Can I Sue Someone for Punching Me?

Physical altercations can cause severe physical injuries, high medical bills, lost wages, and prolonged pain and suffering. All of these things can be both stressful and expensive. If you have been injured and are wondering whether or not you can sue, the answer is yes. You can sue someone for punching you.

Below you’ll find out when you can sue and why working with a Tort Claims Lawyer can be important in these kinds of cases.

When Can I Sue Someone for Punching Me?

You can sue in cases of assault, whether someone hits, slaps, punches, or shoves you. In addition, an attempt to apply force is also considered assault. You can be charged for slapping someone, or even go to jail if you punch someone depending on the circumstances. To qualify as assault, however, the action must be deliberate. If someone accidentally bumped into you at the grocery store, this would not qualify.

Sometimes, such as during contact sports, intentional force is delivered but the injured party has consented to it. If the victim knew that force would be involved in the game but agreed to play, it is less likely that this would qualify as assault.

Civil and Criminal Cases

If you are assaulted by punching you, you can file a civil case, a criminal case, or both. If you file criminal charges, the accused party could be punished with time in jail, community service, fines, or probation. People often wonder: is punching someone a crime? Is slapping someone a crime? Can I sue someone for slapping me or punching me? The answer to all of these questions is yes.

In a civil case, you will sue for monetary damages but the amount you ask for must be supported with evidence and logical arguments. Civil cases involving assault include domestic violence between spouses or people who used to date, even if they are divorced or separated. This also includes assault between parents, grandparents, children and siblings. Elder or dependent assault and civil harassment between roommates, neighbors, friends or non-immediate family members are other examples. A final example of assault is workplace violence where an employee is assaulted or threatened while on the job.

Working with a Torts Lawyer

No matter where your assault happened, a lawyer can help you understand your rights and whether you have a case. Be honest about what happened as this will help your lawyer to properly support you in court or during your settlement.

If you’re not sure whether you want to sue, meeting with an experienced lawyer is often still a good idea. Consultations are usually free and even if you decide not to sue, you’ll receive knowledgeable advice on your case.

If you’ve been injured in an assault of any kind, download our personal injury recovery kit to learn more about your rights or contact us to arrange a consultation with one of our experienced lawyers.

Content updated: Originally published Oct. 23, 2017