teens with legal issues

Relationships can be stressful when there are a lot of responsibilities and a couple is living from paycheck to paycheck to survive. When couples are under so much pressure, arguments can become violent in the heat of the moment, which is never ok. However, every human has the right to protect him or herself when faced with a violent situation that is life-threatening. Unfortunately, self-defense can lead to a victim being arrested if his or her attacker is severely injured during the act of self-defense.  If you were charged with domestic violence in such an incident, a lawyer is needed as soon as possible.

How Did the Conflict Start?

To give a lawyer a good idea about how he or she should go about building your case, you need to be honest. Think back on the day of the incident and provide details about what happened before and during the incident. A lawyer must know how the conflict started to determine your role, such as whether you caused the conflict to happen. You might believe you are innocent, but a lawyer can pick apart the entire incident to shine a light on things that you may not think are significant. The point of being honest is so the lawyer can prepare to defend you to the fullest extent possible.

What Is the Sex of Your Attacker?

Sex can play a significant role in how someone is treated after a domestic violence situation occurs. For example, if you are a male and the other party is female, the authorities may have made a biased decision to arrest you. A lawyer will make sure you are not being falsely accused due to being a man and larger than your partner. He or she can also investigate your partner to search for other incidents in which he or she behaved violently. If you have any bruises from previous incidents with your partner, let the lawyer know so he or she can gather evidence.

Did Anyone Witness the Incident?

If anyone was with you and your partner when you had to defend yourself, give the lawyer his or her name. Even providing the location of the incident could be helpful. The reason is that a lawyer can visit the location to find out if anyone in the area witnessed the incident. For example, if you had to defend yourself in the parking lot of a business establishment, someone inside the store may have witnessed everything. Finding witnesses can be helpful in proving that you were defending yourself.

Contact a criminal lawyer to learn more.