Can I sue for being shot if the shooter was never caught?
Possibly. A negligent security claim is against the property owner or manager, not the shooter, so it does not depend on an arrest or conviction. The question is whether the owner should have expected a crime like this and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent it. State compensation programs also do not require that the offender be caught or convicted.

### What does crime victim compensation pay for?
Every state has a program that reimburses victims of violent crime for out-of-pocket costs such as medical and dental care, counseling, lost wages, and funeral and burial expenses. Many also cover crime scene cleanup, travel for treatment and relocation. Programs generally do not pay for stolen or damaged property or for pain and suffering.

### How much can I get from a crime victim compensation program?
Each state sets its own limits. The National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards reports that maximum benefits average about $25,000, with some states higher and some lower, and lower sub-limits often apply to categories such as funerals, counseling and lost wages.

### Can I apply for victim compensation and also file a lawsuit?
Yes, in general. Compensation programs pay only after other sources such as insurance, and if you later recover money from a lawsuit or restitution, the program may seek repayment for what it covered. Tell both the program and your lawyer about each claim.

### Who is liable for a shooting at an apartment complex?
The owner and management company may be liable if the shooting was foreseeable, for example because of prior violent crimes on or near the property, and they failed to take reasonable measures such as working locks, lighting, access control or security staff. Several states have recently changed these rules, so the answer depends heavily on where it happened.

## Latest releases
_Press releases are sponsored content issued by the organizations named._
- [Crime Victim Attorneys Expands Shooting Victims Legal Resources](https://legalherald.com/news/2026/10/13/crime-victim-attorneys-expands-shooting-victims-legal-resources/): Haggard Crime Victim Attorney, Coral Gables, FL
- [Haggard Crime Victim Attorneys Expands Negligent Security Resources](https://legalherald.com/news/2026/09/30/haggard-crime-victim-attorneys-expands-negligent-security-resources/): Haggard Crime Victim Attorney, Coral Gables, FL
- [Haggard Crime Victim Attorneys Share Educational Webinar on Legal Rights for Mass Shooting Victims](https://legalherald.com/news/2025/05/23/haggard-crime-victim-attorneys-share-educational-webinar-on-legal-rights-for-mass-shooting/): Haggard Crime Victim Attorney, Coral Gables, FL
- [Next Educational Webinar on Legal Rights for Stabbing Victims Announced By Haggard Crime Victim Attorneys](https://legalherald.com/news/2025/04/21/next-educational-webinar-on-legal-rights-for-stabbing-victims-announced-by-haggard-crime-v/): Haggard Crime Victim Attorney, Coral Gables, FL
- [$28.9 Million Settlement Secured by The Haggard Law Firm in Landmark Negligent Security Case](https://legalherald.com/news/2025/04/07/28-9-million-settlement-secured-by-the-haggard-law-firm-in-landmark-negligent-security-cas/): Haggard Crime Victim Attorney, Delray Beach, FL
- [Upcoming Educational Webinar on Legal Rights for Shooting Victims Hosted By Haggard Crime Victim Attorneys](https://legalherald.com/news/2025/03/28/upcoming-educational-webinar-on-legal-rights-for-shooting-victims-hosted-by-haggard-crime/): Haggard Crime Victim Attorney, Coral Gables, FL
- [$2 Million Settlement Secured by The Haggard Law Firm in Florida Negligent Security Wrongful Death Case](https://legalherald.com/news/2025/03/04/2-million-settlement-secured-by-the-haggard-law-firm-in-florida-negligent-security-wrongfu/): Haggard Crime Victim Attorney, Palm Beach County, FL
- [$7.65 Million Settlement Secured by Haggard Crime Victim Attorney in Negligent Security Wrongful Death Case](https://legalherald.com/news/2025/02/18/7-65-million-settlement-secured-by-haggard-crime-victim-attorney-in-negligent-security-wro/): Haggard Crime Victim Attorney, Miami, FL

## Policies
- [Sponsored content policy](https://legalherald.com/sponsored-content-policy/)
- [Editorial standards](https://legalherald.com/editorial-standards/)