A Bar Fight Could Land You in the Hospital… or Jail!

Intentionally starting a bar fight is rare, but you might find yourself in one unexpectedly. Bar staff will likely call the police if a fight breaks out and doesn’t stop quickly.

If the police believe you participated in the brawl, even if you tried to avoid it, they could arrest you on several potential criminal charges. This can be a terrifying experience, especially if it’s your first arrest.

A minor criminal conviction can seriously impact you, your job, and your family.

If arrested, remain as calm as possible. Don’t resist arrest or argue with the officers, breaking up the fight. In such moments, you might say something incriminating. You should only give your name and address and show your ID. Then, call a criminal defense lawyer immediately.

Bar fights often lead to criminal offenses.

Disorderly Conduct

Police might charge you with disorderly conduct, the least serious offense. It’s also known as a “breach of the peace.” If evidence shows you disturbed the public peace, you face this charge.

Give your name and address, show your ID, avoid answering questions, and request a lawyer. Then, call a criminal defense lawyer.

Disorderly conduct, a second-degree misdemeanor, might not sound serious but can lead to weeks in jail and a fine. A conviction can haunt your future, affecting job prospects or current employment.

Disorderly Intoxication

Disorderly intoxication, a step up from disorderly conduct, means you were intoxicated during the fight.

Intoxication in a bar implies acting irrationally due to alcohol, posing a threat to others. If you injure someone during the fight, you could face a disorderly intoxication charge, a second-degree misdemeanor that worsens with serious injuries.

Battery

If you touch someone without their consent, you could face a battery charge, a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by jail time, high fines, and court costs.

Aggravated Battery

Charges of aggravated battery arise if you injure someone or intend to injure someone with a deadly weapon, including items like bar stools, beer bottles, glasses, or knives. Aggravated battery convictions lead to second-degree felony penalties, including higher fines and up to 5 years in prison.

Involuntary Manslaughter

Involuntary Manslaughter is a grave charge, occurring if you unintentionally kill someone during a bar fight.

Pushing someone off their bar stool, leading to fatal injuries, could result in involuntary manslaughter. All manslaughter convictions are felonies, potentially leading to 15 years in prison. You need legal help to set up a defense or negotiate a plea.

Defense against a Bar Fight Criminal Charge

Avoiding arrest during a police breakup of a bar fight is challenging. Stay calm and contact “Albert Quirantes Esq. Criminal DUI & Ticket Lawyers” in Miami. Their skilled legal team might get your charge dismissed or reduced. In Florida, defense tools like a motion for immunity, “Stand Your Ground,” can be argued before trial to a judge, possibly leading to case dismissal if you were defending yourself. If that motion fails, self-defense can be argued to a jury. Keep your lawyer’s number handy; you never know when you’ll need legal assistance.