What to do if I was assaulted while driving a girl home who was having a manic attack?
Question Details: She dug her nails into my eyes and face and pulled me away from the steering wheel. To save her and myself from impending vehicular doom, I punched her giving her a black eye and regained control of the vehicle. I took out my phone to call the police; she broke it. After I dropped her off, I went to the police department and filed a report. They called her home and talked to her and took my story. Whatever she told them, they believed her over me and that police department is filing charges and I have a magistrate hearing next week. What do I do?
If you win the magistrates hearing the case will never actually be filed in the criminal court and it will not be a record, so it is important to be prepared for the hearing.
My suggestion is get reprentation by a good local lawyer, dress nicely and get as much support for your side as you can. If other people know she has manic attacks bring them. If you have the broken phone pring it. If you have pictures of your injuries bring them.
Money spent on a lawyer at this point is money well spent as it will save lots of time, anxiety and potential criminal record issues in the future. Respresentation for a magistrates hearing is likely $500. to $1000.00 depending on what court you are in. If you have to pay a lawyer to defend you if the complaint issues it could be 5 to ten times those amounts.
