If you started a fight in a bar in Texas, it is crucial that you get guidance from an experienced bar brawl attorney.
Bar fights can lead to grave injury for participants and bystanders alike, not to mention the property damage that happens as a result of a melee. It’s also important to understand that Texas bar or nightclub fights can cause legal and financial problems for the person(s) that initiated the fight.
So, if you ever start a bar fight in Texas, you’re going to need help from top-tier bar brawl attorneys. Legal experts can help you put up the best defense possible in the face of assault charges or civil court claims as a result of a Texas bar fight that you started or were involved in.
The details of the case matter…
In Texas, fighting in public is against the law and it can result in assault charges. Criminal charges are determined by the circumstances of the fight, the fight itself, the injuries people sustain, and the damage done to any property.
Some assault charges can be classified as a felony or aggravated assault (serious bodily injury) while others can be classified as a misdemeanor. Again, the details of your case will determine whether you’re facing simple assault or aggravated assault, and whether you’re likely to lose a case in civil court and have to pay damages.
If you find yourself facing charges, here are the penalties for assault if you’re found guilty according Texas Law:
- Class C Misdemeanor: a fine of up to $500
- Class B Misdemeanor: Up to 180 days in county jail or a fine up to $2,000, or both
- Class A Misdemeanor: Up to one year in jail or a fine up to $4,000, or both
- 3rd Degree Felony: From two to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000
- 2nd Degree Felony: From two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, and
- 1st Degree Felony: From five to 99 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
So what exactly constitutes assault in Texas?
According to Texas law, assault constitutes three different kinds of actions:
- “Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly” causing physical harm or injury
- Deliberately threatening another person with imminent physical harm
- Using physical contact on a person that is knowingly offensive or provocative
These are 3 broad categories of action, and there is plenty of room to argue the facts.
Assault can include everything from poking someone in the chest to make a point, all the way up to breaking a glass on someone’s head or using a deadly weapon during a fight. Even in a misdemeanor assault charge, you might also face bar fight injury claims in civil court from victims and/or the establishment where the fight took place. Being the instigator in a Texas bar brawl is not an ideal situation to be in, but there is hope for people who find themselves facing assault charges after a bar fight.
The best thing you can do is get an experienced bar fight attorney on your side. That way, you can put up the best legal defense possible. A good bar brawl attorney just might make the difference between jail time and paying a small fine. Everything will depend on your specific case.
If you’ve been involved in a bar fight in Texas and you’re facing any criminal and civil charges, it’s imperative that you contact Malley Law for a case evaluation to get your legal defense squared away ASAP.
