St. Petersburg Assault Injury Lawyer

Were you or a loved one the victim of an assault in St. Petersburg, Florida? You may be entitled to compensation from your attacker or a business owner who allowed the attack to happen. Contact an experienced St. Petersburg assault injury lawyer at Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys by calling (727) 933-0015 for help fighting for compensation.

Collectively, our lawyers have over 25 years of experience fighting for accident victims across Florida. We’ve already recovered millions of dollars for injured clients like you over the years in cases like St.Petersburg brain injuries, St. Petersburg catastrophic injuries, St. Petersburg negligent security, wrongful death, medical malpractice, sexual assaults, and more.

Contact our law offices in St. Petersburg, Florida, to schedule a free consultation today. We’re always available to discuss your legal options.

How Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys Can Help With an Assault Injury Claim in St. Petersburg

How Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys Can Help With an Assault Injury Claim in St. Petersburg

Florida courts take violent crimes seriously. Your attacker may be punished with jail time and financial penalties. That doesn’t do much to help when you’re struggling to pay medical bills while missing time at work.

Even if your attacker is never charged with a crime, a St. Petersburg personal injury lawyer can help you seek financial compensation for your losses.

At Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys, we have over two decades of experience handling complex personal injury claims. Over the years, we’ve been recognized as “Top 40 Under 40” personal injury lawyers. We’ve also been listed among America’s Top Attorneys.

We take cases like yours seriously, and you can trust our legal team to:

  • Carefully investigate to identify anyone who may share blame for your assault
  • Calculate the fair value of your injury claim
  • Hire experts and specialists to help establish causation and liability
  • Negotiate with the insurance company to secure the maximum compensation you deserve

Insurance companies don’t always play fair – and careless people don’t always like to admit fault. Our lawyers have the skills and experience to help you prove that you deserve compensation for your injuries.

Ready to learn more? Call our law firm today to schedule a free initial consultation with our St. Petersburg personal injury attorneys.

How Common is Assault in St. Petersburg, FL?

Approximately 1.3 million violent crimes are reported across the United States each year. As it turns out, Florida is one of the most dangerous states in the nation when it comes to violent crimes. 

In 2020, 60,871 cases of aggravated assault were reported statewide – making Florida the third-most dangerous state in the U.S for assault. Approximately 106,515 domestic violence cases were reported statewide in 2020.

In Pinellas County alone, 2,259 cases of aggravated assault were reported in 2020.

Overview of Assault and Battery Laws in Florida

As in every other state, assault and battery are criminal offenses in Florida. If caught, your attacker could face charges in criminal court.

You may have been the victim of assault if:

  • Someone threatened to hurt you, and
  • You believed the person had the ability to hurt you

In other words, someone can be convicted of assault even if they don’t actually hurt anyone. Battery, on the other hand, is the offense that applies when the attacker actually causes an injury.

Assault and battery are separate offenses. However, it’s likely that your attacker will face both assault and battery charges if caught.

That can help you get a sense of justice. Still, it doesn’t make up for your financial losses. Assault and battery are intentional torts. That means you also have the right to pursue compensation in civil court if you sustained assault injuries.

What is My St. Petersburg Assault Injury Case Worth?

The value of your personal injury claim depends on many highly personal factors, such as:

  • The nature of your injuries
  • The cost of your medical treatment and other expenses
  • How the injury impacts your ability to work and earn a living
  • Your emotional suffering and physical pain
  • How the injury and attack impact your quality of life
  • The nature of the defendant’s actions

Money can’t really take away the pain you’ve suffered. However, it can help ease your financial burden – and it can help you get a sense of justice.

Insurance companies often make settlement offers before injured parties have consulted a lawyer. If you don’t have much legal experience, you risk accepting less than you deserve. That’s why we always recommend consulting an experienced attorney before accepting compensation for your injuries.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Assault Victims in Florida?

Our St. Petersburg assault injury attorneys at Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys are passionate about holding people responsible for their careless, reckless, or wrongful acts.

If you were injured, we’ll fight to recover fair compensation for all of your economic damages and non-economic damages.

You may be entitled to compensation for:

We can also help you fight to recover punitive damages from your attacker. Punitive damages are rare. When awarded, they’re designed to hold the defendant liable for intentional wrongdoing or gross negligence. In personal injury cases involving assault, the courts may be willing to award these punitive damages.

We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Assault Injuries

An assault can cause a wide range of injuries, depending on the nature and severity of the attack. 

Some of the most common assault injuries include:

An attack is a traumatic event. It’s common for victims to suffer from ongoing PTSD and other mental health disorders long after their physical wounds have healed. Our lawyers are also here to help you recover compensation for the emotional trauma you’ve suffered. 

We Handle All Types of Assault Injury Claims in St. Petersburg, Florida

Our lawyers in St. Petersburg handle all types of assault injury cases, including those involving:

  • Bar fights
  • Domestic violence
  • Sexual assault and rape
  • Muggings and robberies
  • Fights between friends or acquaintances
  • Shootings and firearm injuries
  • School shootings
  • Stabbings 
  • Nursing home abuse
  • Child abuse
  • Police brutality
  • Workplace violence

If you were injured because of someone’s intentional criminal acts, you may also have rights under Florida personal injury laws. Don’t hesitate to call a lawyer today and learn more about your legal rights.

How Do I Establish Liability If I Was Assaulted in Florida?

Your attacker can be held liable for damages if caught. Your attacker can face both criminal and civil charges for the same injuries.

However, it’s also possible that third parties can be liable for damages under Florida premises liability laws. Under Florida law, you can seek compensation from anyone whose careless or reckless acts allowed your injury to occur – just like any car accident or slip and fall victim.

Most assault injury lawsuits are based on negligent security. Property owners are legally required to keep their property reasonably safe for invited visitors and guests. Businesses owe customers and visitors a heightened duty of care. If they breach that duty, they can be held financially responsible.

Depending on where your attack occurred, the following parties could be liable:

  • Colleges and universities
  • Schools
  • Daycare centers
  • Hospitals
  • Nursing homes
  • Hotels
  • Bars
  • Restaurants
  • Nightclubs
  • Parking garages and parking lots
  • Sports complexes
  • Landlords 
  • Cruise ships
  • Government agencies
  • The attacker’s employer, if the attacker was on the job

Still, these parties can only be legally accountable if they were negligent and failed to provide adequate security.

Adequate security might include:

  • Security systems
  • Locked gates and fences
  • Security guards
  • Properly trained employees 
  • Video surveillance cameras
  • Metal detectors 
  • Proper lighting

The definition of “adequate security” varies from case to case. In the end, however, if criminal activity in the area was reasonably foreseeable, property owners have a duty to take steps to prevent those crimes from occurring.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After an Assault in Florida?

The statute of limitations in Florida is four years for assault and other intentional tort cases. Most of the time, you’ll have four years from the date of your attack to file a personal injury lawsuit. 

However, for cases based on negligence, such as negligent security, you’ll likely only have two years to file your lawsuit. The state used to provide a four-year deadline for negligence cases, but it was shortened on March 24, 2023. Therefore, for negligence-based causes of action that accrue after that date, you must take legal action within two years.

You could have more time if the attacker is caught and prosecuted in criminal court. The statute of limitations may be paused or “tolled” while the criminal defense attorneys work to resolve the criminal matter.

Contact a St. Petersburg Assault Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation

You deserve justice if you were a victim of assault. An experienced St. Petersburg assault injury lawyer can help you fight to recover fair compensation from anyone who may have allowed the assault to happen. At Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys, we offer a free consultation so you can learn more about your rights. Contact us for the legal advice you deserve today.

Visit Our Personal Injury Office in St. Petersburg, FL

Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys
700 7th Ave N Suite B St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 933-0015

We are available 24/7 to take your call; contact us today.

Our personal injury law firm in St. Petersburg, FL also provides: