Oklahoma City Civil Rights-Police Brutality Lawyer

Were you or a family member a victim of police brutality in Oklahoma City, OK? Do you suspect that your civil rights were violated? Consult an experienced Oklahoma City civil rights-police brutality lawyer today. At Laird Hammons Laird Personal Injury Lawyers, we can help you fight for compensation to cover your medical bills, lost income, pain, suffering, and more.

Our lawyers have over 95 years of combined experience handling sensitive personal injury law matters. We’ve proven our value by recovering over $100 million in settlements and verdicts for our injured clients.

We’ll be here to fight for you when you need it the most. Contact our law offices in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to schedule a free initial consultation today or call (405) 497-0480.

How Laird Hammons Laird Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help if You Were a Victim of Civil Rights Violations in Oklahoma City

How Laird Hammons Laird Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help if You Were a Victim of Civil Rights Violations in Oklahoma City

Law enforcement officials are granted significant discretion when they’re performing their duties. When the safety of the police and others is on the line, they have the authority to use force. That said, they also have to play by the rules.

If the police crossed the line and you were injured, you need an experienced Oklahoma City personal injury attorney in your corner. 

Laird Hammons Laird Personal Injury Lawyers is an award-winning personal injury law firm. We’ve dedicated our practice to fighting for clients like you since we opened our doors in 2009.

When you hire us, you can expect us to:

  • Make sure you understand all of your legal options
  • Investigate and gather evidence to prove your case
  • Determine the laws that apply in your case
  • Assess the nature of your damages and losses
  • Protect you from manipulation and scare tactics
  • Negotiate fiercely for the maximum compensation you deserve
  • Fight to protect you in court if necessary to secure justice

Facing off against the police can be intimidating and confusing. Our Oklahoma City personal injury lawyers are here to take the lead and handle the legal issues. To learn more about this practice area, call for a free case review today.

Civil Rights Violations: An Overview

Civil rights violations often occur when police or other government authorities violate your constitutional rights in a manner that is deliberately indifferent to those rights.

Police brutality and the use of excessive force are perhaps the most dangerous civil rights violations. Police brutality has the potential to cause severe injuries, emotional damage, and even death.

Our Lawyers in Oklahoma City Handle All Types of Police Brutality and Civil Rights Violation Cases 

At Laird Hammons Laird Personal Injury Lawyers, we can help you fight for justice if you have been a victim of:

  • Assault
  • False arrest
  • Verbal abuse
  • Racial bias
  • Unreasonable searches and seizures in violation of your Fourth Amendment rights
  • Fabricating evidence to make or justify an arrest
  • Tampering with evidence
  • Unjustified shooting
  • Sexual assault
  • Civil rights violations 
  • Cruel and unusual punishment
  • Coercing a confession with threats or violence
  • Harassment
  • Allowing police K-9 dogs to bite or attack suspects
  • Neglecting inmates’ rights in jail or prison

Standing up to the Oklahoma City police department can seem daunting. Our police misconduct lawyers are here to protect you. Contact us today to schedule a free case review to discuss your case in detail.

What Is the Value of My Oklahoma City Civil Rights Case?

Police departments in the United States have paid victims of police brutality over $3.2 billion to settle lawsuits over the last decade. 

However, no two cases are exactly alike. It’s important to understand how much money you deserve–or risk walking away with a lowball settlement. 

The value of your police misconduct case depends on multiple factors, including:

  • The severity of the injuries 
  • The cost of medical treatment
  • Your prognosis and whether you will suffer any long-term disability
  • The nature of the police officer’s acts
  • Your emotional trauma and damage to your quality of life
  • How the ordeal has impacted your family’s emotional health
  • The amount of any lost earnings during recovery from physical injuries
  • How the ordeal is likely to impact your future education, lifestyle, and career prospects

Different factors can also play a role in determining how much compensation you deserve. To learn more about your case value, call our Oklahoma City civil rights-police brutality attorneys for a free case evaluation today.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Civil Rights Violations in Oklahoma City?

Financial compensation is often available to victims of police violence. Under Oklahoma law, if someone else caused your injuries, they can be held responsible for your economic and non-economic damages.

Examples of the types of compensation you may be entitled to receive include:

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Diminished future earning potential
  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation
  • Ongoing psychological counseling and therapy
  • Nursing care
  • Property damage
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD
  • Fear 
  • Humiliation and shame
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Disfigurement 
  • Loss of consortium and other damages for wrongful death

While punitive damages are rare, they may be awarded in cases involving intentional wrongdoing or malicious actions. For example, your attacker may be liable for intentionally inflicting injury without justification.

Our Oklahoma City Civil Rights Attorneys Will Fight To Recover Compensation for Your Injuries

Police brutality can cause serious injuries. When firearms are involved, those injuries can be catastrophic or even fatal. 

At Laird Hammons Laird Personal Injury Lawyers, our lawyers are here to represent victims of police violence who have sustained:

  • Gunshot wounds
  • Broken bones
  • Internal organ damage
  • Severe bleeding and bruising
  • Puncture wounds
  • Lacerations and disfigurement 
  • Facial injuries
  • Head and neck injuries
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Concussions
  • Eye injuries
  • Wrongful death of a loved one in cases involving deadly force

If you were hurt because the officers used excessive force, contact our law firm right away. Our excessive force attorneys will do everything we can to help you get the money you need for treatment costs and more.

Why Do Police Brutality and Civil Rights Violations Still Happen in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma?

Most police brutality cases are based on the use of excessive force. While police are entitled to use force when justified, they can be held liable for damage caused by excessive force regardless of state and federal qualified immunity laws. 

Excessive force often involves:

  • Kicking and punching a victim
  • Firearms
  • Tear gas
  • Tasers
  • Choke holds
  • Pepper spray
  • Batons 

If the law enforcement officer’s acts were unreasonable, they may constitute “excessive force.” 

What Do I Have to Prove to Win a Civil Rights Violations Case in Oklahoma City?

You may have rights under both state and federal law. Under Oklahoma personal injury laws, you may be entitled to compensation if the officer injured you without justification. You can sue your attacker for damages even if they’re facing criminal charges or charges in federal court.

The police department itself may be liable for your damages as the officer’s employer.

Federal law also gives private individuals the right to sue the government and its officials for civil rights violations. Under 42 U.S.C. §1983, you have the right to take action if you have been deprived of a specific right guaranteed under federal law.

To prove you deserve justice under 42 U.S.C. §1983, you must demonstrate the following:

  • The person who committed the acts acted under the “color of law”.
  • Your rights under the Constitution or another federal law were violated.

What does it mean to act “under the color of law”? It’s not always enough to prove that the at-fault party was employed by the police department. 

You must prove:

  • The person was exercising authority given to them by the government.
  • They acted with the appearance that their actions were authorized by the government.

In other words, police can be held liable when they abuse their authority. It’s enough that they allow you to believe they were acting within the scope of their official duties.

What Types of Evidence Can Be Used to Prove My Oklahoma City Civil Rights Violation Claim?

There are many different types of evidence that can be useful, including:

  • Eyewitness reports
  • Video surveillance and body camera footage
  • Evidence about past disciplinary actions against the officer
  • The police department’s policies and training procedures to prevent brutality
  • The police department’s hiring practices
  • Medical records

You can count on our lawyers to search for all available evidence needed to prove your case.

How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit if I Was a Victim of Police Misconduct in Oklahoma?

The statute of limitations in Oklahoma personal injury cases typically gives you two years to file a lawsuit. However, claims against state actors have a one-year deadline, and there may be notice requirements that must be met before that time.

If you have a valid federal case under Section 1983, you’ll generally have two years from the date the civil rights violation occurred to take legal action. But again, there may be requirements that must be met before this two-year mark.

Don’t risk missing important deadlines that apply to your case. Contact us today to learn the time limits of your claim and preserve your legal rights.

Call an Experienced Oklahoma City Civil Rights-Police Brutality Lawyer for a Free Case Review

If you suspect the police have violated your civil rights, contact Laird Hammons Laird Personal Injury Lawyers today. An experienced Oklahoma City civil rights-police brutality lawyer can help you fight for the maximum compensation possible. 

Our personal injury law firm in Oklahoma City, OK also provides:

Visit our Personal Injury Law Office in Oklahoma City

Laird Hammons Laird Personal Injury Lawyers
1332 SW 89th St
Oklahoma City, OK 73159
Phone:
(405) 497-0480
Hours:
Monday through Friday
8am – 5pm

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