For many, assault cases in public places can be traumatic and life-altering experiences. Beyond the physical harm, victims often face unexpected damages and overwhelming questions, like who’s liable? Public place assault lawsuits require a personal injury lawyer who can help pursue financial, physical, and emotional recovery and help victims rebuild their lives.
What Is an Assault in a Public Place?
An assault is when someone intentionally causes or attempts to cause physical harm to another person. Public place assault lawsuits must meet this criterion in a public location. Whether the location created or enabled an unsafe environment where violence could occur is key.
Many assault cases in public places happen in bars or nightclubs, sporting venues, music festivals or concerts, restaurants and casinos, or even parking garages and retail centers. Public place assault lawsuits often involve the attacker, and also a failure by property owners to provide adequate security, lighting, supervision, or crowd control.
Examples of Negligence in Public Place Assault Lawsuits
Victims of assault cases in public places may have a civil claim even if the attacker is never criminally charged. The primary legal theory in these claims is negligent security — a type of premises liability that holds property owners accountable when foreseeable violence isn’t prevented.
Examples include:
- Lack of security guards
- Poor lighting in parking lots
- Failure to monitor or mitigate escalating altercations
- Overcrowded venues
- Inadequate exits or supervision
- Ignoring prior reports of violence at the same location
Who’s Liable in Assault Cases in Public Places?
In assault cases in public places, the attacker is always one of the parties at fault. However, they may not be the only responsible party. Third parties are often sued because they failed to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable violence. Therefore, personal injury attorneys investigate all angles to identify every party that may share liability.
Your attorney must establish the following to succeed in a public place assault lawsuit:
- Duty of Care
- Breach of Duty
- Causation
- Damages
This means that your attorney must show that the defendant had a legal responsibility to maintain a safe environment. They must then show that the duty was violated and that the breach contributed to or failed to prevent the assault.
You suffered harm, and unlike criminal cases, which require proof beyond a reasonable doubt, civil assault claims require only a preponderance of the evidence. In other words, the courts see it as more likely than not that the defendant’s negligence contributed to the harm. Need more information? Schedule a free consultation with Sullivan and Sullivan today.
How We Build a Strong Case in Public Place Assault Lawsuits
Sullivan and Sullivan personal injury attorneys take an evidence-first approach to every case with a team that investigates thoroughly, identifies liability, and builds a compelling claim focused on your total recovery.
We act quickly to secure video surveillance incident reports and witness statements while obtaining call logs, police records, and previous complaints filed against the venue or attacker. Our team examines staffing levels, security protocols, lighting conditions, and similar incident history to determine if the property owner failed to take action. Then, we hold the appropriate parties accountable to ensure maximum compensation.
What Public Place Assault Victims Can Recover
We help clients pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, psychological harm such as PTSD or anxiety, permanent disability, and even punitive damages. But the longer you wait, the harder it becomes to win your case. Reach out today to get started.
