ASSAULT CHARGES DEFENSE LAWYERS
Serving Erie, Edinboro, Crawford and rest of Northwestern PA
Charged With Assault in Pennsylvania?
An assault charge can arise from a fight, domestic dispute, confrontation at a bar or private party, sporting event, or another incident involving an allegation of physical harm. The circumstances surrounding the incident can determine what criminal charges are filed and how serious the potential consequences may be.
Whatever the situation, when you are charged with assault, your rights and freedom are at stake. The Travis Law Firm represents individuals facing assault charges throughout Erie, Crawford, Warren and Northwestern Pennsylvania.
Attorney Grant Travis Explains Assault Charges
Most times, when we trace the source of a fight, we find an emotional response to something else that simply got out of control. An assault allegation can arise from a domestic dispute or an isolated incident involving you and someone else at a sporting event, bar, private party, or virtually anywhere. These cases may involve conflicting accounts, disputed evidence, witness statements, injuries, weapons allegations, or questions about what actually happened.
Whatever the circumstances, when you are charged with assault, your rights and freedom are at stake. Attorney Grant Travis and the criminal defense attorneys at The Travis Law Firm have extensive experience defending individuals accused of criminal offenses in Pennsylvania. We understand that the facts of each case matter, and a thorough review of the allegations and evidence is essential to determining the best defense strategy.
Hiring an experienced assault charge defense attorney at The Travis Law Firm provides you with skilled legal representation focused on protecting your rights and best interests. We fight hard to pursue the best possible result for your case.
Types of Assault
Pennsylvania law recognizes several different assault offenses. A case may involve a misdemeanor such as simple assault or a more serious felony charge such as aggravated assault. Other laws address specific circumstances, including strangulation, assaults involving law enforcement officers, and aggravated assault by vehicle.
Assault Charges in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania law recognizes several types of assault offenses. The charge and potential consequences depend on the circumstances of the alleged incident.
What Can Lead to an Assault Charge?
Assault allegations can arise from many different situations. A physical confrontation does not automatically mean that the person accused intended to cause serious injury, and the circumstances leading up to an incident can be important to the defense.
Assault charges may involve allegations arising from:
- Physical fights or confrontations
- Bar or nightclub incidents
- Domestic disputes
- Arguments between acquaintances or family members
- Alleged attacks involving a weapon
- Incidents involving police officers or other protected individuals
- Sporting events or interactions with sports officials
- Vehicle crashes involving allegations of serious bodily injury
- Allegations involving strangulation or obstruction of breathing
The prosecution must prove the elements of the specific offense charged. The evidence may include witness statements, photographs, medical records, police reports, surveillance footage, text messages, social media posts, 911 recordings, and statements made by the people involved.
Understanding what evidence exists, how reliable it is, and whether it actually supports the criminal charge is an important part of preparing an assault defense.
Potential Consequences of an Assault Conviction
The consequences of an assault conviction depend on the specific offense, the grading of the charge, the circumstances of the alleged conduct, and the defendant's criminal history.
Depending on the charge, an assault conviction can result in:
- Jail or prison time
- Fines and court costs
- Probation
- A permanent criminal record
- Restrictions involving firearms
- Protective or no-contact orders
- Restrictions involving employment or professional licensing
- Difficulty obtaining certain jobs or housing
- Additional consequences for individuals with prior convictions
Felony assault charges can carry particularly serious consequences. Even when an assault charge is classified as a misdemeanor, a conviction can have lasting effects beyond the sentence imposed by the court.
For that reason, an assault charge should be taken seriously from the beginning of the case.
Defending an Assault Charge in Pennsylvania
There is no single defense that applies to every assault case. The appropriate defense depends on the facts, the charge, the evidence, and the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident.
Depending on the case, an assault defense may involve:
Self-Defense
Pennsylvania law recognizes circumstances in which a person may use force to protect himself or herself from unlawful force. Whether self-defense applies depends on the specific facts and circumstances of the incident.
Defense of Another Person
In certain circumstances, Pennsylvania law also permits the use of force to protect another person from unlawful force. The facts surrounding the incident must be carefully examined to determine whether this defense applies.
Lack of Intent
The prosecution must establish the required mental state for the offense charged. Evidence showing that an incident was accidental, misunderstood, or did not involve the required intent may be important to the defense.
Questioning the Evidence
Witness accounts can differ. Police reports may not tell the entire story. Video footage, photographs, medical records, phone records, messages, and other evidence may provide additional information about what actually happened.
An experienced criminal defense attorney can examine the evidence and identify inconsistencies, weaknesses, or information that may support the defense.
Challenging the Charges
The evidence may not support the charge filed against you. Depending on the circumstances, an attorney may challenge the prosecution's evidence, seek dismissal or reduction of charges, pursue suppression of improperly obtained evidence, or prepare the case for trial.
Every assault case is different. The defense should be based on the actual evidence rather than assumptions about what happened.
Experienced Assault Defense Attorneys Serving Northwestern Pennsylvania
The Travis Law Firm has handled thousands of criminal cases and represents individuals facing criminal charges throughout Erie, Crawford, Warren and surrounding counties.
Our attorneys understand that an assault case can turn on the details. What happened before the confrontation, who initiated the physical contact, what witnesses actually observed, the extent of any injuries, and what evidence exists can all be important to the defense.
Attorney Grant Travis is recognized throughout Pennsylvania as a trial lawyer and has been honored by The National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
The Travis Law Firm provides criminal defense representation for assault charges and other serious criminal allegations. Our attorneys are prepared to investigate the circumstances of your case, examine the evidence, and protect your rights throughout the criminal process.
Contact Our Assault Defense Lawyers
As you can see, assault charges are complicated and criminal defense cases can be overwhelming, especially for the accused. The Travis Law Firm offers a free & confidential case evaluation to help you make an informed decision about your future and your freedom. Contact an experience criminal defense attorney at our law firm today to discuss your legal options.
* THE TRAVIS LAW FIRM, P.C., only handles cases involving Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Workers’ Compensation, DUI, and Criminal Defense.
FREE CASE REVIEW
ERIE'S
GO-TO LAW FIRM
Contact our experienced local attorneys to get the aggressive legal help you need.
- Personal Injury Cases
- DUI Defense Cases
- Criminal Defense Cases
5 STAR REVIEWS
Amy M.
"I would Highly recommend Attorney Travis. He and his staff very friendly and professional. I was quite concerned over my case, Attorney Travis took the time to explain everything to me and made me feel confident he could help me. Everything worked out great. I really appreciate his personal and professional help."
Dustin S.
"Highly recommend Grant Travis and his staff. The best decision I’ve ever made was to hire him to represent my case. The knowledge and professionalism of Grant and his staff is top notch! You will not go wrong chosing him to represent you! Thanks again Grant!!"