Lifestyle

What Should You Do If You’re Falsely Accused of a Crime?

Published

5 years ago

July 4, 2021

Being falsely accused of a crime can feel terrible – and put you in danger of losing your freedom over something you didn’t do. There are many ways this can happen. A vindictive coworker might imply that you committed some form of criminal negligence. A stranger can claim you assaulted them. Or a police officer might pull you over for some traffic violation you didn’t commit.

In any case, there are a set of steps that can help you clear your name and navigate the complexities of the legal system.

Remain Calm, Patient, and Compliant

If you know you’re being falsely accused, you may feel stressed, threatened, and uncertain about your future. In these circumstances, it’s easy to allow your emotions to get the better of you and make a reckless choice.

However, it’s important to remain as calm, patient, and compliant as possible. If you’re calm, you’ll be able to think through your situation rationally and come to more logical decisions. If you’re patient, you’ll be able to deal with the weeks-long waits you may have to face as you navigate the legal system. And if you’re compliant with police officers, you’ll face fewer complexities – and eliminate the possibility of additional charges like resisting arrest.

Stay Silent When Possible

For the most part, it’s not a good idea to talk to the police about the crime by yourself. Police officers aren’t your friends, no matter what they may tell you. They’re not looking out for your best interests, and it’s completely legal for them to lie to you.

During your arrest and subsequent interrogations, officers will likely ask you questions and prod you to get as much information as possible. If you say anything even remotely self-incriminating, they can pick up on that and use it against you. Even if you’re innocent, your words may accidentally serve as a confession to the crime – or you may commit to another crime unknowingly. On top of that, if you’re answering lots of questions back to back, you’ll run the risk of contradicting your own story – which is not a good look.

It’s well within your rights to avoid answering questions until your lawyer shows up. It’s the safe move to stay quiet.

Hire a Lawyer as Soon as Possible

If you’re accused of something you didn’t do, it’s important to hire a lawyer as soon as you can. Your lawyer will be a professional familiar with the legal system, so they can guide you to make the smart decisions and defend yourself to the best of your ability. They’ll have your best interests in mind, so you can talk to them openly and devise a strategy together.

Your lawyer may advise you to handle police questioning in a certain way or make a certain plea. They can help observe the arrest process to ensure it’s done within the boundaries of the law. And of course, they can fight for you in court if the case ever gets that far.

Without a lawyer, you’ll have no external authoritative guidance to help you prepare a case and defend yourself. You may be more likely to incriminate yourself, and your chances of escaping impending charges will be much lower.

Gather Your Own Evidence

Your lawyer may also advise you to start gathering your own set of evidence you can use to defend yourself, such as:

Photos. Are there photos that prove the extent of the damages or show that you weren’t in a certain place at a certain time?
Videos. Do you have any recorded videos of what happened? What about surveillance footage and other videos from third parties?
Receipts, writings, and timestamps. Can you find things like receipts, text messages, emails, or other documents with timestamps that prove things that occurred or didn’t occur?
Witnesses. Do you have any witnesses who saw the situation unfold? Are there people who can testify about your whereabouts or even your character?

Defamation and Malicious Prosecution

If you’ve been cleared of a crime and you believe the accuser was specifically trying to harm your character, you may have a defamation lawsuit on your hand. These cases can be tricky since you’ll need to prove libel or slander, but if you’re successful, you can win damages from your false accuser to compensate you for your expenses and suffering along the way.

Being falsely accused of a crime can be demeaning, stressful, and downright frightening at times. But as long as you remain quiet and cooperative, and you hire a good lawyer, you’ll have a good chance of defending yourself successfully and proving your innocence.

Stay patient and trust that your legal strategy will prove the truth in court.

Lifestyle

Finding the “Best Virginia Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me:” A Complete Guide

Published

2 days ago

March 4, 2026

Michelle Langton

Getting injured in a car accident is a stressful time. After all, you could face serious injuries that affect you for the rest of your life.

Thankfully, a good personal injury lawyer can help you navigate this complex moment in your life, but it can be easy to get overwhelmed finding the right one. If you are a resident of the Old Dominion and Googling “best injury lawyer near me Virginia,” look no further than the Richmond law firm Burnett & Williams.

One of the most common questions people ask about hiring an attorney after a car crash is “When should I contact a lawyer?” The answer is as soon as possible.

After receiving medical care, your next call should be to a personal injury attorney, as they will be able to get the ball rolling on your personal injury claim. A sense of urgency will help them fight to get you the compensation you deserve and prevent you from making any mistakes with the insurance company that will hurt you in the long term.

An important thing to keep in mind when hiring a personal injury attorney is the statute of limitations, the state-imposed deadline by which a victim has to file a lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you could be barred from receiving any damages for the accident.

Although the statute of limitations can vary from state to state, in many states, including under Virginia law, it is two years from the date of an accident. If you delay hiring an attorney, it gives them less time to prepare your case.

Why hire a personal injury attorney?

But what does a personal injury attorney do that helps your case? The main benefits of hiring a personal injury attorney include:

Investigation: After hiring an attorney, they will begin an extensive investigation process. They will collect all records, including police reports, medical records, witness statements, and photos you took of the scene. They may also revisit the scene of the accident or consult expert witnesses, such as medical experts or accident reconstruction specialists, to build the strongest possible case.

Negotiation: Your lawyer will then get to work crafting a demand letter to the insurance company (or companies). One of the best things about hiring a personal injury attorney is that they handle all communications and negotiations with insurance companies on your behalf. Not only does this mean that you are less likely to fall victim to the insurance adjusters’ pressuring tactics, but it also allows you to focus more on what matters most: your recovery.

Trial representation: While many personal injury cases end in settlements, sometimes both sides cannot come to an agreement for fair compensation. In these cases, your claim will proceed to trial, where it will be heard by a judge and/or jury. When a personal injury case goes to court, it is important to have a skilled trial lawyer on your side who is willing and able to argue your case.

How to determine which Virginia personal injury lawyer is best for your Virginia injury claim

However, it can be difficult to determine which personal injury attorney to hire. There are tons of radio ads, billboards, and Google search results that all claim to be the “best injury lawyer near me,” so how do you know which ones actually are the best? Attorney C. James Williams III, principal at Burnett & Williams, guides us through what injury victims should look for when hiring an attorney.

One of the first things to look for when hiring a personal injury attorney is their fee structure. The best personal injury lawyers typically work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they are paid a percentage of the final settlement or award. These are the “we don’t get paid unless you win” guarantees.

While other specialties, such as criminal law, operate on an hourly basis, the status quo for personal injury law is a contingency fee. “Be suspicious of anyone who asks for an upfront retainer or hourly rate for your personal injury case, as this could imply that they don’t think they can win your case,” Williams advises.

It is also important to look for a law firm with a specialty area that correlates with your specific accident. “Not every lawyer is trained and equipped to handle every personal injury case,” explains Williams. “For example, truck accidents involve additional complex laws beyond the typical auto accident case. So do motorcycle accidents. An attorney who has only ever handled standard car accident claims might not be the right fit to handle one of these cases.”

But perhaps the single biggest factor to consider when choosing the best injury lawyer near you is their track record. “More often than not, experienced personal injury attorneys’ results should be able to speak for themselves,” says Williams.

If a law firm has good reviews online and has a history of winning big settlements and jury awards, chances are they are a good choice to hire. “And as a bonus, the better the reputation, the more leverage you get in the negotiation process,” Williams adds. “Insurance companies are often scared to go to trial against a lawyer they think they might lose to.”

If you are looking for the best Virginia personal injury lawyers, look no further than the skilled and experienced attorneys at Burnett & Williams. “Contact us today for a free consultation,” concludes Williams. “We will review your case and determine if we can help get you the compensation you deserve.”