You have rights as the victim of assault in Kansas City, MO. Call Cohen Law Firm at 816-323-0955 today to schedule a free consultation and discover how our Kansas City assault injury lawyers can help you take a stand and fight for compensation.
Our team fights for the rights of the injured. Founding attorney Zach Cohen has helped clients recover tens of millions of dollars in monetary awards. We’re the relentless legal advocates you’ll want in your corner in the wake of a traumatic life experience.
Why Hire Cohen Law Firm for Help With a Civil Assault Lawsuit in Kansas City, MO
Victims of assault and battery in Kansas City, MO, turn to Cohen Law Firm because we’re compassionate, experienced, and exceptionally talented litigators with a proven track record of success.
Attorney Zach Cohen has been named a Top 10 Personal Injury Attorney Under 40 by NAOPIA twice and successfully recovered millions on behalf of victims of serious accidents and senseless acts of violence.
Assault cases can be different from other types of personal injury cases, so it’s important to hire an attorney who understands the gravity of the situation and possesses the skills, strategies, and resources required to help you win.
It’s why you need to call our Kansas City personal injury attorneys for help if you or someone you love has been harmed. There’s no charge for an initial case review, so contact us for help today.
We Fight for Victims in Types of Assault Injury Cases
At Cohen Law Firm, we’re proud to stand up on behalf of individuals who’ve been victims of intentional torts like assault and battery.
We handle all types of assault injury cases in Kansas City, including:
- Bar fights
- Brawls
- Domestic violence
- Police brutality
- Workplace assaults
- School violence
- Bullying
- Robberies
- Muggings
- Random acts of violence
- Sexual assault
Benefit from our extensive experience, in-depth knowledge of the personal injury laws that will affect your civil lawsuit, and considerable resources by calling our Kansas City law office today. We can sit down to listen to your story, help you understand your legal rights as a victim, and explain how we might be able to help you recover compensation from your attacker and, in some cases, other third parties.
What Is Assault?
Assault isn’t just a crime in Missouri; it’s also a tort. More specifically, it’s an intentional tort. A tort is a civil wrong that allows an injured person to seek compensation in court. It doesn’t necessarily break the law, but violates another person’s rights. You generally have the right to be free from bodily harm or the threat thereof.
Most personal injury lawsuits are based on the tort of negligence – a breach of a duty of care that causes an avoidable injury or wrongful death. An intentional tort involves a deliberate, not accidental, violation of a person’s rights. Assault involves a knowing and deliberate attempt to cause distress, bodily injury, or death.
What Do I Have To Prove To Win a Civil Assault Case?
You can file a civil assault lawsuit against your attacker and, in certain situations, other parties who might also share responsibility for your injuries. In a civil assault lawsuit, you, as the victim/plaintiff, have the burden of proving that the defendant intentionally threatened you with physical harm.
In assault cases, intent is key. You need to be able to demonstrate that the defendant acted knowingly and with deliberate purpose to make you fearful or cause harm. You can win your case even if the defendant themselves never touched you. It’s enough to show that they set a course of events into motion to cause you harm. For example, you could sue someone for assault injuries if they shot you with a firearm, struck you with a baseball bat, or intentionally hit you with their car.
If you were threatened, you’ll need to be able to show that the defendant had the present ability to carry out the threat and hurt you. You don’t necessarily need to have been physically harmed or touched to win your assault case. Threats of imminent bodily harm are enough.
Assault Victims Can Struggle With Devastating Physical Injuries
Victims of assault can suffer a wide range of physical injuries, including:
- Cuts and lacerations
- Broken bones
- Crush injuries
- Chest injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Eye injuries
- Dental injuries
- Concussions
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Leg injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Burn injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
If you’ve been assaulted in Kansas City, it’s important to report the incident to the police right away. You’ll have the opportunity to give a statement, ensure that critical evidence is preserved, and press charges against your attacker.
It’s also important to seek prompt medical attention so that any injuries are identified, diagnosed, and treated without delay. The sooner you take these steps, the stronger a related personal injury lawsuit will be.
What Could My Assault Injury Lawsuit Be Worth?
It’s going to depend on the circumstances that make your assault case unique. When valuing your claim, our assault injury attorneys in Kansas City, MO, will consider:
- The specific injuries you suffered when you were assaulted
- How your injuries have affected your ability to work and earn a living
- Whether you’re being accused of provoking the attack or sharing responsibility for your assault injuries in some way
- Out-of-pocket costs related to the assault
- Your age at the time of the assault
- Whether you can file a lawsuit against other parties, such as the defendant’s employer or the owner of the premises where you were attacked
Changes in your overall quality of life will also factor into how much money your assault injury case is worth. More serious injuries tend to lead to higher costs and greater suffering. In turn, the amount of money you can be awarded is closely tied to these factors.
What Compensation Can Be Awarded to Assault Victims in Kansas City?
You’ll be able to seek compensatory damages as the plaintiff in a civil assault lawsuit in Missouri. Compensatory damages can include two different awards: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are awarded to reduce the financial stress you experience when you’ve been assaulted. Compensation can include money for your current losses, as well as costs you’re likely to have in the future.
Common economic awards include money for:
- Medical bills
- Temporary disability and lost wages
- Permanent disability
- Diminished earning capacity
- Nursing care
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
Non-economic damages are awarded to demonstrate that the consequences of assault aren’t limited to your bank account. Being assaulted can cause distress, trauma, and suffering that are just as difficult to navigate as the financial costs you’ll endure.
Common non-economic damages compensate for:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Embarrassment
- Chronic physical pain
- Loss of consortium
Since assault is an intentional tort, you can also request punitive damages if your lawsuit gets to trial. There, a jury can decide if additional damages are warranted to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct in the future.
How Much Does It Cost To Pursue a Civil Assault Lawsuit?
Our Missouri assault injury attorneys in Kansas City represent clients on a contingency fee basis. It costs nothing to hire us until we win compensation for you. We recover a pre-agreed-upon percentage of your financial award. You owe nothing if we don’t win compensation for your assault injury case.
What’s the Statute of Limitations for Civil Assault Lawsuits in Missouri?
Missouri law requires civil assault lawsuits to be filed within five years of the date of injury. There can be exceptions, especially in cases involving sexual assault or sexual assault of a child. The statute of limitations can also vary when a government agency is involved.
If you miss the five-year window to file your assault injury lawsuit, you can lose the ability to demand compensation from your attacker.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Kansas City Assault Injury Lawyer
Call Cohen Law Firm if you or a loved one has been assaulted or the victim of another violent crime in Kansas City, Missouri. Your attacker has to be held accountable. Our Kansas City assault injury attorneys can help to make that happen.
We’re trusted and experienced Missouri trial lawyers who won’t give up until you’re awarded the money you need and deserve. We offer a free consultation; reach out to our legal team today to discuss the details of your assault injury case.