Friends and family often try hard to help a person, but when it comes to legal questions, it’s often recommended a person speak with a lawyer for the legal advice in Cortland NY they’ll need. The basic reasoning for this is that legal questions can be complex and without all of the right information, the person could receive advice that puts them in a worse position.
An individual has been arrested for assault and battery. He did not start the fight, but the officers on the scene received conflicting accounts from witnesses and from those involved in the fight as to what happened so both of the participants in the fight were arrested. He is charged and his friends all tell him to speak with the police officers to explain his side of the story. They tell him to offer every detail so the officers see that he did not start the fight and that they will drop the charges.
When he speaks with the police, he gives them every detail of what happened that night, including him yelling at the other person for spilling a beer on his clothes. He mentions later that him yelling was hours before the fight as both people were at the bar most of the night. The police determine this could be evidence he did, in fact, start the fight and the officers not only decide to prosecute him, but they will use this information against him in court.
Failing to obtain legal advice from a lawyer and, instead, getting it from friends and family who are not well-versed in the laws can mean a situation where the charges could be dropped is now more likely to end in a conviction. This could be devastating for the individual as he actually was not at fault and the interaction about the beer was separate from the fight. However, because he did not contact a lawyer first, the lawyer has an uphill battle having the information withheld from the trial or having him found not guilty despite the information that was given to officers.
If you’ve been arrested or you have any other legal questions, make sure you only speak with a lawyer for legal advice in Cortland NY. They have the training and experience to ensure you receive the right information. Browse our website now to learn more.
