Approximately four million women in America are victims of domestic abuse annually. Around ninety-five percent of domestic abuse victims are women. About forty percent of children who are victims of domestic abuse have witnessed the domestic abuse in their homes. Most children who are victims of domestic abuse, or who witness domestic abuse of their mothers, grow to be abusive in adulthood or become victims of domestic abuse later in life.

As a victim of domestic abuse you should know that you are not alone. There are many organizations and professionals whose sole purpose for existence is to help you overcome the side effects of domestic abuse.

The number one cause for injury to women between eighteen and forty-four is domestic abuse. Additionally, a woman is the victim of domestic abuse every nine seconds in America alone. Annually, approximately two million women are injured by domestic abuse and almost two thousand instances of domestic abuse end in fatality.

It is estimated that one quarter of all women will be the victim or witness domestic abuse at some point in their lives. Although 95% of domestic abuse is caused by a male against his female partner, domestic abuse can affect lesbians and men, both heterosexual and homosexual.

Domestic abuse is the control of one person over the other and it can take on many forms. The most common types of domestic abuse are physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse. However, threats and isolation from family and friends can also be considered domestic abuse.

Domestic abuse can be caused by partners, children, parents, grandparents, roommates and others that are close to us in any way. Domestic abuse can affect anyone regardless of gender, race, economic standing, age, religion or educational background.

Domestic abuse victims should develop a safety plan for how they will flee a domestic abuse situation and what they should do once they have escaped the situation. If in a domestic abuse situation, you should think of a safe place to escape to in case of an argument. You should always avoid rooms without exits (like the bathroom) and also rooms with weapons (like the kitchen).

Your plan may also include keeping change or a phone card for phone calls on you at all times and establishing a code word to use when calling friends and family for help for when you can't get out.

Call the police if you are in an emergency situation in which you are the victim of domestic abuse. If you can get away from the person inflicting the domestic abuse, try to do so before contacting anyone. During a domestic abuse situation, a call to The National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224) can help direct you to local assistance in all 50 states. Another resource can be local shelters, which can safely house the victims of domestic abuse and connect them with the assistance they will need to protect themselves and their children. Other types of services provided to victims of domestic abuse include: medical services, intervention services, transportation networks, support groups, housing, child care, community services and more.

Psychological and economic entrapment, isolation and lack of a support system, and religious and cultural beliefs are some of the obstacles survivors of domestic abuse face when trying to end or get away from domestic abuse.

With the assistance of community support and resources, these obstacles can easily be overcome. It is important that victims of domestic abuse know that they are not at fault for the domestic abuse that has occurred and that they have the right to live without fear and domestic abuse.

You can escape and recover from harmful situations involving domestic abuse. Domestic abuse resources can also have the ability to connect you with the legal assistance necessary to ensure your immediate and long term safety.

An attorney experienced in domestic abuse can assist you in getting a court order to protect the safety of yourself and your children. A domestic abuse lawyer can also provide assistance in child access and custody rights matters, property matters, financial support, restraining orders, public assistance benefits, immigration status support, and separation and divorce proceedings.

If you, or a loved one, have been the victim of domestic abuse in Kansas or Missouri, please do not hesitate to contact our office for a free consultation and case evaluation.