Plainfield Assault Injuries Lawyer

Will County Personal Injury Lawyer for Assault and Battery Victims

A significant majority of personal injury claims involve accidents, including car crashes, slip-and-falls, or unforeseen dangers of consumer products. However, unintentional or accidental injuries are not the only type of personal injury claims. In some cases, a person intentionally threatens or inflicts injury on the victim, and, in fact, they may commit a crime in the process. Criminal courts may provide some measure of justice for such actions, but if you have suffered injuries as the result of an assault or battery, you may have financial needs that a criminal conviction will not address. We at Flaherty Law, LLC understand that assault cases can result in injuries just as serious as those sustained in many motor vehicle accidents. You can rely on our knowledge and skill to help you recover the compensation you need to get your life moving in the right direction again.

Assault and Battery in Illinois

Under Illinois law, a person commits assault when he places another in fear or reasonable apprehension of imminent bodily harm or offensive contact. To constitute assault, only the reasonable apprehension is necessary; actual contact or injury is not required. The actual contact or infliction of injury is considered battery, which is why the two terms are so often used in conjunction with one another.

For example, if you are approached by an angry individual who throws a punch toward your face, but no contact is made, the individual has likely committed an assault, but not battery. If the punch lands, he has committed both assault and battery, in all likelihood. Battery is possible without assault, as you could be attacked from behind and injured before experiencing any reasonable apprehension. Bar fights represent a very common source of these types of injuries.

Bar Fights in Illinois

If you have been injured due to a battery in a bar from another patron, or an employee of the bar, the bar may also be legally liable for your injuries. As a premises owner, the owner of a bar must take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of its patrons. The bar owner may also be responsible for your injuries if the bar caused or contributed to the intoxication of the individual who caused your injuries. In these instances, it is important to seek representation quickly, as the time period to pursue a claim against a bar owner is shorter than that for a typical personal injury claim.

Compensation for Your Losses

In a personal injury proceeding related to assault, you will need to show that you were financially damaged in some way or that your pain and suffering has had an impact on your life. At Flaherty Law, LLC, we are prepared to help you build your case to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. In some cases, serious assaults may result in the need for mental health services or treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), creating additional expenses that should be reimbursed by the liable party.

While your personal injury lawsuit may coincide with criminal proceedings, and a conviction may certainly be helpful to your case, a guilty verdict is not required for you to collect compensation. The burden of proof is much different in a personal injury claim, and the perpetrator may be liable for your injuries, even if he or she did not break the law.

Contact a Naperville Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have been the victim of assault or battery, it is important to understand that criminal courts are often not able to sufficiently meet your ongoing needs. We can help. Contact Flaherty Law, LLC today to discuss your options regarding a civil personal injury suit seeking full compensation under the law. At our law firm, there is never a fee unless you collect for your injuries. Call 815-577-7500 to schedule your free, introductory consultation at our Plainfield office, your home or hospital room, or any other location that is convenient for you.