Assault vs. Self-Defense
Self-defense is defined by United States law as “the protection of one’s person or property against some injury attempted by another.” An individual cannot intentionally kill or cause a perpetrator serious physical harm if only their property is in danger. However, if you are in serious physical danger, it is within your legal rights to physically respond in order to protect yourself from harm. This is the difference between assault and self-defense – while assault is an unprovoked physical attack or threat of attack, self-defense is a provoked response to physical danger.
Often, acts of self-defense are mistakenly charged as assault. If you or a loved one has been charged with assault, but you believe you were acting in self-defense, you will need the assistance of strong, qualified lawyer to help defend your rights and freedoms. Contact a Houston criminal defense lawyer at Johnson, Johnson & Baer, P.C., to learn how we can fight for you. Call 713-222-0400 today to learn more.
Building a Self-Defense Case
If you have been charged with criminal assault, self-defense is usually the legal explanation utilized in court. For a strong self-defense case, there must have been three factors present:
- The accused individual must not have provoked the altercation
- Impending peril
- No chance of escape
If you are able to prove all three of these factors in court, your case may be a successful example of self-defense. For this reason, it’s important to have the assistance of an experienced lawyer on your side.
Contact Us
A Houston criminal defense attorney at Johnson, Johnson & Baer, P.C., can help you assemble a strong self-defense case. To learn more, contact a member of our staff by calling 713-222-0400 today.