If I was stabbed with a knife during an argument and the offender was arrested, what options do I have regarding having him pay for medical bills and/or compensation?
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If I was stabbed with a knife during an argument and the offender was arrested, what options do I have regarding having him pay for medical bills and/or compensation?
Asked on May 29, 2015 under Personal Injury, Georgia
Answers:
S.L,. Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
Assault and battery are both civil (lawsuit) and criminal. The civil case is separate from the criminal case and both proceed independently.
When you complete your medical treatment and are released by the doctor or are declared by the doctor to be permanent and stationary which means having reached a point in your medical treatment where no further improvement is anticipated, obtain your medical bills, medical reports, and documentation of wage loss.
In your lawsuit for assault and battery against the perpetrator, compensation for the medical bills is straight reimbursement. The medical reports will document the nature and extent of your injury and will be used to determine compensation for pain and suffering, which is an amount in addition to the medical bills. Compensation for wage loss is straight reimbursement.
You can also seek punitive damages ( a substantial amount of monetary compensation) to punish the intentional, malicious, wrongful conduct of the defendant.
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