Domestic violence is a serious crime. Given this fact, it's critical that the line between an assault or abuse and a disagreement be clearly defined. Unfortunately, for many people who face a domestic assault charge, the line is blurred. People often give exaggerated or outright false claims of abuse. If you have encountered this unfortunate situation, it's critical you know how to protect yourself. Learn what actions you should take today.

Hire an Attorney

Ensure you hire an attorney right away. While you and the individual that pressed the charges against you may know the truth, the truth may not be as evident to the police, the prosecution team, the judge, and a jury. 

The court system will not simply listen to your claim of innocence, drop the charge, and let you walk free. Once a formal charge has been made, you must then work to prove your innocence. Depending on the type of assault charge you face, you could receive a jail sentence that lasts for several years. Hire an attorney to ensure you are protected. 

Tell Everything

You need to be an open book and tell everything about the incident that led to the altercation. The more information you provide, the more context you can offer to the authorities and the more you can work to unravel the false or exaggerated claims made by the other person. For example, assume you and the other person were arguing. 

You may have walked away, stormed out the door, and slammed it behind you. However, you may have done all of this while not aware that the individual was following closely behind you. If they were injured as a result, this scenario is unfortunate nonetheless, but it's up to the court to determine if it is, in fact, a form of abuse. 

Cease Contact

Ensure you cease contact with the individual that has pressed charges against you. If the person intentionally filed a false claim against you, the person has proven themselves as someone that you cannot trust. As a result, in the same manner, that they initially told a falsehood about you, it's very likely that they could do the same thing if you continue to communicate with them. 

You should stay away so that you aren't providing the individual with more to use against you. Additionally, protective orders are typically issued with these types of cases. If an order is issued in your instance, your freedom depends on you staying away from the person.

While the situation might look frightening now, you can make it out on the other side. However, it's essential you remember that your actions are critical to the success of your case. Make sure you do your part to prove your innocence. For more information, contact a lawyer like Cheryl Brown Attorney at Law.

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