Portland, Oregon Civil Assault and Bouncer Assault Attorney
If you are the victim of assault and battery crime, you have undoubtedly suffered damages as a result. You deserve to be fairly compensated for those losses; it's your right. Not only is it gainful to contact a proven expert personal injury lawyer experienced in civil assault and battery; it's empowering.
A lawyer can determine whether the person who committed the assault and battery has assets or insurance to cover your damages and explain the value of your case. If they do, the personal injury attorney will represent you in civil court to recover damages resulting from the assault and battery. Damages include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
Steve Smucker, a personal injury lawyer, will maneuver through the complexities of trial law to recover the fair compensation you deserve. Steve will persevere until all legal avenues to recover damages have been exhausted. As well, his passion for justice will help re-establish your dignity and peace of mind. Contact Steve Smucker for a free consultation. For information about clients helped by Smucker's experience and expertise as a civil assault and battery trial lawyer, see client case results.
Civil vs. Criminal Assault and Battery Cases
Assault and battery are both a crime and a tort. A tort being a wrongful act or infringement of someone's right leading to legal liability. This may involve both a criminal prosecution and a personal injury lawsuit in civil court. Aside from criminal prosecution, you have a right to pursue civil damages for injuries caused by the attack. Once a judge or jury determines that an assault and/or battery was committed, fair compensation is decided.
Three damages may be awarded.
- Economic Damages -medical expenses, lost wages, and impaired earning capacity.
- Non-economic Damages - pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Punitive Damages -goes beyond economic and non-economic damages and are awarded as an added punishment against the attacker. This occurs in particularly terrible cases.
If You've Been Assaulted by a Nightclub Bouncer
Nightclub security has no special rights when it comes to assault and battery. They do not have a special right to physically remove you from a club premises. Most bouncers are regular employees with no special security training or permits. They have no more authority to commit assault or battery than you do as a customer.
Legally, a bouncer can only ask you to leave. If you refuse, he or she may call the police, who can remove you. However, like any citizen, they can defend themselves or detain you if you are committing a crime.
If a nightclub bouncer has assaulted you, they are likely to say you started the fight and they were defending themselves. It is best not to give them any reason to attack you. If the fight was obviously uneven, you may have a case. If so, it is just like any other civil assault and battery case.
Recovery for Your Bouncer-Inflicted Injuries
Often bouncers will not have assets to cover damages that may be caused in an assault and battery. It is important to include the employer in such a lawsuit, because nightclubs will have employer liability. While there are challenges in recovering benefits from the company, it is a viable avenue.
Steve Smucker, personal injury lawyer, has successfully litigated Portland nightclub bouncer assault and battery cases, and knows where to find records helpful in proving your case. If you have had a run-in with a bouncer and want compensation for your losses, get more information by contacting Attorney Steve Smucker for a free consultation.
Free consultations • Se habla español • Contingency fees: If you do not recover compensation, you pay no fee • Evenings and weekends available by appointment • Over 25 years experience in trials and litigation
Attorney Steven Smucker is located in Portland, Oregon and serves clients throughout the Pacific Northwest in Oregon and Washington State in Clackamas County, Deschutes County, Jefferson County, Lane County, Marion County Multnomah County, Tillamook County, Yamhill County, and Clark County, including Portland, Ashland, Astoria, Beaverton, Bend, Cannon Beach, Gresham, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, Medford, Salem, Vancouver and Wilsonville.
