Attacked in Midland because of poor security: when you can sue and finding a lawyer
A Midland property owner has a duty to protect you only if the risk of crime was unreasonable and foreseeable. Past crimes at or near the place are the main proof. Midland Police publishes crime numbers and a map you can search by address. You generally have 2 years to sue.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (28)
Can I sue a property owner after an attack in Midland?
Being attacked on someone's property is not enough by itself. Texas asks whether the owner should have seen this coming. Courts look at five things about past crimes: how close, how recent, how often, how similar and how well known. The duty reaches a landlord who keeps control of security.
Picture two Midland parking lots. One had two armed robberies last year, and the owner got told. The other has had a car break-in or two. The first owner has a much harder time saying the attack was a surprise.
How do I find crime history for a place in Midland?
Start with the city's own numbers. Midland Police posts the offenses it sends to the FBI. These are citywide counts, so they show the general picture. They do not prove anything about one address.
| Offense, City of Midland | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal homicide | 5 | 3 |
| Rape | 91 | 95 |
| Robbery | 36 | 42 |
| Aggravated assault | 318 | 316 |
| Burglary | 299 | 291 |
- Use the police crime map. You enter an address and see crime activity for that area. Take screenshots, since old entries may roll off.
- Ask MPD Records at 601 N. Loraine, (432) 685-7145, about calls to the address.
- Ask tenants and staff what happened before. Get names and dates.
- Look for broken gates, dark lights and missing cameras, and photograph them soon.
- Have a lawyer send a letter asking the owner to save video, incident logs and security contracts.
What about an attack at a Midland apartment complex?
Apartments have extra rules. Each exterior door must have a keyless bolt and a door viewer. A landlord must repair or replace a security device when you tell them it is broken. So if someone came through a door you reported, find that text message or email and save it. A broken lock you reported is very different from a stranger picking a good one.
Who pays after an attack in Midland?
| Source | What to know |
|---|---|
| Property owner's insurance | The usual target, if the owner had a duty and failed it |
| Security company | Possible if it was hired to guard the place |
| The attacker | Rarely has money, but can be blamed in the case |
| Texas Crime Victims' Compensation | Up to $50,000, after other sources pay |
Expect the owner's lawyer to point at the attacker, even one who was never found. A Texas defendant usually pays only its percentage. A defendant above 50 percent can owe the whole recoverable amount. You get nothing if you are more than 50 percent responsible yourself.
What if it happened on city, county or school property in Midland?
Move fast and expect a hard road. The City of Midland charter asks for written, verified notice within 60 days. Send it through Risk Management. Other government bodies, including the county and the school district, fall under the state's 6-month notice.
Texas protects governments from many claims, and an assault by a third party is often outside what they can be sued for. Ask a lawyer early whether yours fits.
Who do I call after an assault in Midland?
- Emergency: 911. Non-emergency in the city: 432-685-7110.
- Outside the city limits: Sheriff's Office, 432-688-4600.
- Victim Assistance Division, for serious bodily injury cases and relatives of people who died.
- Serious injury lawsuits are kept by the District Clerk, 500 N. Loraine, Suite 300, 432-688-4500.
Questions
How long do I have to sue for negligent security in Midland?
Generally 2 years. The state crime victims claim has a 3-year limit.
Does a high crime area mean the owner is liable?
No. Courts look at specific crimes that were close, recent, frequent, similar and known.
What if police never caught the attacker?
You can still bring a claim against the owner, and the owner can name an unknown criminal as a responsible party.
Can I get help with medical bills while the case goes on?
The state fund can help after other sources pay. The Victim Assistance Division helps with the form.
Attacked because of poor security in Midland? See if you are owed money.
A free case review. $0 upfront. No fee unless you win.
See if I’m owed moneySources (28)
- Texas Supreme Court, Timberwalk Apartments v. Cain (1998), checked 2026-11-09. “A duty exists only when the risk of criminal conduct is so great that it is both unreasonable and foreseeable.”
- Texas Supreme Court opinion, No. 15-0197, checked 2026-11-09. “proximity, recency, frequency, similarity, and publicity”
- Midland Police View Crime Data, checked 2026-11-09. “allowing residents and visitors to input an address and view crime activity for their selected area”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
- Texas Attorney General, checked 2026-11-09. “We confirm that a crime happened and that it was reported to law enforcement.”
- Texas Attorney General, checked 2026-11-09. “The CVC Program can help cover costs up to $50,000”
- Texas Attorney General, checked 2026-11-09. “this program is meant to pay only as a last option”
- Texas Attorney General, checked 2026-11-09. “You're applying within 3 years of the crime”
- Midland County DA, Victims Assistance, checked 2026-11-08. “to the relatives of deceased victims”
- Midland County, Staff Directory, checked 2026-11-08. “432-688-4411”
- Texas Supreme Court, Timberwalk Apartments v. Cain (1998), checked 2026-11-09. “retains control over the security and safety of the premises”
- Midland Police View Crime Data, checked 2026-11-09. “These numbers represent official reports sent to the FBI, excluding any unfounded cases.”
- Midland Police View Crime Data, checked 2026-11-09. “2024 5 91 36 318 299 1,665 317”
- Midland Police View Crime Data, checked 2026-11-09. “2025 3 95 42 316 291 1,673 305”
- Midland Police Department, Request A Police Report, checked 2026-11-08. “MPD Records Phone: (432) 685-7145 Address: 601 N. Loraine”
- Texas Property Code 92.153, checked 2026-11-09. “a keyless bolting device and a door viewer on each exterior door of the dwelling”
- Texas Property Code 92.158, checked 2026-11-09. “a landlord shall repair or replace a security device on request or notification by the tenant”
- Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 33.004, checked 2026-11-09. “an unknown person committed a criminal act that was a cause of the loss or injury”
- Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 33.013, checked 2026-11-09. “only for the percentage of the damages found by the trier of fact equal to that defendant's percentage of responsibility”
- Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 33.013, checked 2026-11-09. “the percentage of responsibility attributed to the defendant with respect to a cause of action is greater than 50 percent”
- Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 33.001, checked 2026-11-09. “a claimant may not recover damages if his percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent”
- City of Midland Charter, Sec. 8, checked 2026-11-08. “duly verified within sixty days after the same has been sustained”
- City of Midland, Process for Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Risk Management Division City of Midland PO Box 1152 Midland, TX 79702”
- Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 101.101, checked 2026-11-09. “not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred”
- City of Midland, Police Department directory, checked 2026-11-08. “Non-Emergency Dispatch Ph: 432-685-7110”
- Midland County, FAQs, checked 2026-11-08. “If the crime is committed outside the city limits in Midland County, contact the Midland County Sheriff”
- Midland County, District Clerk, checked 2026-11-08. “serious personal injury”
- Midland County, Staff Directory, checked 2026-11-08. “Suite Number 300”