According to 2007 information from the National Domestic Violence Coalition, 85 percent of domestic violence victims are female, and each year, 1.3 million women are battered by their partners. Some choose to leave, but escape is often difficult because many abusive husband isolate their victims from family members and friends and monitor them closely. It takes a careful plan to safely get away from an abuser.
Step 1
Prepare for the escape. Find a battered women's shelter or arrange to stay with a friend or family member when you leave. Save up money, if possible, and hide it in a safe place, or leave it with a trusted person. HelpGuide.org, a self-help website, recommends having a trusted person keep clothing, important documents and other items for you. Make a spare set of car keys in case your husband takes or hides your regular set, and get a prepaid cell phone.
Step 2
Plan out your escape, but be ready to leave immediately if you feel that you are in immediate danger. Keep enough fuel in your car to allow you to flee quickly, if necessary, HelpGuide.org advises. Always park your car facing out of the driveway or in a street parking space that lets you pull out easily.
Step 3
Leave your home when you know your abusive husband will be gone for a while, if possible. This gives you more time to flee to a safe place. It can be difficult because HelpGuide.org warns that many abusers carefully control their wives, calling periodically to ensure they are home. Select a time period when your husband is at work or another place where he cannot easily leave if you do not answer his call.
Step 4
Clear your Internet use history before leaving the house. Your husband may be able to figure out your whereabouts if he finds that you've been visiting websites for battered women's shelters. Change passwords for email, online banking and other important accounts, HelpGuide.org recommends. Do not do it on a home computer because some abusers install spy software to monitor their wives' online activity. Make the changes as soon as possible from a safe location.
Step 5
Park your vehicle in a place where your husband cannot easily spot it. Battered women's shelters have secure places. If you're staying with a friend or family member, find a safe parking lot or leave your car several blocks away. Have another person accompany you from the car to your new accommodations in case your husband has spotted it and is hiding in the area.
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