What to Do After Defending Yourself in Your Own Home

If you’re the kind of person who likes to be prepared for the worse, you’ve probably thought about what you would do if you had to defend yourself on your own property. Most people only think about how they would go about disabling or defeating the attacker to save themselves, not giving much thought to how they’ll deal with the aftermath. With that said, here are a few tips to keep in mind in case you ever wind up in the unfortunate situation of having to fend off an attacker in your own home:

Calm Down and Collect Yourself

It can be easy to become flustered and frantic after an intense confrontation with an intruder or other threatening individual in your home, especially if you wound up significantly injuring or killing the attacker. At this stage, you might be hesitant and fearful about calling the cops because you don’t know how you’re going to be perceived when they arrive. Don’t worry about cleaning up blood or disposing of the body – leave that up to the biotrauma cleanup and forensic teams. Instead, be confident that you are in the right and get ready to call in the incident.

Call the Authorities

Now that you know to calm down and relax before proceeding, you won’t be an absolute nervous wreck when you’re on the phone with the 911 dispatcher. Controlling your anxiety and speaking in a clear and concise manner will help you avoid any problems with alleged discrepancies later on if you wind up facing charges that run contrary to your claim of self defense. Be ready to explain exactly what happened in an accurate and truthful manner. Don’t try to exaggerate, stretch the truth, or bend the facts to strengthen your case of self defense, as it could backfire on you if investigators discover that you were lying about any of the event logistics.

Take Steps to Avoid Future Incidents

After the case is resolved and you’ve returned to your everyday life, don’t forget to take precautionary measures to avoid future run-ins. Start by installing a comprehensive home surveillance system that you can access remotely from your smartphone or tablet. Likewise, you may want to have motion sensors installed to notify you whenever someone enters your property. Spotting someone before they can actually enter your home is the best way to take a pro-active approach against residential crime.

Know Your State’s Laws

The extent to which you’re legally allowed to defend yourself with a weapon in your own home will vary depending on which state you live in. In some states, like Florida, there are ‘stand your ground’ laws, which essentially give you the right to protect yourself with lethal force on your own property if you feel your life is being threatened. However, there have been cases where property owners and tenants have been incarcerated and charged with assault or murder for acts that they thought would be considered self defense. Thus, it’s important to study your state’s laws and create an appropriate self defense plan accordingly.