If you suffered an injury because of police brutality or other misconduct, you might be able to go after financial compensation for your injuries and other losses, but you cannot expect that a check will simply show up in the mail. You will have to take action and make a personal injury claim.
This blog explains some of the issues involved in police misconduct and personal injury claims and discusses how to protect your rights. You do not have to take on a law enforcement agency or officer by yourself. You can work with a Chicago personal injury attorney to hold the liable parties accountable for their actions.
How to Protect Your Right to Compensation for Getting Injured by a Police Officer
Things that you do after the fact can have a great impact on your ability to pursue monetary damages for your injuries. Here are some steps you can take to protect your right to a personal injury claim after getting injured because of police misconduct:
- Preserve the evidence of the incident and your injuries. If you saw anyone taking photographs or videos at the scene, try to get their contact information and ask them to send you the photos or videos. If you are able to do so, take photos or videos of the scene and your injuries.
- Get medical attention for your wounds immediately. Your medical records will be valuable evidence of the injuries you suffered and can provide a link between the police misconduct and your wounds. Any delay in seeking medical attention could weaken that link.
- Do not speak to the press or go on social media with posts or photos about the event or your wounds. Let your lawyer handle these things to protect your case. Things that you say to a reporter can get twisted to the point that you do not recognize your own story. Fake quotes happen all the time. Social media posts can get twisted, taken out of context, and used against you.
- Talk to a personal injury lawyer right away. They will need to get on board right away because things can move quickly in these cases. Your lawyer can protect you from the press and others. Evidence can “disappear” in a matter of days or even hours, so your lawyer will need to get involved at once.
You will likely have to go through an administrative claims process before filing a personal injury lawsuit, and administrative claims have short filing deadlines. If you miss the filing deadline, you could lose the right to pursue financial compensation for your injuries.
Recoverable Damages in Personal Injury Claims from Police Brutality
If a police officer injured you because of an act of police misconduct, you might be able to seek financial compensation for your wounds and other losses.
Here are some examples of the common categories of monetary damages in these cases:
- Medical bills for the healthcare service you need to treat your injuries.
- Lost wages if you missed paychecks while recuperating from your wounds.
- Pain and suffering for the physical discomfort and emotional distress of the event and your injuries.
The monetary damages you can pursue will depend on the unique facts of your situation. A Chicago personal injury attorney can talk to you at no cost. Contact our office today for help with your case.