How to Fight Back After an Assault

October 25, 2012  |  Jon P. Erickson

These days, you can never be too safe. Whether you are out alone or with someone you trust, you could find yourself being the victim of an assault. There are three phases that you need to prepare for in the case of an assault: prevention, as soon as it happens and handling it afterward.
Preventing an Assault
You do not have any control over someone deciding to assault you; however, there are some ways to help lower your chances of being assaulted. The biggest one is paying attention to your surroundings. Many random assaults happen when a person is not fully aware of their surroundings.
If you are out in public alone, especially if it is dark, you should keep your eyes open and remain alert. Do not talk on your cell phone or preoccupy yourself with anything else. Focus on where you are going and pay attention to the surrounding area. Avoid dark alleys and sparsely populated areas.
If you see someone who looks suspicious, use your gut instinct and stay away. A good way to do this is by walking into a store or over to another person.
However, preventing an assault by someone you know can be more difficult to prevent. If you are spending time with a friend or co-worker, you probably trust them and have your guard down. The biggest form of prevention here is to follow your instincts. If you feel as though you are in an uncomfortable situation, try to get to a public area or make a phone call to someone you trust.
As Soon As an Assault Happens
Whether you fight back or not is a decision that is best left up to you and the surrounding circumstances. Although, if you are being threatened with a weapon, it is best not to fight back or you could sustain more injury. Retreating under these circumstances is usually the safest option.
Try to remember every detail about the person who is attacking you such as the following:

• Race
• Eye color
• Hair color and length
• Approximate height and weight
• Any distinguishing marks or features
• Any tattoos or piercings
• What clothes they were wearing

Of course, if you know the assailant then you will be able to provide identifying information such as their name, address and phone number.
As soon as it is safe, typically after the assailant flees, you should could the police to come take a report. If you have suffered personal injury, you should also call an ambulance so that you can receive treatment. If your injuries are minor, you should still visit a doctor as soon as possible so they can write up a medical report and document your injuries.
Fighting Back
If you suffered an injury and you either know who assaulted you or the police have identified them, the next step is to file charges against them. This helps the prosecutor to gather a case against them and make sure that they are punished for this crime. An assault attorney can assist you so that you have your own representation and ensure that your best interests are upheld.
If you were seriously injured as a result of the attack, you can start lawsuits against the assailant or any other person or company who could be held responsible for your attack. A personal injury attorney at Barna, Guzy & Steffen, LTD can meet with you and go over all your options. Typically, these cases often end in a mutual settlement in order to avoid a lengthy trial.
On the other hand, if you are being charged in an assault, you will need to hire a criminal attorney to help protect you. Whether the charges are bogus or it was all a misunderstanding, you need proper representation so you don’t receive a harsher penalty or more fees than you deserve.
Assault cases can be hard on all involved and there isn’t always a clear label of “guilty” or “not guilty”. This is why it is so important to have an experienced attorney representing you no matter what side of the criminal law court you are standing on. At Barna, Guzy & Steffen, LTD., we will help you receive a fair trial so that you can move on with your life.