When huge fights erupt in movies and on television shows, the participants can slam each other with boards or other objects, pummel one another with fists and crash through windows and then leap to their feet without any apparent lingering side effects. But in real life, victims may serious injuries, even permanent, life-altering injuries during a brawl. So what should you do if you were seriously injured in an altercation? Can you, for example, pursue legal action against the party that caused your injuries?
It Can Be Tricky
The answer is not cut and dry. While it is possible to pursue legal action against your attacker, you must prove that they were the ones who started the incident. So if you were the one who started the altercation in which you were injured, it might be difficult to win your case in court. You must also be able to prove that the other person involved in the altercation was not:
- Defending a third party. An example of this type of situation would be if your attacker injured you while coming to the defense of another person that you had been hitting or threatening to assault.
- Engaged in a consensual fight. Let's say you and the other party got upset with each other in a bar and both agreed to meet outside for a fight. That would be considered a consensual altercation and you should have known there was a possibility of injury.
- Defending property. If, for instance, you were caught stealing tires from a car, you would probably have a difficult time winning a case if you were injured by the owner as he tried to prevent you from taking them.
Pursuing Legal Action
If none of the above applied to your situation and you want to be compensated for your injuries and related monetary losses -- such as lost wages, doctor bills or loss of future earnings -- it's important to contact a personal injury lawyer who can fight on your behalf. And even if some of the situations above do apply to your situation, an experienced personal injury attorney might still be able to file a case on your behalf. For example, if you were involved in a fight in a bar, your lawyer might also file a lawsuit against the facility if there is a possibility that it may have been at least partially responsible for your injuries. Perhaps, the other party had been served way too much alcohol or you fell on a railing and it broke, resulting in your injuries.
Unlike in the movies, fights in real life can result in brutal injuries. If you have suffered a serious injury during an altercation, it is important that you seek experienced legal representation.
