Overview
Many assault and battery cases grow out of a single heated moment — a bar dispute, a road-rage encounter, a family argument — and they frequently come down to conflicting accounts of who did what to whom. An arrest does not mean the State has the full story, and it certainly does not mean a conviction. What it means is that you need someone who will investigate the incident independently and hold the prosecution to its burden of proof.
Piotrowski Law Firm defends people accused of violent offenses throughout Miami-Dade and Broward County — in Miami, Hialeah, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and Pembroke Pines. From misdemeanor assault to felony aggravated battery, we approach every case prepared to take it to trial if that is what protecting you requires.
Florida assault & battery charges
Florida law draws careful distinctions between offenses that are easy to confuse. The severity — and the potential penalties — can change dramatically with the facts:
- Assault — an intentional threat, by word or act, that puts another person in reasonable fear of imminent violence (no contact required)
- Battery — actually touching or striking another person against their will, or causing them bodily harm
- Aggravated assault — an assault with a deadly weapon or with intent to commit a felony
- Aggravated battery — a battery causing great bodily harm, or committed with a deadly weapon, or against a pregnant person
Aggravated offenses are felonies that can carry significant prison exposure, and a violent-crime conviction can follow you for life. We will explain in plain language exactly what you are facing — rather than leave you guessing.
Self-defense & Florida’s Stand Your Ground law
Florida recognizes a person’s right to defend themselves, and that right is one of the most powerful tools in a violent-crime defense. Under Fla. Stat. §776.012, a person who is not engaged in criminal activity and is in a place they have a right to be has no duty to retreat and may use force — including deadly force in defined circumstances — when they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent harm. Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” framework can even support a pretrial motion for immunity from prosecution. Where the facts support it, we develop and assert self-defense early and aggressively.
How we defend violent-crime cases
A charge is not a conviction, and the State must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt. We build the defense around the realities of how these cases actually unfold:
- Witness credibility. When a case rests on testimony, credibility is everything. We probe inconsistencies, motives to lie, prior statements, and the reliability of the accuser’s account.
- Self-defense and defense of others. We examine who the true aggressor was and whether your response was lawful and reasonable under the circumstances.
- Intent. Many of these charges require proof of intent. An accident, a misunderstanding, or mere words may not meet the statute.
- The physical evidence. Injuries, 911 audio, surveillance video, and medical records often tell a different story than the initial police narrative.
Talk to a Miami assault attorney today
The earlier you have counsel, the sooner we can preserve video, locate witnesses, and protect your account before memories fade. Your initial consultation is free and confidential, and our phones are answered 24/7. Request a consultation.
This page provides general information about assault and violent-crime defense in Florida and is not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different. Reading this page or contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please consult a licensed attorney about your specific situation.