Police officers took an oath to protect the people in their community. However, they are often not held accountable when they abuse their power. While public awareness of police brutality and misconduct has risen, high-profile incidents continue to occur. If you or someone you love has been victimized by police, it is important to understand how to Pursue a police brutality lawsuit for justice.

Excessive Force

Police may use a reasonable amount of force to handle a situation, but if an officer uses more force than is necessary, they could be violating a person’s civil rights. This type of abuse is known as excessive force and it can lead to serious injuries such as brain damage, spinal cord trauma, and even death.

While the most common reason to file a police brutality lawsuit involves excessive force, there are a variety of other types of misconduct that can also qualify as a civil rights violation. These include harassment, false arrest, intimidation, and racial profiling. A lawyer can help you determine what type of misconduct occurred in your case and what claims you should make.

Pursuing a police brutality lawsuit requires a unique combination of careful documentation and legal expertise. Civil suits allow victims to demand injunctions and monetary compensation from the perpetrators of their mistreatment. This can help to discourage similar behavior in the future and provide financial assistance for medical bills, loss of wages, and psychological or physical trauma.

A civil rights attorney can help you pursue a police brutality lawsuit against the department or individual officer responsible for your treatment. They will review your case in detail and identify all parties who could be held liable for your damages. This includes the individual officer, the department, and any third parties who might have contributed to your injuries.

Police brutality cases often involve violations of state and federal civil rights law. For example, Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act allows a citizen to sue for damages if they were deprived of a constitutional right by someone acting “under color of law.” This is generally understood to mean that an officer was acting in their official capacity with government authority.

If you are considering filing a police brutality suit, it is important to seek out the assistance of a New York civil rights attorney as soon as possible. This will ensure that all applicable deadlines are met, and that your case is properly prepared for trial.

While a civil suit can’t change the way police operate or prevent future abuse, it is an effective tool for holding harmful actors accountable and ushering in needed reform. To learn more about how you can hold a police officer or department responsible for their actions, contact the experienced team at Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb, Green & Bagley for a free consultation. We can help you get the compensation you deserve. We represent clients in New York and throughout the country. You can reach us online or call our New York office at (212) 479-7000.