When can a person use physical force to protect himself?

In Indiana, a person is justified in using reasonable force against any other person to protect the person from what the person reasonably believes to be the imminent use of unlawful force. A claim of self-defense also requires that the person acted without fault meaning the person did not provoke, instigate or participate willing in the violence and the person was in a place that he had the right to be.

An example of a potentially good self-defense case would be a person who hits the alleged victim once when the victim is coming at the defendant with a raised fist. Comparatively, an example of a bad self-defense case would be a person who feels threatened by the victim shows up at the victim’s house and shoots the victim in the back through a window.

If you are charged with a crime after you used physical force to protect yourself, make sure to hire experienced criminal defense attorneys like those at Vonderheide & Knecht to determine if you have a successful claim of self-defense.

Vonderheide & Knecht: Serving Lafayette’s Legal Needs Since 1992