Being accused of a crime you didn’t commit is a lot more common than you think, and it is stressful for everyone involved. The emotional strain and possible consequences are too much for some to bear. If you’re truly innocent, there are ways to help prove it in the court of law. However, you’re going to go through a lot of emotion and you must follow specific protocols to prevent your case from getting worse. Read on to learn more about the steps to deal with being wrongly accused of a crime you didn’t commit.
Stay Calm
Staying calm is the best thing that you can do when moving forward. No matter how hard it is, you can’t let your emotions and anger control you, even if it’s justifiable. You can make better decisions when you’re calm because anger will always cloud your judgment. The wrongfully accused party shouldn’t act upon anger because that will worsen their situation. Anything you do and say can be used against you later, especially in court proceedings. Also, never resist arrest or aggravate an encounter with police officers. There will be a time and place for you to defend yourself and prove that you didn’t commit any crimes.
File for a Motion
Filing for a motion to suppress, dismiss, or compel can be an excellent option to get yourself out of a tight spot. However, You need to seek the right legal advice that will help your case and make everything run smoothly. Florida has seen its fair share of car accidents or criminal cases that started with a false accusation.
The key is to go through the entire legal process with the help of a competent lawyer. Advice from the injunction, personal injury, and criminal defense attorneys at Fighter Law point out that filing for pre-trial motions can dismiss charges if the wrongfully accused party was arrested without probable cause. Taking this route can buy you more time to build your case and defend yourself properly against future charges. It is within your legal right to file motions if there were no plausible reasons to arrest you.
Take Care of Your Health
Being wrongfully accused of a crime you’re innocent of can be detrimental to your health. You should know that too much stress has negative effects on your body, making you irritable, fatigued, angry, and restless. These effects might push you to do something you will regret later, especially if your accuser is provoking you directly or indirectly. Taking care of yourself by getting enough sleep, exercising, and even meditating can put your mind and body at ease. It will help you focus and effectively build your case with your lawyers to help clear your name. These types of cases can take several months or even years depending on the situation. Consider what’s best for your health to live your life normally until this whole unfortunate event passes.
Don’t Make any Official Statements
Making official statements will not usually work in your favor. You shouldn’t disclose any information to the police, public prosecutors, social media, insurance companies, and the press without your attorney’s consent. The unfortunate fact is that anything you tell them can be used against you and that can ruin your chances of proving your innocence.
Save all the information you have for your lawyers to protect yourself and be defended accordingly. Accusations are always taken very seriously, even if they are false. Choosing not to make any official or public statements without your legal defense team is highly recommended to avoid further liability that can make you look bad in court.
Dealing with the Accuser Appropriately
The best way to deal with the accuser appropriately is to not confront them, even if you know the accuser well and you used to be on good terms. In some cases, the accusing party might have an order of protection and that means you must follow the court’s ruling until the whole case is cleared.
To avoid any additional problems and to save yourself the hassle, hiring a private investigator can be a good choice to figure out the reason behind the false accusation. Interviews with certain people can be conducted to get more information. It will help your case because the information gathered will be legitimate evidence that can prove useful in court or during negotiations. Confronting the accuser yourself will only escalate the issue and might make the situation a lot worse than it already is.
Being Patient
This tough situation can wear anyone down, so you must be patient and weather the storm. Giving your legal defense team the time they need to conduct a thorough investigation is necessary. It gives you more insight into the problem and the ability to build counter-arguments with your evidence. If public prosecutors are involved, then a proper investigation is crucial to evaluate the prosecutor’s strengths and evidence gathered. It will give your attorneys the information they need to choose the right course of action along the way.
Consider Plea Bargains
The plea bargain route should be the last resort when every possible action fails. It might be unfair and unjust, but it could save your life in some cases. Sometimes it’s better to get the case over with, especially if it has gone on for a long time. Depending on the evidence gathered by both parties, eyewitness testimonies, and jury perceptions, your lawyer might advise you to take a plea bargain. It could be in your best interest because it will lessen the punishment significantly and it’s much better than a conviction.
The best response to any false accusation is to remain calm, especially at the beginning of the process. The last thing you need is to make matters worse and ruin your chances of proving your innocence. No matter how many times you tell the judge or jury that you’re innocent, you need the evidence that can back it all up. Familiarize yourself with your legal rights to understand the essential steps to move forward. With the right temperament, legal representation, and plausible evidence, you can clear your name of any type of false accusation.