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What to Do If You’re Accused of Assault in Atlanta

June 11, 2025 Posted In Criminal Defense

If you are accused of assault in Atlanta and have been arrested, exercise your Miranda rights. That means remaining silent and getting an attorney to represent you. They will give you good advice that you should follow to the letter.

Exercise Your Miranda Rights

The charge against you is serious. Even if you are confident that it is false, do not talk to the police about what occurred. An ill-considered word can be misunderstood and used as an admission of guilt even though that was not your intention.

Your lawyer will represent you, advise you, make sure that your rights are protected, and monitor how investigators collect evidence.

Be Honest And Open With Your Lawyer

Your lawyer’s role is to represent you, not judge you. As part of their code of ethics, your attorney will not divulge anything you tell them to police or prosecutors. Knowing what happened helps your lawyer to build an appropriate defense and seek evidence to support the case in your favor. They will aim to achieve the most favorable outcome possible. For example, they may:

  • Get your charges dismissed
  • Secure a not-guilty verdict
  • Get charges changed to less severe ones
  • Negotiate for a favorable plea bargain
  • Work towards the lightest possible sentence

Your lawyer will conduct their own investigation, looking for evidence like CCTV footage, phone messages, and social media posts. If you were somewhere else at the time of the alleged incident, they can seek evidence like GPS data to show you were not present.

If you were defending yourself or another person, your lawyer can seek evidence, including crime-scene information or expert testimony. They will seek witnesses, preferably neutral ones who are not involved with you or your accuser. If you can offer direction or have any ideas that may help them defend you, let them know.

Tell Your Lawyer What You Know About the Person or People Who Accused You of Assault

Not all accusations are well-founded. Tell your lawyer if you think your accuser is trying to take revenge, or if you know anything that may discredit their claims. Your attorney will investigate your accuser thoroughly, looking for evidence that they are not credible. This evidence may include:

  • Criminal history
  • A history of mental illness
  • A reputation for making false allegations against others
  • Inconsistencies in their statements about what occurred
  • Bias against you as an individual or member of a group that they do not approve of

Your lawyer will also look at the credibility of witnesses for the prosecution. In line with OCGA § 24-6-608, they may raise reasons why a witness is not credible. This casts doubt on their evidence, strengthens your case, and may even lead to the charges against you being dropped before a trial.

Avoid Contacting Your Accuser, Witnesses, or Their Families

Confronting your accusers, prosecution witnesses, or their families serves no purpose and can get you in even deeper trouble than you already are. Leave everything to your lawyer. You have already been charged, and the matter is now in the hands of the justice system. The most effective response is to remain as calm as possible and follow the process.

Work With a Criminal Defense Lawyer

Your lawyer knows how to handle the charge you are facing because they have deep knowledge and experience in criminal law. The law entitles you to representation, and it does this for the sake of fairness. Take advantage of the opportunity and appoint a lawyer with a strong track record for successfully representing people who have been accused of assault or aggravated assault.