It’s truly depressing that many women in our country face domestic violence. The domestic violence lawyer in Austin, TX, suggests taking precautions if you fear you might suffer from domestic abuse. The criminal lawyer will tell you that the best way is to leave the person behind if you don’t want to live a miserable life. If you can’t escape, keep yourself and your children ready to deal with any situation.
Austin domestic violence attorneys suggest you consider the following safety tips if you are a victim.
Keep Right Numbers on Speed-Dial
If you have a mobile phone, it is crucial to keep following important numbers in your speed-dial.
National Domestic Violence helpline number
Local Domestic Violence shelter helpline number
Contact numbers of close friends, family, or co-worker who can help you in the violent situation
Local police’s helpline number
If you are worried that the assailant may snatch your phone, it’s better to remember all these numbers or write them down in a notebook. This will help you call for help, even if you don't have your own mobile. In addition to it, you can call from a public payphone.
Keep Yourself Ready
You need to keep your mobile fully charge all the time, as you don't want to find yourself in a helpless situation. Make sure to keep it near you or in your bag or pocket.
Besides that, keep some money in hand, in case you need to run for your life. It’s better to keep some cash than a credit card. Lastly, always check your mobile and money whether you still have them or someone has taken them.
Get Medical Treatment
If you get hurt or injured because of an attack, you need to look for medical treatment as soon as possible. You also don't need to tell everyone how you got injured if you are not feeling comfortable. That said, it’s vital to tell your doctor what has happened. There are chances that they can help you.
Don’t forget to keep noting violent situations in a diary. It will help you decide later whether you want to leave the attacker or file a case.
Look for Trustworthy People
Most criminal lawyers suggest taking a few people in confidence. Telling others about your situation is the best way to get help. In case the attacker keeps you isolated from friends and family, confide in someone trustworthy who you can contact easily.
It also helps you to get out of the circumstances of suffering in silence. Not to mention, this approach can also help you save your life in emergency cases.
Another thing you should consider is when in a crisis, call your hired attorney for the case. They can give you the guidance you might find helpful in a challenging situation. Go through this page and find out how a criminal defense attorney can support you while facing domestic violence.
Keep Important Documents with You
Suppose you have to leave the house in an emergency, don’t forget to collect essential items. Here are the documents you need to keep:
Passport
Birth certificate
Immigration papers
Citizenship papers
Abuser’s social insurance number
Child custody paper
Health card
Court orders such as peace bond
Checkbook
Savings bonds
Bankbook
Personal address and telephone book
Driver license
Credit cards
Furthermore, if you are already thinking of escaping, start collecting these items and store them in any safe place that you can reach in an emergency.
Avoid Wearing Scarves or Necklaces
If you are at risk of becoming a victim of domestic abuse, don't wear scarves, necklaces, and other things that can strangle you. It becomes even more necessary when you flee your house. This way abuser will not be able to hurt you by choking.
Tell Your Children
If you have children, you need to prepare them for every situation. Of course, your priority should be keeping them safe more than yourself. Tell them that if any situation occurs, the first thing they need to do is to protect them.
Also, tell them they don’t need to worry about you. Teach them how they can leave home and reach the house of someone close to you. Don’t forget to teach them how they can call 911 in this situation.
Bottom Line
In a nutshell, Austin domestic violence attorneys suggest you keep all the essential items like mobile, documents, and money in a place that you can easily reach. They also emphasize preparing your children to deal with the worst scenarios.