Can I Be Charged with Felony Assault From a Bar Fight?

Bar fights happen all the time and, in most cases, the person getting punched will leave with a black eye, maybe more than one person. But can you also be charged with felony assault if you punch someone in a bar?

The answer to this question is a simple yes. Despite the excitement that an occasional bar fight can create for those watching, either of the participants could end up being victims. And a criminal charge is not a matter to be treated with triviality. One stupid decision can leave you facing a sentence of up to ten years! For the offenders (which may mean the instigators or both participants), a brawl can amount to a felony; more often than not, it has an accompanying public intoxication or disorderly conduct charge.

Facing criminal charges because of a bar fight is the last thing anyone wants to do after a night out, and it’s easy to wonder why it would be possible for you to be charged with a felony in a bar fight. However, a criminal felony may not even be where it stops. Future employers may shy away from hiring you if they learn you face criminal charges relating to a bar fight and you may be required to attend some sort of anger management or sobriety course if you started the fight.

Whether or not you are charged with a felony in a bar fight is dependent upon a number of factors. First and foremost is the severity of the injuries inflicted by the offender on the victim. For instance, if the victim sustained grave injuries, the charge could be a felony assault. A misdemeanor assault charge may be faced even if there are no injuries sustained during the fight. In some cases, it can boil down to the offender’s actions during the fight and the assaults committed during the incident. These will determine if you get a felony charge or a misdemeanor. In addition, when the offender imparts grave physical injuries on his victim, an aggravated assault charge could be filed. Despite the different charges, the offender will still face felony punishment if convicted of an aggravated assault.

Social scenarios can have complicated dynamics and you are unlikely to be the best option when it comes to mounting a defense on your behalf. That is why you should seek a criminal defense lawyer when facing charges of assault in this or any similar situation. A lawyer can help you through the process of fighting the charges and help bolster your case to ensure as positive an outcome as possible. Robert A. Dodell, Attorney at Law, focuses on giving quality representation to all of his clients. He is an experienced attorney with more than thirty years of experience in the legal profession. In addition to professional representation, Robert A. Dodell, Attorney at Law, offers competitive rates that will give you quality for your money.

Whether you’re facing a misdemeanor charge or a felony charge, it’s always a good idea to obtain the best representation you can to help you. Robert A. Dodell, Attorney at Law, is the right choice for such an occasion. Some clients might be victims of circumstance. In social situations, like a bar fight, you may have acted out of pure self-defense, but the outcome could still be a felony charge. In such a situation, someone needs to do the hard work of gathering evidence to either prove your innocence or at least lower the charges or the punishment. A good lawyer will advise you on how to go about doing it and perform the work needed to make it happen. A solid defense helps your case tremendously.

It’s easy to become aggravated in the face of a verbal or physical attack, especially when under the influence of alcohol. When verbally assaulted, there’s a tendency to retaliate in kind. This is part of why bar fights happen. If you can keep calm and not retaliate during these situations, that’s great, but not everyone can face an attack, verbal or physical, with equanimity. And the police are unlikely to be sympathetic to your cause or reason for being involved in such an event. Their primary objective is to restore order, and it may not matter what you have to say about the altercation.

Robert A. Dodell is an attorney who understands the intricacies of these types of situations. He can skillfully handle cases of varying levels of severity and is well-versed in the intricacies of criminal law. He will make sure that you are well-advised throughout the entire process and make sure that you obtain the best possible outcome in your case.