When we talk about personal injury lawsuits, we’re used to hearing words like “accident.” But what if the injuries you suffered were no accident at all? What if they were the direct result of someone else’s aggression toward you?
In many cases, you can sue for incidents like that. But because this is such a unique and emotion-filled situation, the logical next question you may have is: “How much can I sue for assault and battery?”
Like many things in Washington state law, the answer depends on a variety of factors. In this post, we look at those factors and provide some tips on how to maximize your assault and battery settlement. Read on to learn more or reach out to Will & Will to get started on your case.
How Much Can I Sue For Assault and Battery?
How much money can you sue someone for assault? This is a great question with a somewhat complex answer. It’s all going to come down to the details of your unique case, but some average settlement amounts may give you a good starting point for understanding what you may be owed.
Factors That Influence Assault Lawsuit Settlements
Under Washington state law, assault and battery can mean a lot of things. For instance, simply making someone afraid that you’re going to hurt them can be interpreted as assault. And anything from a shove to repeated blows to the face can be considered battery. That said, in Washington State, everything is categorized as assault rather than a battery. That means that both the threat of force and actual force are considered assault.
The point is this: Assault can look a lot of different ways and have a lot of different effects on victims. It’s the severity of the effects that will answer your question about how much you can sue for assault and battery.
Here are some of the factors that can play a part in a assault lawsuit settlement:
- How long it takes you to recover from your injuries
- Whether your injuries were so severe that you required mental health care as part of your treatment
- Whether you shared any of the blame for what happened
Average Settlement Amounts
Dealing with average settlement amounts is tricky because every case is unique. That means averages and medians won’t really tell you how much money you can sue someone for assault/battery. However, if you take a closer look at each injury you’ve suffered, you can start to get an idea of the compensation you may be owed.
For example, the average settlement for a brain injury is somewhere around $350,000 according to a 2019 study. That’s because brain injuries can be serious and impair the victim’s ability to enjoy life. On the other hand, a relatively minor bone fracture that will heal in a few weeks may not be worth nearly that much.
No past settlement amount can indicate the assault settlement you may get in the future. That’s why it’s so important to reach out to a trusted lawyer for help understanding what you’re truly owed.
Compensation You Could Recover After Assault
When someone willfully hurts you, as is the case in assault and battery, you can sue them just like you would if they were negligent and caused a car accident that injured you. And much like a car accident or other personal injury claim, an assault and battery civil claim can account for nearly any way in which you’ve suffered because of your injuries.
In other words, depending on your situation, you may be able to recover compensation for the following damages:
- Medical bills related to the injuries
- Psychological counseling
- Lost wages during your recovery
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma caused by the assault
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Once you understand the damages you have suffered, you can begin to answer your initial question: How much can I sue for assault and battery? By adding the total costs of your financial damages and working with a lawyer to determine the value of the non-financial damages, you can land on a final amount to sue the aggressor for.
Maximizing Your Assault Lawsuit Settlement: Do’s and Don’ts
Assault lawsuit settlement amounts are not set in stone. Your actions can have a direct effect on the total amount of your settlement. That’s why it’s important to keep a few do’s and don’ts in mind.
Do:
- Call the police so that an incident report, which can become evidence, is created.
- See a doctor immediately to ensure safety and create medical records.
- Preserve any evidence of what happened, such as photos, videos, threatening text messages, and more.
- Speak with a personal injury lawyer who can help you maximize your settlement as soon as possible.
Don’t:
- Do not admit any fault for what happened, such as saying you provoked the person who assaulted you.
- Never take or plan to take revenge on the person who assaulted you. Your lawsuit will be revenge enough on its own.
- Don’t make the mistake of thinking you have to wait for criminal charges in order to sue for assault or battery. Your civil suit can be entirely separate.
Contact Will & Will
Here is one more “don’t” to keep in mind when it comes to maximizing your settlement: Don’t wait any longer to contact Will & Will. With more than 35 years of combined experience helping the people of Washington state get true justice, we are more than ready to help you get every single cent you deserve.
How much can you sue for assault and battery? Whatever the details of your case dictate, you can be sure that, with Will & Will on your side, you will push hard for the absolute maximum amount you can receive under the law.
Ready to start working toward some justice for what you’ve been through? We’re ready, too. Just give us a call at 206-209-5585 or contact us online.