Q: Hello , a woman was tailgating me and honking for couples blocks I stopped my car talk to her and come back to my car
She came to me and hit me in my face while I’m in my car and everything was recorded I have Dashcam so I push her back as defense of self , she falls on ground she seems drunk , we both get arrested what should I do? For me I have never been arrested before I wondering if I’m I in trouble or not ? And I’m thinking to sue her but I don’t know when sue her before or after my hearing in the criminal court
A:
In New York, if you've been arrested following a confrontation where self-defense was involved, it's important to secure legal representation. The presence of a dashcam recording can be significant in demonstrating the events that led to the altercation. In terms of criminal proceedings, focus first on addressing the charges against you. Your attorney can assess the strength of your self-defense claim based on the evidence.
Regarding the potential lawsuit against the woman, consider waiting until the criminal matter is resolved. This is because the outcome of the criminal case could impact the civil case. The decision to sue should be made in consultation with your lawyer, who can guide you on the timing and merits of a potential civil action. It's essential to discuss all these aspects with your lawyer to navigate both the criminal and potential civil proceedings effectively.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
