Assault cases are often centred around highly emotional situations where tempers flared and things got out of control. Many of those who find themselves facing assault charges have never been in trouble with the law before in their lives and would never have considered that they could get themselves into such a complicated situation.

Mistakes happen, and if you are facing assault or battery charges for the very first time, you need legal guidance and advice as soon as possible. The choices you make at this stage could have far-reaching consequences for the rest of your life and the sooner you understand this, the better placed you are to make sensible and well informed decisions.

Lawyers for assault charges in your area can easily be found through a quick Google search, but it is important to know how to find a great lawyer, not simply just one that is willing to accept your case.

In this guide we will walk you through the ways to do just that giving you all the tips and trick that you need to find the perfect criminal defence lawyer.

What to do when facing assault charges

Don’t panic

The worst thing that you can do if you are faced with assault charges is to make rash decisions. We get it. You are worried and even a bit scared about the situation you find yourself in. Innocent or not, this is a normal reaction to facing criminal charges, especially for the first time.

The truth is, however, that acting rashly now could make things a whole lot worse.

Understand your charges

The first thing you need to understand is what type of assault charges you are facing. This will determine the severity of the potential sentences that a guilty verdict could bring and will inform your lawyers actions.

Low-level assault, that is to say assault where there was no injury to the victim, or very little injury, is classed as common assault, which carries a maximum sentence of 6 months imprisonment. Most common assault cases are settled without imprisonment being required, with a fine or community service. It is important to know that you don’t need to physically touch someone to be accused or convicted of common assault. If someone feels genuinely threatened by your actions or feels they have suffered psychological damage as a result of them, there is potential for you to be charged with common assault.

From here, assault charges gradually grow more serious rising to Actual Bodily Harm (ABH) where significant, if non-permanent, injuries were sustained and then to Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) which includes extremely violent assaults using weapons that do permanent harm to the victim and could leave them disabled for life. GBH holds a maximum conviction of life imprisonment and is the most serious charge that can be levelled against someone for a physical attack short of murder or manslaughter.

Get a Lawyer

No matter how serious you think the assault charges against you may be, getting legal representation is essential. There are a range of different defences that can be presented in assault cases, from self-defence to mistaken identity but selecting the one that is most relevant to your case and presenting it in the most compelling manner will rely on the experience and skilled of a fully trained criminal lawyer.

When you meet with your lawyer, be completely honest with them when they ask you questions and provide any evidence that you think might be relevant to the case. Consider any witnesses that you think may have been present when the events in question took place and put them in touch with your lawyer to give them the best possible chance of building a compelling case.

What to do immediately after being accused of a crime

The most important thing to do after being accused of a crime is not to act rashly, this is only going to harm your case in the future and could reinforce a perception of you as aggressive and prone to impulsive behaviour.

Instead get in touch with a lawyer and refuse to talk with the police until you have legal representation by your side. It is their job to guide you through the entire legal process and they will explain each and every aspect to you in a clear and concise way, from the nature of the charges, to the possible sentences you could receive and how they intent to go about building your defence.

If required they can also represent you in court and will handle the appeal process on your behalf if you are found guilty and wish to appeal the sentence given.