Excessive force by the police during an arrest or traffic stop violates the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. If you’ve experienced unnecessary violence, or if you’ve sustained injuries due to a police officer’s wrongful behavior, seek compensation for your suffering.
Police officers are allowed to use necessary force to make arrests or defend themselves. However, when they use more force than is appropriate or reasonable, a judge and jury may deem their actions unconstitutional.
Physical injuries or wrongful deaths aren’t the only potential consequences of excessive force. Cases of police brutality also contribute to emotional injuries, including the loss of dignity, a sense of violation, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
An attorney will help you understand how excessive force affected you and what your legal rights are. Cline Injury Law’s civil rights attorneys have filed claims involving:
Laws governing excessive force lawsuits can vary significantly from state to state. If you’re going to present an adequate burden of proof, you’ll need the help of an experienced civil rights attorney.
The Cline Injury Law firm has years of experience dealing with California law. Our excessive force lawyers have helped victims obtain financial settlements for:
Contact an excessive force attorney immediately after you are subjected to unnecessary violence or emotional distress.
Police misconduct and brutality laws are complicated, as are lawsuits involving federal officers.
Our attorneys will build a strong excessive force case on your behalf by:
Worried about the cost of filing an excessive force lawsuit? You won’t pay our attorneys anything until we’ve successfully obtained a fair settlement for your claim. And in many cases the defendant/Police are required to pay all your attorneys’ fees and costs.
First, seek medical attention. This is crucial for the sake of your possible injuries, but also for documenting the incident. Even if you think your injuries are minor, see a doctor.
Next, begin to gather and preserve evidence outside of your medical records. This could include dashcam footage, videos from phones, surveillance footage, or photos from witnesses.
Finally, discuss your case with a skilled civil rights attorney. The sooner you start the process of filing a claim, the better your case will hold up in court.
Yes, San Diego citizens have the right to sue the police if they cause emotional distress through negligent or harmful behaviors. Speak to one of our attorneys to learn how you can be compensated for psychological damages.
Yes, you have the right to sue members of law enforcement for causing harm while placing you in handcuffs. However, it must be clear that the officer used unnecessary or unreasonable force when doing so.
The state deadline for filing a civil rights lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. §1983 is two years. Under the Bane Act in California, San Diego victims also have two years to sue for police brutality. But, it is VERY important to contact a San Diego excessive force injury attorney as soon as possible. There is a 6 month statute of limitations for tort claims against a California Government entity.