Georgia Shooting Victim Lawyer

Last Updated: July 22, 2026

Shootings are an unfortunate daily reality in Georgia. And sadly, a shooting victim who survives is often left with significant physical and emotional damages.

What Georgia’s SB 68 Tort Reform Means for Your Case

On April 21, 2025, Governor Kemp signed Senate Bill 68, and negligent security law in Georgia split into two eras. The new statutes, O.C.G.A. §§ 51-3-50 through 51-3-57, replaced the older premises liability framework for these claims entirely, and they apply to any cause of action arising on or after that date.

Under the new framework, a property owner generally cannot be held liable for a third party’s criminal act unless the victim can show prior similar incidents on or near the property, or a particularized warning of imminent harm that the owner failed to act on. An owner who received such a warning and reported it to law enforcement has a complete defense. Juries are now required to apportion fault to the criminal who actually committed the act, which reduces what the property owner’s share can be. Single-family homes are exempt, and a person injured while committing a felony is generally barred from recovering, with an exception for victims of human trafficking.

What does that mean in practice? Evidence has become the whole case. The property’s crime history, 911 call records, incident reports, prior lawsuits, and any warnings the owner received are now the difference between a viable claim and a dismissed one, and that evidence disappears quickly. It also means timing matters enormously: if your attack happened before April 21, 2025, the older and more victim-friendly law still governs your claim, but Georgia’s two-year statute of limitations means most of those claims expire around April 2027.

One more honest note: these statutes are new and largely untested in Georgia’s appellate courts, and early decisions will shape how they are applied. That uncertainty cuts both ways, which is one more reason to have a lawyer evaluate your specific facts rather than assuming the new law bars your claim.

Additionally, shooting victims likely have substantial financial losses in the form of medical bills piling up as they miss work for their injuries.

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries or death due to gun violence, you may have a claim for damages.

The Atlanta, GA shooting victim attorneys at Fob James Law Firm are standing by and ready to help.

Contact our team today to discuss your case and see what we can do for you. 

Shootings Before April 21, 2025 Are Judged Under the Old Law

Georgia now has two bodies of negligent security law, and which one applies to a shooting victim depends entirely on the date of the shooting. SB 68 governs incidents arising on or after April 21, 2025. Anything earlier is decided under the standard Georgia applied for decades, which asked whether the property owner knew or should have known that its guests and residents were in danger.

For families of shooting victims that distinction carries real weight. Under the earlier standard, a history of violence at the property could be proven through what the owner reasonably should have discovered rather than only what it conceded knowing, prior incidents were not cut off at a fixed distance from the property line, and the jury was not required by statute to place a share of the fault on the shooter and reduce the owner’s share accordingly.

These claims are not open-ended. Georgia sets two years from the date of injury for most personal injury actions and two years for wrongful death (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33), which means the pre-reform group is closing steadily and ends in the spring of 2027. Families who lost someone in a 2023 or 2024 shooting have far less time than that, and the estate usually has to be opened before suit can be filed, which adds weeks. If someone in your family was shot at an apartment complex, hotel, bar, or parking deck in Georgia before April 21, 2025, call (205) 407-6009 and we will identify the governing standard and the real deadline in your case.

How Can A Georgia Shooting Victim Lawyer Help Me?

If you are a recent gunshot victim or have a family member that died as a result of the shooting, you may be able to file a civil lawsuit against the business where the shooting occured.

Owners of apartments and other establishments have a duty to keep their premises safe.

While no amount of money will bring a loved one back or heal your pain, we can help hold those responsible accountable and make sure you receive compensation that you deseve.

What Amount Can You Sue For In A Shooting Victim Case?

In Georgia, you can sue for any amount in your shooting victim claim. Compensatory damages are not capped. They are whatever a jury says they are.

Compensatory damages include:

• Pain and Suffering
• Loss of the Enjoyment of Life
• Mental Anguish
• Lost Wages
• Past and Future Medical Treatment

Also, you may be entitled to punitive damages, which are designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter others from doing similar bad acts in the future.

Every case is different, so there is no average settlement in a shooting case. Speak with an experienced Georgia shooting victim attorney to learn more about what your case may be worth.

How Long Do I Have To File A Shooting Injury Case?

In most shooting injury cases, you typically have only two years from the date of the incident to file a lawsuit in Georgia.

If your loved one died in a shooting, the Georgia wrongful death statute of limitations generally allows you only two years from the date of the victim’s death to take legal action in a wrongful death claim.

Talking to an experienced shooting victim attorney in Georgia is the best way to help you determine the deadline for filing legal action in your case.

Contact A Shooting Victim Lawyer Near Me in Atlanta, Georgia

If you have questions about a shooting injury or want to discuss your case, contact our team today.

We offer free case reviews and are standing by and ready to discuss your case with you. 

The Georgia personal injury lawyers at Fob James Law Firm have extensive experience helping victims, and we hope we can help you too.

Give us a call at 866-837-1010, or contact us on our website, to discuss your case and see what we can do for you. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can be sued after a shooting at a Georgia business or apartment complex?
Often the property owner or management company — not just the shooter. Under Georgia negligent security law, businesses, apartment complexes, hotels, and gas stations must take reasonable steps to protect visitors when crime in the area is foreseeable. Missing gates or cameras, broken lighting, and no security staff despite prior incidents can all support a claim.

How long do I have to file a negligent security lawsuit in Georgia?
Generally two years from the shooting under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, and wrongful death claims brought by family members follow their own timing rules. Evidence in these cases — surveillance footage, incident logs, prior police reports — disappears quickly, so it is important to have a lawyer preserve it early.

What if the shooter is never caught or has no money?
Your civil claim usually does not depend on the shooter. Negligent security cases target the property owner and its insurance coverage for failing to prevent foreseeable violence. A criminal conviction is not required, and the case can move forward even if the shooter is never identified.

What does it cost to hire a Georgia shooting victim lawyer?
Nothing up front. Fob James Law Firm handles negligent security cases on a contingency fee — you pay no attorney fees unless we recover money for you, and consultations are free and confidential.