Were you injured in an assault in Shreveport, Louisiana? Contact Desiah Injury Lawyers for a free consultation at (318) 252-3034. Our Shreveport assault injury lawyer can help you file a civil claim for as much compensation as possible under state law.
We have 12 years of experience helping clients in this area of the law, recovering more than $20 million in the process. Get in touch with us today to learn more about your case and your legal rights and options going forward.
Why Hire Desiah Injury Lawyers for My Assault Injury Case in Shreveport, LA?
Assault injury claims do not follow the same playbook as a typical accident case. Insurance companies handle them differently because most liability policies exclude coverage for intentional acts. That means your Shreveport personal injury attorney needs to know where to look for other sources of recovery and which third parties may share legal responsibility for what happened to you.
Desiah Injury Lawyers has spent over a decade winning cases in the Shreveport area. Here are some reasons to trust our personal injury law firm with yours:
- Over a decade of focused personal injury experience in the Shreveport legal community
- A proven track record with tens of millions recovered for our clients
- Deep familiarity with Caddo Parish courts and local procedures
- Experience identifying third-party liability in cases where the attacker cannot pay
- A commitment to keeping you informed and involved at every stage of your case
Contact our Shreveport assault injury attorney today to schedule your free consultation. We can answer any questions you might have about your case at that time.
Civil vs. Criminal Assault Cases
One of the most important things for assault victims to understand is that the civil and criminal legal systems in Louisiana operate independently. A criminal case is brought by the state and focuses on punishing the person who committed the assault.
A civil case is brought by you, the victim, and focuses on recovering money for the harm you suffered. And because the burden of proof in a civil case is lower than in a criminal case, it is possible to win a civil judgment even if the criminal case results in an acquittal or is never prosecuted at all.
Who Can Be Held Liable for an Assault Injury in Shreveport?
The person who carried out the attack is the most obvious defendant, but they may not be the only one. In many situations, a third party’s negligence created the conditions that allowed the assault to happen.
Depending on the facts, you may be able to file a claim against:
- A bar, nightclub, or restaurant that failed to provide adequate security for its patrons
- A property owner who ignored dangerous conditions
- An apartment complex that failed to secure common areas and screen tenants
- An employer whose employee used excessive force while acting within the scope of their job, such as an overly aggressive bouncer
- A location that did not take reasonable steps to protect visitors from foreseeable criminal activity
Holding third parties liable is often the key to recovering meaningful compensation in an assault case. Many attackers lack the personal assets or insurance coverage to pay a judgment on their own. Our assault injury attorney will investigate every angle to make sure all of the responsible parties are named in your claim.
What Damages Can I Recover After an Assault Injury in Shreveport?
If you file a civil claim for an assault injury, you can pursue both economic and non-economic damages. Together, these are known as compensatory damages and are designed to cover the full impact the assault has had on your life.
Economic damages account for your financial losses:
- Medical bills
- Future medical care
- Lost wages from missed time at work
- Reduced earning capacity if your injuries are long-term
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages reflect the personal toll of the assault:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and psychological trauma
- Loss of quality of life
- Fear, anxiety, and lasting effects on your sense of safety
Louisiana also allows punitive damages in limited situations authorized by statute. It is possible that they could be awarded in an assault injury case, depending on the facts, but they are not guaranteed.
How Much Is My Shreveport Assault Injury Case Worth?
At the end of the day, every assault case involves its own unique set of circumstances. Cases involving the most severe injuries tend to result in higher compensation, but that is only one piece of the picture.
Some of the other factors that can influence what your case is worth include:
- Whether a third party with insurance coverage shares liability for the assault
- The total cost of your past and future medical care
- How long you were unable to work and whether your earning capacity has been affected
- The severity of the emotional and psychological harm you suffered
- The strength of the evidence supporting your claim
During your free consultation, our personal injury lawyer can review the details of your case and give you a clearer picture of what your claim may be worth.
What Does It Cost to Hire an Assault Injury Lawyer in Shreveport, LA?
Desiah Injury Lawyers handles assault injury cases on a contingency fee basis. You will not pay anything upfront to hire our firm, and you will never owe an hourly rate either. We only collect attorney’s fees if we recover compensation for you.
If we secure a settlement or jury verdict on your behalf, our attorney’s fees will come out of that recovery as a percentage. You will sign a contingency fee agreement at the start of your case that spells out exactly how the arrangement works. This structure means you can hire experienced legal representation without any financial risk, no matter your current situation.
What If I’m Being Blamed for the Assault?
Louisiana adopted a modified comparative fault system that applies to most personal injury cases. Under this rule, your compensation can be reduced by whatever percentage of fault is assigned to you. If your share of responsibility reaches 51% or more, you lose the right to recover anything.
However, assault is classified as an intentional tort under Louisiana law. In cases involving intentional acts, the comparative fault rules do not necessarily apply the same way they do in a standard negligence case.
Having an attorney on your side makes a real difference here. We can push back against attempts to shift blame onto you and make sure the focus stays on the parties responsible for your injuries.
How Can a Lawyer Help With My Assault Injury Case?
Assault injury cases involve legal challenges you will not find in a typical car accident claim.
An attorney handling your case can:
- Investigate the assault independently of law enforcement and uncover evidence the criminal case may not pursue
- Determine whether a third party shares liability for failing to prevent the attack
- Obtain security footage and other evidence before it is lost
- Work with medical professionals to document the full extent of your physical and psychological injuries
- Navigate insurance coverage issues that arise when the attacker’s policy excludes intentional acts
- Shield you from aggressive defense tactics designed to shift blame onto you for the incident
- File your civil lawsuit within Louisiana’s prescriptive period so that your right to compensation is protected
The criminal justice system exists to punish the attacker; your lawyer’s job is to make sure you are compensated. Contact Desiah Injury Lawyers today to learn more about how we can help.
How Long Do I Have to File an Assault Injury Lawsuit in Shreveport?
Louisiana law generally gives you two years from the date of the assault to file a civil lawsuit. This is the prescriptive period under Louisiana Civil Code Article 3493.1. If you do not file within that window, you will almost certainly lose the right to pursue compensation.
Certain exceptions may pause or extend this timeline—such as ongoing criminal prosecutions. Reaching out to a personal injury attorney as early as possible helps ensure your claim stays on track and that no critical deadlines are missed.
Contact Our Shreveport Assault Injury Attorney to Schedule a Free Consultation
An assault in Shreveport, LA, can turn your life upside down in a matter of seconds. If someone else is responsible for what happened to you, the law gives you the right to hold them liable and seek the compensation you need to move forward.
Desiah Injury Lawyers has spent 12 years fighting for injury victims across Shreveport and throughout Caddo Parish. We will handle every aspect of your case so you can focus on putting your life back together. Call our Shreveport assault injury attorney today for your free consultation.