Oklahoma Crime Victim Attorneys
Civil claims for survivors of violent crime, including negligent security cases against property owners. Free, confidential consultations across Oklahoma.
A criminal case is not your only path to justice
Victims of violent crime can often bring a civil claim for what they lost. A criminal conviction does not pay your medical bills or make up for missed work. A civil case can, and it can be brought against the person who hurt you and against businesses or property owners whose negligence allowed it to happen.
Laurie Koller has served on the Board of Advisors of the National Crime Victim Bar Association since 2016 and has taught other trial lawyers about representing victims of crime. Our team of two attorneys and two paralegals, all women, works with survivors at a pace that feels manageable.
You do not need to know whether you have a case before you call. Call (918) 221-3861 and tell us what happened. We will help you sort out your options.
You can pursue a civil case whether or not the criminal case has ended, and whether or not there was a conviction.
Talk to us
Free, confidential consultation
Tell us what happened and where. We will explain how a civil claim works and whether we can help, with no pressure to decide.
Cases we handle
Who we represent
Property owners and managers who ignored known dangers, broken locks, poor lighting or earlier crimes.
Assault and battery
Civil claims against the person who attacked you, with or without a conviction.
Apartment complex attacks
Assaults tied to broken gates, dark walkways, missing cameras or unmonitored entrances.
Hotel and motel attacks
Guests harmed where the property failed to take reasonable steps to keep people safe.
Parking lot and shopping center assaults
Attacks in lots and centers with poor lighting, no security or a history of crime.
Harm at schools, daycares and care facilities
People hurt where an institution was responsible for keeping them safe.
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How a civil case works alongside a criminal case
A civil case is separate from the criminal case and runs on its own track. The criminal case is brought by the state to punish a crime. A civil case is brought by you, to recover for the harm done to you.
Because the cases are separate, a civil claim does not need a conviction, and it does not always have to wait for the criminal case to end. Sometimes the criminal case helps, because police reports and testimony can become evidence. Sometimes charges are never filed. Either way, you may still have a claim. We pay attention to what is happening in criminal court and plan the civil case around it.
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When a property owner can be responsible
A property owner or manager can be responsible for a crime on their property when they knew or should have known about a danger and did not take reasonable steps to address it. These are called negligent security or inadequate security cases.
The attacker is still to blame. But the apartment complex that left a broken gate for months, or the hotel that ignored earlier assaults, may share responsibility. These claims can be made against:
- Apartment complexes
- Hotels and motels
- Bars and nightclubs
- Shopping centers and parking lots
- Schools, daycare centers and nursing homes
Our page on negligent security claims in Oklahoma goes into more detail.
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Evidence in a negligent security case
The strongest evidence usually shows what the property owner knew and what they failed to do. We look for:
- Missing or broken lighting, cameras or locks
- Gates, doors or entrances left unmonitored
- Earlier reports of crime at or near the property
- Threats or warnings the owner knew about and did not act on
- No security staff where the risk called for it
Some of this evidence disappears quickly. Video is often recorded over, and repairs can hide what the property looked like. If you were hurt, call (918) 221-3861 so we can move to preserve what matters.
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Oklahoma Crime Victims Compensation
Oklahoma has a state program that can help pay some costs of a violent crime, separate from any lawsuit. The Oklahoma Crime Victims Compensation Program, run by the District Attorneys Council, can reimburse expenses such as medical and dental care, counseling, lost income and funeral costs.
The program does not pay for pain and suffering, and it has its own rules about reporting the crime to law enforcement and filing a claim on time, so look into it soon. A civil case is different. It can seek a wider range of losses, including emotional harm, from the people and businesses responsible. The two are separate, and we can talk with you about how they fit together.
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If you are not sure your situation fits
If you are not sure whether what happened to you is something we handle, call. Crimes happen in many places and in many ways, including at home or at the hands of someone you know. You do not need the right legal words. Tell us what happened, and we will tell you honestly whether we can help. If the crime involved sexual assault, our page on civil claims for sexual assault survivors may also help.
If you are in danger right now, call 911. When you are safe and ready, you can reach us privately online or call. Laura Martinez, one of our attorneys, speaks Spanish.
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Years in practice. Laurie Koller has practiced law since 1991 and now works for people harmed by powerful systems.
How we work
How we work with crime victims
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You set the pace
You decide how much to share and when. We explain each step before it happens.
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We act quickly on evidence
We move early to request video, records and reports before they are lost.
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We respect the criminal case
We plan the civil case around what is happening in criminal court.
Compensation
What a civil case can recover
A civil case can seek payment for what the crime cost you, including losses a state program does not cover. Depending on the case, that may include:
- Medical care, past and future
- Counseling and therapy
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Emotional trauma
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
Client reviews
What our clients say
"Laurie is a true advocate for her clients. Her passion and dedication to helping victims is unparalleled. Thank you Laurie for being a fearless leader in creating change."
This team is capable and leaves no stone unturned. The best decision I made was hiring this team for my case.
Knowledgeable, honest, experienced, compassionate, determined. Laurie is the first attorney I'll call for legal advice and guidance. Without question, I'm all in.
Common questions
Questions crime victims ask us
Can I sue if the person who hurt me was never convicted?
Yes, in many cases. A civil case is separate from the criminal case and does not require charges or a conviction. It has its own standard of proof and asks whether the person or business is legally responsible for your harm. Whether there was an arrest, a plea deal, an acquittal or no criminal case at all, tell us what happened and we will explain your options.
Can a business be responsible for a crime someone else committed?
It can, when the business knew or should have known about a danger and did not take reasonable steps. Apartment complexes, hotels, bars, parking lots and shopping centers can be responsible when broken locks, poor lighting, missing cameras or earlier crimes were ignored. These are called negligent security claims. The facts of each property matter, so we look closely at what the owner knew.
Do I have to wait for the criminal case to end?
Not always. A civil claim can sometimes move forward while the criminal case is still open, and sometimes it makes sense to wait for parts of it. Filing deadlines keep running either way, and some are short. Talk to us early so we can plan around the criminal case and protect your deadline.
How long do I have to bring a civil claim?
It depends on the kind of claim and who it is against, and some deadlines are short. Evidence such as security video can also disappear within days or weeks. The safest step is to talk to a lawyer about your deadline as soon as you can. A consultation is free and confidential.
How much does it cost to talk to you?
Consultations are free and confidential. Talking with us costs nothing and does not commit you to anything. If you decide to work with us, we will explain how fees and case costs work, in plain language, before you sign anything.
Related practice areas
Other ways we help
Sexual Abuse and Assault
Civil cases for survivors of sexual abuse and assault, our primary focus.
Personal Injury
Car wrecks, truck wrecks and wrongful death claims across Oklahoma.
Tell us how we can help
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