# Legal help (after getting punched in the face)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-help-after-getting-punched-in-the-face/481409>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 15, 2009, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-help-after-getting-punched-in-the-face/481409 "2009-01-15T10:09:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![T\_SQUARE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@T\_SQUARE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T_SQUARE)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-help-after-getting-punched-in-the-face/481409/1 "2009-01-15T10:09:26Z")

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Mods, please close if need be.

I just got punched in the damn eye, I’m OK, no worries. I was waiting for a cab, minding my own, and this dude, who probably thought I was someone else, walked up and punched me in the face. At any rate, the cops show up, and say that if I want to press charges, I have to go downtown myself (I’m drunk leaving the bar) and be chearged with public intox.

I say no, and leave. But I think this jerk should have to do something. Who should I call tomorrow? I don’t thinh this guy shoul get away clean.

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-help-after-getting-punched-in-the-face/481409/2 "2009-01-15T10:28:46Z")

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You should still be able to file a police report tomorrow. I don’t know where you are but here in California the [statute of limitations](http://www.garygauthier.com/californiastatuteoflimitations.html) for assault is 2 years.

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**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-help-after-getting-punched-in-the-face/481409/3 "2009-01-16T02:03:06Z")

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You could also sue him in Civil Court for damages, which would avoid getting involved with the police criminal system.

You could sue for any medical bills, loss of wages if you have to miss days of work, etc. Probably would be small enough amount that you could go through small claims court, so no need to hire a lawyer, etc.

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**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-help-after-getting-punched-in-the-face/481409/4 "2009-01-16T02:08:47Z")

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If you really want to be a pain in their side, file personnel complaints against the officers that responded to the scene. This is a typical “crime reduction” tactic-- no report filed means no crime occurred.

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**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-help-after-getting-punched-in-the-face/481409/5 "2009-01-16T02:23:31Z")

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> [@IAmNotSpartacus](#):
>
> If you really want to be a pain in their side, file personnel complaints against the officers that responded to the scene. This is a typical “crime reduction” tactic-- no report filed means no crime occurred.

You must live in San Jose Calif. Where we have a low crime rate.