If you have just been recently assaulted by another person, it is important that you file a police report immediately. Depending on the state you live in, there are different legal time windows to abide by when pressing charges against someone. The longer you wait, the weaker your case becomes to a judge. Once the police report is made, you have third party evidence of the incident describing the assault. This will help you tremendously in court. Continue reading to learn where to begin when you wish to take someone to court for assault.
File a Police Report
As mentioned above, first file and get a copy of the police report. This is legal evidence of the assault that took place. In most states, you have up to one year to press charges against another person for assault or battery, but it is recommended to act fast. This is because your accusation or complaint loses validity the longer you wait. Immediate evidence of an assault is also helpful. Be sure to take pictures and produce them to the police if you make the report after the assault.
Call a Lawyer
Not many people go to the courthouse and file a law suit without any legal representation. There are piles of paperwork and legal documents that have to be filed just right, in order to get your case in front of a judge in a reasonable amount of time. Hiring a lawyer allows a person to get all the legal proceedings done correctly without having to go backwards and repeat steps due to missing documents or lack of proper information. It makes the process much smoother, and can influence the route your case will take in court. Because an assault means you were injured, the appropriate lawyer to consult would be one that specializes in personal injury cases. They retain the expertise and knowledge on cases just for personal injury; not civil, family, commercial, or other type of law. It gives you confidence that they know what they are doing, and maintains their focus on personal injury cases and claims, rather than other areas of law.