Hi, my name is Kirsten Krueger and two years ago, I was in a car accident. I was stopped at a stop sign when the driver behind me slammed into my car. Due to my injuries, I had to spend a few days in the hospital and I was unable to work for two months. My medical care was expensive and without being able to work, I couldn't pay my bills. The car accident was stressful enough and then I had to worry about how I would pay my bills. After speaking with a car accident lawyer, it wasn't long before I was compensated for my medical bills and lost wages from work. I'm writing this blog to help others who have been a car accident and haven't received any compensation. As you read my posts, you'll learn how an attorney can help you if you're in a vehicle accident.
If you were recently charged with a crime, then your criminal defense attorney has a variety of different criminal defense options to choose from in order to prove your innocence. Each defense offers your lawyer a different strategy for successfully defending your actions in court. By having a clear understanding of your defense strategy options, you can work closely with your attorney on the criminal defense strategy that will have the highest chance of success in winning your case.
Here is some basic information on three commonly used criminal defenses utilized today in United States criminal court cases, each with an example of when they are applicable:
Defense #1: Automatism
The legal term automatism refers to a situation where your muscles take involuntary action which causes you to commit a crime. An example of an automatism defense would be a situation where someone has a physical disability that caused their leg to extend out and kick someone to their death. The defendant didn't do the act on purpose because their muscles acted in an automated way.
Defense #2: Necessity or Lesser Harm
A necessity or lesser harm defense strategy is appropriate if you committed a lower-level crime in order to prevent a larger crime or disaster from happening. For example, if you saw someone shooting people at the mall and took out your legally concealed weapon and shot them. In this case, you illegally discharged your firearm but you saved people's lives in the process, which was more important.
Defense #3: Self-Defense
Crimes committed when you had a legitimate fear for your life or the life of someone with you fall under the category of self-defense. An example of an appropriate time for a self-defense strategy is a situation where an armed person enters your home at night and threatens to kill you or your family member and you took action that caused them harm.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have a better understanding of some of your criminal defense options, you can better work with your criminal defense attorney to decide which option is the most appropriate for your unique circumstances. If you have not yet hired an attorney, you must retain one as soon as possible. You should never attempt to represent yourself in a criminal court case, or you may find yourself in jail or with very large fines that could have been avoided with good representation.
For more information, check out companies such as Alvine & King LLP.
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