Most people are familiar with their Miranda rights when being arrested, but they can only protect you if you decide to actually use them. Here 3 things that you should do when you are arrested to avoid accidentally making the situation worse.

Never Use Force

If a police officer is arresting you, it is best to co-operate and go along with what the officer requests of you at the time, even if it's a false arrest. The arrest may not be justified due to lack of any probable cause, but resisting arrest can cause more problems even if you did not deserve to be arrested in the first place. That is because resisting arrest is considered a crime that can result in actual consequences.

Never fight the officer arresting you. Instead, fight the officer in court with the help of a good criminal defense lawyer.

Never Waive Your Rights

Anybody that is arrested by a police officer must be told their Miranda rights, which includes their right to remain silent and their right to use an attorney. They will be read to you in person, and you'll be asked if you understand them, and you may even be asked to sign a waiver to give up these rights.

You should never waive these rights, because having an attorney on your side will help ensure the best possible outcome. You do not want to say anything that could wrongfully incriminate yourself, because everything that you say can be used in court against you.

Say Basic Identifying Information Only

Before your lawyer arrives, you will be asked questions by the police even if you decide to use your rights to remain silent. That is because they are hoping that you slip up and say something that can be used against you. You must be persistent and politely say that you have chosen to remain silent until you are able to speak with your lawyer.

The only thing you should be telling the police without your lawyer is basic identifying information. Things such as your address, birthday, or where you live. Assume any conversations that you have while in jail can be used against you as well. This includes personal conversations with other inmates and visitors. You never know if phone calls are being monitored, or if an inmate will try to exploit you by using the information you told them.

Being arrested can be a stressful experience, and making some mistakes can make the experience much worse than it already is. Following these three tips will help minimize complications, allowing your lawyer to focus on the best possible defense to your crime instead of dealing with issues related to your arrest.