Top Russellville, AL Aggravated Battery Lawyers Near You

Have You Been Charged With Aggravated Battery?

An aggravated battery criminal offense is a more serious version of battery and imposes a more severe sentence if you are convicted. Contact a Russellville a aggravated battery defense attorney today to protect your legal rights and receive the best representation available.

The Difference Between Battery and Aggravated Battery

The unlawful physical contact with another person is a battery. Examples include punching someone in the nose or engaging in a bar fight. Battery can be simple or aggravated. A simple battery is generally considered a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine and less than one year in jail. An aggravated battery is considered a more serious offense. It is a felony, and its punishments are accordingly more severe. To aggravate a charge of battery the perpetrator must use a deadly weapon, inflict serious bodily harm, or batter a child or officer of the law.

Best Time to Seek Legal Help

No matter what your legal issue may be, it is always best to seek legal help early in the process. An attorney can help secure what is likely to be the best possible outcome for your situation and avoid both unnecessary complications or errors.

What to Expect from an Initial Consultation

• Seek to determine whether the attorney can represent you. There is no one-size-fits-all legal solution and it may turn out your needs are better served by an attorney in a different specialization.
• It’s important to find a legal ally who is both competent in the law and someone you can trust to protect your interests.
• Discuss how the practice’s billing works and discuss possible additional charges or fees that may arise during or after the resolution of your case.

An attorney consultation should provide you with enough information so that you can make an informed decision on whether to proceed with legal help.

How will an attorney charge me?

A reputable attorney will be very upfront about how he/she will charge you. The three most common fee structures that attorneys use to charge for their services are:

• Bill by the hour
• Contingent fee agreement
• Flat fee agreement

Depending on your specific legal situation, it’s possible that only one type of fee structure is available. For instance, criminal defense attorneys almost always bill by the hour. In a flat fee arrangement, an attorney accepts a one-time payment to help you resolve your issue. With a contingent fee agreement, the client pays little to nothing upfront and the attorney receives a percentage of the money recovered if you win your case.

Common legal terms explained

Pro se – This Latin term refers to representing yourself in court instead of hiring professional legal counsel. Pro se representation can occur in either criminal or civil cases.

Statute – Refers to a law created by a legislative body. For example, the laws enacted by Congress are statutes.

Subject matter jurisdiction – Requirement that a particular court have authority to hear the claim based on the specific type of issue brought to the court. For example, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court only has subject matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy filings, therefore it does not have the authority to render binding judgment over other types of cases, such as divorce.