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If you are looking to press charges for an assault, or if you already have pressed charges, it is advisable to find legal representation. Victims who have been harmed by an aggressor in an assault should hire a personal injury lawyer.
Keep in mind, in instances where people are assaulted but police officers were not called on the scene or did not arrive on the scene in time, people can still press charges against their assailants by following the appropriate channels. To learn more, here’s a look at how long do you have to file a police report.
Maybe you know someone who is, or you’ve witnessed one take place. Either way, an assault is a serious offense in the eyes of the law, and pressing charges against an individual or group of people is an effective way to begin the process of finding justice, closure, and peace.
When an assault happens, some people are afraid to file charges on their assailants for fear of retribution. However, when filing assault charges, people may also seek to obtain orders of protection from the court as well, which are, essentially, r estraining orders that if violated will result in the arrest of the assailant.
If you have been charged with criminal assault or battery, you should contact an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately. They will be able to help you assert any available defense to the charges brought against you, defend you in court, and guide you through the entire criminal process.
The following is a list of defenses that may apply to civil or criminal assault and battery charges: 1 Self-Defense: The most well-known defense to assault and battery is that the defendant was acting in self-defense. This means that the defendant was the person initially attacked by the plaintiff and committed assault or battery to protect themselves. This may also open the plaintiff to a counter-suit for assault and battery by the defendant. Further, a person may also use reasonable force to defend another person in some cases; 2 Privilege: Some defendants may have a privilege to commit an assault or battery in some cases. For example, police officers have a privilege to use force to place a suspect under arrest; 3 Consent: In some cases a plaintiff may have consented to being in a place where the plaintiff would be assaulted or touched. For example, if the plaintiff was actively participating in a contract sport or at a sports event where the possibility of being hit by an object was a known risk, such as at a baseball game; or 4 Denial of Elements: As noted above, a victim must be able to prove all of the required elements of an assault and battery. Thus, when a defendant disproves one of the required elements, the charges or claims against them will fail.
Privilege: Some defendants may have a privilege to commit an assault or battery in some cases. For example, police officers have a privilege to use force to place a suspect under arrest; Consent: In some cases a plaintiff may have consented to being in a place where the plaintiff would be assaulted or touched.
Thus, when a defendant disproves one of the required elements, the charges or claims against them will fail.
The elements that must be proved in order for a plaintiff to succeed in a civil suit for assault are as follows: There must be an intentional attempt or threat to inflict injury on a person.
Finally, if there is no plea bargain a preliminary hearing will be held where a judge will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to charge you with a crime.
Assault and battery are intentional torts, which means that both assault and battery are the result of an intentional act on the part of a tortfeasor (person who commits a tortious act). Because they are both torts, an assault or battery may serve as the basis for a civil lawsuit. However, every state also has criminal statutes for assault ...
A wrongful act (intentional or otherwise) usually requires " damages " (injury or harm of some kind) in order to be actionable, and assault cases are no different. In an assault case, damages can include physical injuries and the cost to treat those injuries, lost income, and other more subjective harm. Here's a breakdown of the different kinds of damages that may result from an assault.
The purpose of a civil lawsuit is to provide compensation to the victim, to be paid by the perpetrator.
If you are going to file an assault lawsuit, there are a few main elements you must be able to prove: an intentional action on the part of the defendant. the defendant's intention to cause apprehension of harm, and. your resulting reasonable apprehension of immediate harm.
That's because no liability insurance policy will cover an intentional act like assault, so only the defendant will be on the financial hook. If you sue a defendant who has little in the way of assets, you'll soon find out that winning money in court isn't the same as collecting it.
The simple fear of a harmful or offensive touching is usually enough for an assault to have occurred; if the touching actually occurs, the physical contact is usually considered a " battery " in civil law, although both claims are often made together. Learn more about assault and battery as personal injury claims.
Most people likely think of "assault" as a crime, but it's also the kind of wrongful act that can form the basis of a personal injury lawsuit. Here's what you need to know.
How To Press Charges For An Assault. When you have made the decision to file charges after an assault, you need to visit your local police department. For whatever reason, if you are not physically able to visit the police station , you may call them over the phone. All you have to do to kickstart the process is express that you want ...
When an assault happens, some people are afraid to file charges on their assailants for fear of retribution. However, when filing assault charges, people may also seek to obtain orders of protection from the court as well, which are, essentially, r estraining orders that if violated will result in the arrest of the assailant. Such orders require that the assailant not come within so many feet of the victim or any location where the victim is believed to be.
By definition, an assault occurs when one person commits actions that put another person in a situation where he or she can reasonably fear that he or she will be physically harmed. Battery, on the other hand, is when the aggressor physically harms someone. Both assault and battery can be classified as civil or criminal.
Types of Assault Charges. When it comes to pressing charges, many people will use the term assault to describe what happens when an aggressor harms a victim. However, there are many different terms that are used when describing these crimes. A lot of times you will hear the terms “assault” and “battery” used interchangeably.
Simple Assault – This is an attempted battery or threat. The aggressor must have the intention of hurting the victim, regardless of whether they do or not. To be considered simple assault, it must be reasonable for the victim to believe that the aggressor was going to harm them. There also must be some sort of harm involved, ...
Both assault and battery are criminal acts and are punishable by court. The most common punishments for assault and battery are jail time and fines.
Whether you are the victim of an assault, or you’ve found yourself being the aggressor (or assailant) in a physical altercation, knowing the terms and consequences is important so you can properly protect yourself. Let’s dive into the types of assault charges you can file.