Are You A Domestic Assault Victim? Do These 5 Things

If you have found yourself in a situation where you're the victim of domestic assault, you may not know what to do afterwards. Here are some tips that will help you through the immediate aftermath.

Call the Police

Domestic abuse is not going to go away on its own. If it happens once, chances are that it will happen again. You'll want to contact the police as soon as your spouse starts becoming violent towards you. Getting the police involved can help stop whatever incident is happening in the moment and help make it clear that you are ready to take legal action about it.

Take Photos of Injuries

You'll want to document any injuries that you sustained from the domestic violence incident, so be prepared to get out your phone and take some photos. You can then email them to yourself so you have a dated record of what injuries you have and when it occurred.

Decide What You Want To Do

The decision you make now will be a big one, since moving forward with a domestic violence case can have serious consequences for everyone involved. Know that once you file a police report, much of the case will be taken out of your hands. Police may decide to arrest your spouse and investigate your claims.

Keep in mind that your state likely has laws regarding the statute of limitations regarding domestic violence cases. If you wait too long, there may not be anything that you can do about it.

File A Police Report

Filing a police report will set things in motion for your spouse to face legal consequences. You can go down to your police station to report the incident or have the police come to you, whichever is easier for you. They will listen to your story and decide if your spouse was the primary aggressor, and then likely visit your spouse for questioning and to make an arrest.

Hire A Lawyer

You may need to get the lawyer involved to help you deal with your assault. Not only will there be issues directly related to the assault that need to be resolved, but you'll need legal assistance dealing with the fallout as well. For example, dealing with custody issues for a child during a time where your marriage will require some separation. You'll definitely find that a lawyer can be a valuable asset throughout the process.

For more help, contact a domestic assault attorney in your area. 


Share