At the corner of G Street and Allegheny Avenue, a young man lost his life on May 4, 2014. The victim of yet another Philadelphia stabbing, he was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Police responded to a call in the early hours of the morning. Expecting to find a man with a gun, they found the victim lying on the ground with multiple stab wounds in his neck and torso instead. Three men have been arrested and charged with the crime.
What Happens After a Violent Knife Attack?
For the young man who died at G and Allegheny, his life is over but the prosecution is just beginning. His grieving family members will be forced to deal with his loss. Each day, there will be constant reminders. Depending upon how the defendants plead, there will either be a trial or a plea deal. If there is a trial, the men accused of attacking their loved one may or may not be convicted. Through it all, the family will be forced to wait for the outcome and for justice that may never come.
When violent shootings or stabbings occur in Philadelphia, they aren’t always fatal. Victims of knife attacks often receive grievous injuries from which they may never recover. Capable of tearing flesh and damaging internal organs, knives are increasingly being used on the streets of Philadelphia. Victims are saddled with expensive medical bills and lose income during recovery. Some victims suffer injuries so severe that they are unable to return to work at all.
Seeking Civil Justice: Crime Victims’ Rights
What many crime victims don’t understand is that they have rights. In many cases, the judgment in a criminal case may include paying for the cost of medical care or reconstructive surgery. However, this payment is not guaranteed. Depending upon the circumstances of the attack, compensation may be ordered within the civil court system.
When victims or their surviving family members seek compensation through the civil system, their lawyers carefully examine the incident and the actions that led to its bloody conclusion. When negligence can be proved or when a preponderance of evidence that the accused committed the crime. Even when a criminal case not guilty verdict is returned, a conviction can still be achieved with a civil suit. The most famous recent example is the not guilty verdict of O.J. Simpson for the death of his wife within the criminal courts and the successful civil case. To hold someone responsible for damages in a civil lawsuit requires that the jury finds that there is a minimum probability of 50.1% that the accused committed the crime.
The Right Legal Team
Crime victims often have a difficult time finding a legal firm to represent them. That’s why it is important to maintain excellent records and give the criminal courts time to prosecute the case. Civil litigation can be pursued no matter what the outcome is in the criminal court system, but a guilty verdict substantially increases the chance of success.
The rate of Philadelphia stabbings has remained constant for the past several years, with most incidents occurring during domestic violence cases. While some injuries are minor, many of these incidents result in major trauma, including the death described at the beginning of this article. Victims have rights in these and all other violent assaults. Fight back with a civil lawsuit to ensure that loved ones receive proper care and compensation.
