
Jacksonville Assault Lawyer
What is Assault in Florida?
Assault, typically paired with the crime of battery, is a criminal offense that involves threatening another individual or individuals. In an altercation between two or more people, the crime of “assault” refers to a (1) physical or verbal threat that can be reasonably carried out which (2) causes a person to fear for their immediate safety. By definition, the offense does not include physical contact. This means that if one person throws a punch aimed at another but missed, the aggressor may face assault charges. For clarification, if physical contact does occur, the crime can be charged as “battery”. An assault becomes “aggravated” when during the course of an offense, an aggressor makes use of a deadly weapon or intends to commit a felony.
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Assault can be committed as a crime in and of itself but is also frequently accompanied by other crimes or aggravating factors such as the presence of a deadly weapon or assault with battery. The penalties and the charges will differ drastically depending on the unique factors present in each case. If you were arrested and are now facing assault charges, speak with a Jacksonville assault attorney from our firm immediately.
Work with our dedicated and experienced Jacksonville assault attorney today to fight for your rights! Contact us today at (904) 701-0591!
Proving Self-Defense in Florida Assault Cases
For self-defense to be just that and not its own form of assault or battery, four requirements must be met during the altercation:
- Defender was legitimately threatened with unlawful harm by another.
- Attacker’s behavior was convincing enough to cause the defender to reasonably believe they were in danger.
- Defender did not attempt to provoke the attacker in any way.
- Defender did not have a safe opportunity to flee, retreat, or escape.
If all four of these conditions are met, the defender can use force or violence in return to protect themselves, to an extent. Self-defense claims must be “proportional” to the perceived or real threat. Force can be used to stop the attack and escape, but it cannot be used to exact revenge or inflict harm to the attacker after the threat has been resolved.
For example: John approaches Matt with his fists raised, an angry scowl on his face, and tells him he is going to attack him. Matt pulls a gun while John is still 100 feet away. At this point, if Matt tells John to stop while also attempting to retreat himself, it would constitute acceptable self-defense and not assault with a deadly weapon. If Matt pulls a gun and immediately fires, killing John before he has a chance to stop his attack, Matt could be charged with murder or manslaughter.
Find out what we can do for you. Contact a Jacksonville assault lawyer today! Pick Porter!™
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Serving Jacksonville, FL Since 2004
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First off let me say how much I love this law firm!!! My boyfriend was referred by a friend and I'm glad we listened! This was the first time we ever needed a lawyer and Richard Watson was INCREDIBLE! He knows his stuff and he doesn't settle for anything less than what we deserved! We loved talking to Bonnie when we called she was always so cheerful and helpful! I recommend YOU to choose this office!!!!!! I promise you won't be disappointed !!!! I will definitely be using them again if I ever need to!- Sara B.
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I was treated with the utmost respect and graciousness. I was always kept informed and if I ever had a question or needed anything the staff was amazing at assisting me.- F.S.
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Very helpful. Always there when needed.- K.S.
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I am so incredibly grateful for picking Porter. Jonathan Thacher was definitely there when I needed a lawyer.- Sharon F.
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Mr. Porter helped me in 2010 with a Breach of Contract case in which he was able to recover my earned commissions from my former employer. Mr. Porter was very friendly and knowledgeable in the area of Non Compete agreements which allowed for a quick settlement from my former employer. The staff was great and addressed my issues and questions in a timely fashion. I would recommend Mr. Porter to anyone that has a case in the areas he practices in.- John
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My family has worked with Mr. Porter several times over the years. Each of our experiences were different but the outcome was the same. We all had extremely positive results. I have referred many friends and family to Mr. Porter for assistance, and I will continue to highly recommend the firm to anyone in need of legal services.- Anonymous
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Jason is the best lawyer in Jacksonville. I have had the pleasure of having him represent a family member and his work was above and beyond what any other attorney would have done. He will work with you where ever he can to get the best outcome. You can trust what he says. Very high ethics .I have called him my Perry Mason, and I really mean it. If you want THE BEST trust Jason Porter, he's real.- Carla B.
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If I could give 10 stars, I would. I was blessed to have selected first, from a long list of lawyers, Jason Porter. From our first meeting, Jason was kind, comforting, and non-judgmental. Jason and his team fought long and hard for me, and our outcome was as predicted, far better than I was expecting considering my initial circumstances. A heart felt Thank You to Jason, Jonathan, and Darlene.- S.H.
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