Shooting Victims Are Gaining Powerful New Legal Tools to Fight Back

A Growing Movement to Get Victims Their Day in Civil Court

For too long, shooting victims and their families have faced a painful reality: the criminal justice system may punish a shooter, but it rarely puts money in a victim's pocket. Now, a wave of expanded legal resources — from specialized law firms to new government programs — is changing what survivors can actually do after gun violence upends their lives.

As gun violence cases continue to move through courts across the country, civil litigation is increasingly examining the legal responsibility of third parties, including property owners, businesses, and manufacturers whose conduct may have contributed to foreseeable harm. Unlike criminal prosecution, which is a government-led process focused on punishment, civil litigation is a private legal action that allows injured parties to pursue financial compensation. That distinction matters enormously for victims who are left with mountains of medical debt and no clear path to recovery.

Beyond the Shooter: Who Else Can Be Held Responsible

In addition to exploring legal action against the shooter, experienced attorneys can help identify third parties whose negligence may have contributed to the incident. This legal theory — known as negligent security — has become one of the most powerful tools available to shooting survivors. Negligent security is a premises liability theory that evaluates whether a business or property owner maintained adequate safety measures given known or knowable risks. Courts assess prior incident history, documented complaints, physical security infrastructure, and whether the property owner took reasonable steps to address identifiable hazards.

The financial stakes in these cases can be significant. Thousands of individual lawsuits are active nationwide, with 2026 settlements ranging from $1 million to $31 million in verified cases. One striking example: a negligent security civil lawsuit filed against an apartment building management company on behalf of a Philadelphia shooting victim resolved for a seven-figure confidential settlement — and the firm that won it only took the case after five other law firms had declined to pursue it. That story underscores both the promise and the challenge of this area of law.

Federal and State Governments Stepping Up

The push to expand resources for shooting victims isn't happening only in courtrooms. On September 24, 2026, the Justice Department unveiled a $25 million grant opportunity as Attorney General Todd Blanche hosted violent crime survivors and grieving families for a summit focused on public safety and support for victims. Led by Attorney General Blanche, the summit brought the devastating human consequences of violent crime directly before federal leadership, with attendees hearing firsthand from families whose experiences underscored the need for stronger enforcement, accountability, and a justice system that places victims at the center of its mission.

States are also acting. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel reaffirmed her department's commitment to protecting, empowering, and advocating for crime victims, noting that since taking office she has prioritized crime victim services and expanded efforts to ensure survivors receive support and resources. Meanwhile, the federal Office for Victims of Crime has been supporting the development, expansion, and strengthening of victim service programs for all victims of crime throughout the United States and its territories.

What Victims Need to Know Right Now

Navigating these legal options is rarely simple, and time is a critical factor. Filing deadlines are set by each state's statute of limitations, typically running one to four years from the incident. Missing that window can permanently close the door on civil recovery. Most attorneys understand the difficulty of the client's situation and will offer contingency fees — arrangements where the lawyer receives a percentage of any damages recovered — so the client does not incur financial burden upfront.

Civil claims address a question that many shooting victims and their families do not realize is available to them: whether a party beyond the individual perpetrator bears legal responsibility for the conditions that made the shooting foreseeable. As more specialized firms expand their practices and governments invest in victim services, the landscape for shooting survivors is shifting. The message emerging from courts, law firms, and federal summits alike is clear: being a victim of gun violence does not have to mean facing the financial aftermath alone.