What if I am hurt?
If you are hurt physically, ask the police to call an ambulance or take you to a hospital, to a doctor that you know and trust, or to a Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre (SADVTC), if there is one near you. A SADVTC is a hospital department that helps victims of domestic and sexual assault.
You can go to a SADVTC on your own, even if you have not contacted the police.
Doctors at a SADVTC can treat you and staff can photograph and document your injuries. They will ask for your consent before they do this. You can agree to some things but not others. For example, you might agree to staff taking notes about your injuries but not agree to them taking photographs.
This information can be used as evidence in court, or it can be kept in case you need it in the future.
Staff at a SADVTC can also help you even if you do not have any visible physical injuries. They offer 24-hour services and follow-up care, crisis counselling, and referrals to shelters. They also offer legal and financial help.
Make detailed notes
As soon as possible and if it is safe to do so, try to make detailed notes of what happened. If you can, keep a diary. Or, if it is safe to do so, you can email notes to yourself.
If you were threatened, but not physically touched, write down exactly what your partner said to you, and describe the situation. If they threatened to harm the children, write this down too.
If you were injured, write down all the details, including:
- exactly where your injuries are, for example, your upper thigh or the back of your neck
- how you were hurt, for example, with an open hand, fist, or object
- how many times you were hit
- how severe your injuries were, for example, bruises, cuts requiring stitches, or broken bones
- names of witnesses
You can also draw a picture of your body and draw where you were hurt. If you see a doctor or a nurse, you can ask them to add details to your drawing and sign and date your picture.
Keep evidence of any assault
Keep any evidence of the assault, such as:
- photographs or drawings of your injuries
- threatening emails, texts, voicemails, or recordings
- torn clothing or property that was damaged during the assault
- names of witnesses
Your notes and the evidence are very important. Keep them in a safe place. You can use them to refresh your memory if you are interviewed by the police, talk to a lawyer, or testify in court at a later date.
Access victim services
The Ontario government has an online Victim Services Directory that helps victims of crime find programs and services in their communities. Go to ovss.findhelp.ca. You can also talk to an information and referral counsellor by calling the Victim Support Line at 1-888-579-2888.
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