Defending yourself after being falsely accused of a crime can be hard if you don’t have adequate knowledge of how the legal system works. This is why you need to have a professional lawyer by your side once you get arrested for a crime, whether you are innocent or guilty. You can find these lawyers at top law firms like The Medlin Law Firm. Meanwhile, here are some of the things you can do if you are a victim of false allegations.
Understand Your Level Of Accusation
There’s a huge difference between a word-of-mouth accusation and one with legal backing. So once the other party decides to take you to court, you should take time to understand the potential penalties you could face. Being innocent isn’t a guarantee that the law enforcement officials in charge of your case will see things how you do. When you take things seriously at the beginning, it helps make you make important decisions that can favor your case on time.
Contact A Lawyer
Having an attorney, even when you’re still a suspect, is good because they can take measures to ensure your case doesn’t result in criminal charges. This expert can use certain information to convince the police or prosecutor they accused the wrong person.
However, the cost of hiring a lawyer doesn’t only involve paying a lawyer to defend your case in court. Some other bills, like expert witness fees and investigation costs, can increase the amount of money you’ll have to spend on a case. Still, it’s better to do whatever you can to protect your reputation.
Gather Physical Evidence
It’s no news that physical evidence like photographs, clothes, and other objects play vital roles in determining the outcome of a case. If you have physical evidence that can favor you, don’t waste time packaging and sending them over to your attorney. You can also send receipts, correspondence, GPS data emails, and others. As long as this information or objects are relevant to your case, they can be used.
Get Witness Contact Information
Apart from gathering evidence, you can also create a list of potential witnesses that can offer helpful information on the incident. In addition to physical or documented evidence, judges also consider witness testimonies when giving the final verdict on a case. However, you need to find out if the witness is willing to testify, with the help of your lawyer, so you don’t get disappointed.
Take No Action
Sometimes, not doing anything can be the best after a false allegation. Your attorney can decide the best strategy is to wait and see if the prosecutor in charge of your case gets enough evidence to make charges against you. It could also be that the witnesses will take back their testimonies, or test results can turn out negative in your favor.
How To Know The Right Criminal Defense Lawyer to Hire
High Level Of Responsiveness
Criminal charges are usually complex and time-consuming. So before you choose any lawyer to serve as your legal representative, you must be sure they have enough time to handle your case. Right from the beginning, you can know how responsive a criminal defense lawyer will be by how long it takes them to book an appointment with you. Good legal teams are usually able to respond to potential clients within a day.
Area Of Specialization
Since you’re dealing with criminal charges, it’s better to go for a lawyer who specializes in criminal law. Preferably, go for one who has handled your type of case before. For instance, if you’ve been charged with theft, you should go for a lawyer who has handled that kind of case before. One of the ways you can know what a lawyer’s area of specialization is is by checking their website. It’s important to know this before booking an initial consultation.
Experience
The importance of choosing an experienced criminal lawyer cannot be underestimated. Choosing an experienced criminal lawyer is one of the keys to winning a court case. When it comes to choosing an experienced criminal lawyer, there are two major things to look out for. Firstly, you must ensure they’re experienced in gathering evidence and settling cases outside the courtroom. Secondly, they must also have courtroom experience. You can test a lawyer’s experience by asking them questions about what the outcome of your case may likely be.
Lastly, positive reviews are also important when it comes to choosing a criminal lawyer. When a criminal lawyer has a high amount of positive reviews from past clients, it’s often a good indication that they offer quality services to their clients.
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