When someone sets out to commit a crime, they may believe that no one is going to be injured. They don’t want to do anything violent. They may think of their crime as a strictly financial crime, a way to obtain financial assets that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to obtain.
But any type of criminal activity can quickly become dangerous and may lead to injuries. For example, one man told the story of being a child when his parents’ store was robbed. His father ended up trying to defend the store – and his family – and was shot three times in the process. He did survive, but he spent time in the hospital for treatment.
How does this happen?
Situations like this are often called a “robbery gone wrong.” But, to the victim of such violence, it’s an event that should have never happened. It’s a direct violation of their rights. It’s not a “robbery gone wrong” so much as it’s an avoidable injury during the commission of an illegal act.
As such, those who were breaking the law when those injuries occurred are still responsible, even if they never intended for anyone to get hurt at the beginning.
What options do you have?
Remember that criminal court and civil court are very different. There have been many cases where someone is not found guilty in criminal court but is still ordered to pay compensation in civil court. You can have two separate cases to address both the criminal activity and the financial issues you’re facing as a result.
Just make sure that you know exactly what legal options you have to protect your rights as the victim of a violent crime.
