Do I have a lawsuit if I was attacked at a bar?

Question

I was attacked in a bar  that caused me to suffer broken bones and 8 days in ICUl. I was wondering if I have a lawsuit.

Sam Louis Levine · Answer

If there had been similar attacks in the past & the bar did not do anything to make the bar safer, then possibly you would have a cause of action.  My thoughts & prayers are with you for a speedy recovery.

Ajibola Oladapo · Answer

was the attack in self defense, or did you instigate the attack i.e did you provoke the attack? or was there a brawl and you got attacked in the process? in any case, you have no cause of action against the bar, because  it does not seem to me that they were responsible for any of your injuries.

Lawrence Ramunno · Answer

Depends on what you can prove as to who caused the incident. You should gather any information you can and discuss with a lawyer.

Paul Whitfield · Answer

Bar fights are not very popular with judges and juries but you have a claim (if you did not start the fight) against those who injured you and perhaps against the bar owners if there was a failure of security and that failure caused the fight/injuries.

Theodore W. Robinson · Answer

You may, however, it will depend upon the facts and circumstances. Consult  with a negligence lawyer right away as the statute of limitations is only a year  on purposeful assault.  Good luck.

Joseph Lipsky · Answer

Whether the owner or operator of a bar is liable for you being attacked in a bar, depends upon a variety of factors.  Those factors include what knowledge the bar had about the person who attacked you, such as if that person was acting inappropriately for a period of time before the attack.  Also, it would be important to know what security, if any, the bar had at the time of your incident; and, whether there were prior incidents of criminal behavior on the property, which would have required the bar to any additional security prior to your attack.  These questions and many more, are why you should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney.

James Kelaher · Answer

If you have any proof that the person who attacked you was known by the bar to have dangerous propensities or was known to be violent when intoxicated, then you certainly may have a claim. I would consult with a good personal injury lawyer in your town or city.

Mark Leonardo · Answer

There are insufficient details here to give you much advice.  Obviously you can sue the perpetrators that caused you the physical harm, unless they were acting in self-defense.  Without more detail it is difficult to assess whether you can sue the bar also.

David Stoddard · Answer

A bar is not automatically liable for you injuries from being attacked in the bar.  You would have to show that  bar employees were involved in the attack, or that the bar was negligent in failing to prevent the attack.  The latter usually involves proving that the bar was on notice that fights frequently break out in the bar and the bar had insufficient security based on the level of violence that could be foreseen.

Barry Rabovsky · Answer

You may have a case, based upon the information that you have supplied.  We would be happy to provide you with a free consultation if you call my office at either of the numbers listed below.  If my office accepts your case, there is no fee charged unless we are able to obtain a settlement for you.   Thank you for your email, and we look forward to hearing from you.

John A. Collins, III · Answer

You may have a claim against your attacker and the bar.  Call if we can help.

Salim A. Khayoumi · Answer

In a nutshell, you may have a lawsuit against the person or person(s) who attacked you; as well as, the bar/ bar owner. It is critically important to note; however, that with such limited facts its impossible to predict whether you have a legitimate civil suit/claim against the previously mentioned parties or not. As with most civil suits, fault plays a critical role in determining the likelihood of success in a civil action. 

For example, if you were peacefully sitting at a table enjoying a glass of wine or beer and Daryl Defendant comes out of nowhere, belligerently drunk and attacks you then you would most likely have colorable argument that the D. Defendant is liable for (numerous) tortuous acts and the bar may have been negligent by failing to protect its patrons from harm and/or negligently serving alcohol to a person who is clearly intoxicated. The list of possibilities goes on and on.   

You should seek the services of a licensed attorney practicing in the State where the event occurred. This is the first and most important step in pursuing a civil action.

Eric Rothstein · Answer

Depends on the facts. Did the bar fail to provide adequate security?    Many issues to consider. I am a former federal and State prosecutor and now handle personal injury cases. Feel free to check out my web site and contact me. Time is of the essence especially if there are surveillance camera recordings.

Timothy Klisz · Answer

It is possible.  You certainly have a case against the attacker(s).   Contact me to discuss.

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Do I have a lawsuit if I was attacked at a bar?

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