Easton Assault & Battery Injury Attorneys
Seeking Financial Compensation for Victims
Victims of assault and battery—two separate crimes in the state of Pennsylvania—are often left with significant physical injuries and emotional trauma. Separate from any criminal proceedings that may occur, victims of assault and battery can seek compensation for their medical bills, trauma, disability, and other damages by filing a civil lawsuit against the liable party.
You should not have to simply face the immense financial burdens, physical pain, and emotional suffering inflicted upon you on your own. Meshkov & Breslin can help.
Contact our Easton assault and battery injury lawyers today at (610) 285-1963 for a free and confidential consultation.
Who Is Liable for Assault & Battery Injuries?
While criminal charges can be filed against the actual attacker, most civil lawsuits seek to hold the attacker and a separate third-party accountable. This third-party is typically one that was responsible for providing a safe environment but failed to do so. Such claims generally fall under premises liability, though they may also fall under another type of personal injury action.
Depending on the circumstances of the attack, you may be able to bring a negligence claim against any of the following parties:
- A property owner that failed to provide adequate security
- An establishment that over-served the attacker alcohol
- An employer who failed to conduct a background check on the attacker
For example, if you were assaulted in a dark parking lot outside of a shopping mall where, despite a history of similar incidents, the property owner did not install security lighting or hire security guards, you may be able to hold that property owner liable for negligent security.
What is the Difference Between Assault and Battery?
Assault is defined by Pennsylvania law as the intentional, knowing, or reckless attempt to inflict injury on another person, resulting in that individual's fear of bodily harm. Whereas battery is defined as the actual inflicting of harm or injury on the person being threatened.
Is Battery More Serious Than Assault?
Criminally speaking, battery charges may carry with them a more serious punishment, however, when it comes to the victim in an assault or battery, neither one is less serious. Assault, while it may not always result in physical harm, still has the ability to cause emotional trauma which can seriously affect your work and personal life. Our lawyers can help you obtain compensation for your injuries, whether emotional, physical, or both.
Compensation for Assault & Battery Victims
If you or your loved one suffered injuries that required hospitalization or medical treatment as a result of the attack, you can seek compensation for medical expenses, as well as lost income/wages from time taken off work to recover. If the injuries were temporarily or permanently disabling, you may also seek compensation for lost future earnings. It is also possible to seek compensation for the emotional trauma that assault and battery often causes. In some cases, you can seek compensation for negligent infliction of emotional distress or punitive damages. Our Easton assault and battery lawyers have over a decade of experience assisting victims of serious injuries throughout Lehigh Valley. In addition to our considerable experience in personal injury law, Attorney Eleanor M. Breslin has extensive knowledge of criminal law, including laws regarding assault and battery. We can use this to your advantage when proving negligence and demonstrating the full scope of your damages.
For a free consultation and case evaluation with our assault and battery lawyers in Easton, call us at (610) 285-1963 or contact us online today.