Assault & Battery Attorney in Tallahassee

In the state of Florida, assault and battery are two distinct crimes.

• Assault occurs when someone makes an intentional or unlawful threat to commit bodily harm against a person, and the person believes that threat is imminent. Threats can be either verbal or physical — no actual physical contact needs to occur for a civil case to go forward.
• Battery is intentional, nonconsensual physical contact with another person. It includes sexual crimes such as rape and molestation.

Assault and battery are intentional torts that a plaintiff can bring before a civil court to seek damages. Victims sue defendants for deliberately causing harm to them or threatening to do so.

An assault case in which the victim doesn’t incur injuries may be harder to win simply because it will be more difficult to establish damages. However, when a victim has to go to the hospital as a result of assault and battery, they can sue for medical bills, lost work, and pain and suffering.

Defendants may offer several defenses against an assault and battery charge. The most common one is consent. This defense may be used in a rape case or if the victim was injured during a sporting event, for example. Other defenses to assault and battery charges include privilege and self-defense. For example, if a police officer tackles a suspect, breaking the person’s arm, the officer can claim the force was justified.

The key to these defenses is whether an action was reasonable in the context of the assault or battery. For instance, grabbing the arm of someone who’s about to punch you is a reasonable response. Likewise, if the police officer was subduing a violent suspect, the officer may have used reasonable force even if it resulted in an injury.

If you’re a victim of assault and battery in Tallahassee, Florida, contact Morgan & Morgan immediately. With more than 1,000 attorneys nationwide and billions of dollars recovered, Morgan & Morgan will make you confident you’re getting the best service possible. Our resources and reach allow us to invest more in your case, fighting for your best interests. If we move forward with your case, you’ll get a full team of lawyers and legal staff, as well as 24/7 open communication with us via our mobile app. And we never charge by the hour — we operate on a contingency fee, meaning you pay us only if we win.

We believe the price of pain is infinite and never settle for less than your case is worth. More than 700,000 clients trust Morgan & Morgan. Discover what we can do for you by filling out a no-cost case evaluation form and speaking with one of our experienced assault and battery lawyers today.