These days, anyone can become a victim of a crime at any time of the day. Even if you take the necessary precaution, a criminal may still attack you. With this in mind, you should always ask yourself on what to do when you’ve been targeted for a crime. That’s because being a crime victim can be a traumatizing experience that you may endure for the rest of your life.
Read on this article as we’ll tackle the do’s and don’ts when you’re a victim of a crime.
Do’s
When you become a victim of a crime, it’s imperative that you know exactly what to do to get help and protect your rights. Here are some of the do’s to keep in mind:
- Seek medical attention.
If a violent crime has victimized you, the first thing you should do aside from notifying the authorities is to get medical attention from appropriate medical personnel. Although you feel fine after the commission of the crime, it’s essential that you get yourself checked as soon as possible.
After all, you may still be frightened and not fully aware of what really happened to you. The crime has mentally, emotionally, and physically affected you, so it’ll help if you let yourself undergo counseling therapy.
- Contact 911 immediately.
Any crime victim knows that this number means. Whether you’re a victim of assault, robbery or any accident, another essential thing that you should do is to call 911 right away.
Stay calm when the emergency operator gathers information about what happened. Depending on the details you give, they may send police authorities, fire personnel, and other emergency services to the location of the crime.
- Call local law enforcement officers.
If you’re a crime victim, you’re required to call local law enforcement officers right away to report what happened. When reporting, you should provide more details so you’ll have better chances of getting the crime resolved. These details, for instance, include the narration of what happened as well as the description of the suspects, vehicles, or any property involved in the crime.
- Know your rights.
Regardless of the state you’re in, the state and its laws always consider the rights of a crime victim. Thus, if you’ve been a victim yourself, you should have a better understanding of your rights under the law. Typically, your legal rights include:
- The right to participate in all court proceedings concerning the offense
- The right to protection against the accused party
- The right to be informed about the verdict, sentence, imprisonment, and the date of release of the offender
While most states have established protection for all crime victims, it’s still best to consult a professional like an Adelaide criminal lawyer to help you explore all the available legal options. With their criminal law expertise, they know exactly how to protect your rights and get the justice you rightfully deserve.
Don’ts
Now that you’re aware of what should be done if you become a victim of a crime, it’s time to take a look at those things which shouldn’t be done when a crime has targeted you:
- Leave the crime scene.
It’s vital that you shouldn’t leave the crime scene until you’ve called a police officer and talked to them. The crime may involve injuries that should be reported to an officer for proper documentation. Hence, don’t ever leave until the police officers have done all documentation, investigation, and gathering of evidence.
- Refuse medical treatment.
If you’ve been injured in a serious crime, never refuse medical treatment even if you believe your injuries are minor. That’s because if you seek financial compensation in the future, your refusal to get medical attention may be used against you once you file against the accused offender. So, don’t commit the mistake of not getting checked up when the crime committed has caused your injuries.
- Not hiring a criminal lawyer.
When you become a crime victim, you more likely have a legal issue that needs to be handled by an experienced lawyer. Thus, if you refuse to be represented by a lawyer, you’re also waiving your right to prosecute the offender and get the justice you’re worthy of.
You should remember that having a lawyer on your side is beneficial and there are several situations where you may need the assistance of these legal professionals. Criminal lawyers, for instance, have spent many years to equip themselves with adequate knowledge and expertise in the field of criminal law that can help you in enforcing your rights which have been violated because of the crime committed by the offender.
Conclusion
Crime victimization can be an unsettling situation for anybody. It is, therefore, essential to keep the do’s and don’ts in mind to ensure the proper enforcement of your rights under the law. Moreover, consider hiring a qualified lawyer in Adelaide to make sure you’re afforded with greater justice and compassionate healing for being a victim of a crime.
