Collecting evidence promptly is crucial for those experiencing violence. Testimonial evidence becomes vital in domestic violence cases, where there may be no eyewitnesses. It is advisable to confide in a trusted person or professional. One of the most crucial pieces of evidence is a medical certificate of injuries.
If physical violence has happened recently, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible. This is mainly to take care of your health.
It is advisable to seek medical advice no matter what form of violence you have experienced, even if your injuries are minor and do not require medical attention. Even mental symptoms might be used as evidence. It is vital as concussions and many other injuries can be invisible. A certificate of physical injury cannot be obtained retrospectively if you have not visited a doctor.
Your doctor has a duty of confidentiality. Doctors and nurses don't always ask about the injuries, but for the certificate, you should honestly tell your doctor who caused the injuries and when. It is also worth telling them about your mental state, as mental symptoms can be used as evidence. Please note that the traces of sexual abuse can often only be verified by a doctor.
It is advised that you should visit a professional to discuss any experiences of violence. Discussions with therapists, particularly, are important as evidence, as the therapist can give a statement. In addition, if the violence has caused, for example, a reduction of the ability to work, proving this with a statement will later serve as evidence in court.
Consistency is important; individual, fragmented evidence may not help in the legal process, but systematically collected medical certificates, consistent descriptions of events witnessed by friends/relatives/neighbours, therapist and doctor statements, photos, videos and reports of potential eyewitnesses, authorities' reports, etc. create an overall picture, which should be consistent even if collected in the long run. It is, therefore, worthwhile to start gathering evidence as soon as possible, even if you are not ready to take the matter to court.
Unfortunately, violence often occurs regularly, over a long time, in which case accumulated medical certificates can be used to prove the consistency and time frame of assaults. Even if you are not ready to take the matter to court, having a medical certificate for future reference is advisable.
Although a certificate of physical injury cannot be obtained retrospectively, a certificate of mental injury can be obtained from a therapist or psychiatrist afterwards. Often, even a long time after the events, people go to a therapist to discuss the events.
Consider the well-being of your possible pets as well. If the perpetrator inflicts violence on them, having a veterinarian verify their injuries can serve as evidence of violence.
It is essential to see a doctor, no matter what form of violence you have experienced. Even mental symptoms can be considered as evidence. The link between injuries, symptoms, and perceived violence can be very difficult to verify without going to the doctor. Concussions and many other injuries can be invisible on the surface.
Remember, a certificate of physical injury cannot be obtained retrospectively. It is always advisable to consult a legal aid provider to get more detailed instructions regarding your case.