Everyone has probably had to reach out for help from law enforcement at least once in their life, but what happens when you are harmed or neglected by Philadelphia law enforcement?
You will need to start an investigation to seek legal ramifications and potential financial compensation for the damages done by police agencies in Philadelphia, PA.
Being a police officer is a tough job, and it is hard to assess each potentially harmful situation with a sense of gravity and effectiveness according to the laws that protect each party.
Many officers think of their job as a cat and mouse game, in which they must snuff out the bad and harshly eliminate them at all costs, even if they may act in a reckless manner.
If a law enforcement officer has caused injury from unreasonable force or negligence of protocol, you will want a competent and trustworthy firm of lawyers that have experience with such cases that can provide for you the best legal standing when dealing with the aftermath of a civil lawsuit.
If you are looking for the secrets to the process of filing a legal claim against certain law enforcement officers in Philadelphia, you have come to the right place. Hire our dedicated team of lawyers, and trust our guarantee, “We Win or It’s Free” ®
Knowing the Difference Between Criminal and Civil Court Cases
If you feel that your rights have been violated by law enforcement, it is within your best interest to act quickly and arm yourself with a legal advisor that can help you navigate a civil court case.
Each case is different, and there is a significant change in how a court will handle a case involving law enforcement. Most cases are between civilians and are classified as criminal cases, as opposed to being against law enforcement or a government official which is classified as a civil case.
In order to proceed with a civil case, you will have to get the Department of Justice (DOJ) involved, and they will be able to bring a case against a certain law agency or government official.
Criminal cases must provide evidence that is “beyond a reasonable doubt,” but civil cases need proof to create a “preponderance of the evidence.” If your case can provide evidence of even limited tort of negligence, you may have a chance of fighting and winning a legal battle that will provide you with legal options that reprimand the officer, and in some cases, offer you significant compensation for the injuries you may have sustained.
Hire a dedicated law firm such as ours, and we can provide you with the assistance you need in presenting the evidence and bringing the law enforcement agency to justice. A successful case will correct law enforcement policies to stop that situation from occurring to future victims and will leave the victim with significant compensation to help aid their health recovery.
Follow the Official Complaint Process and Start an Investigation
When you file a complaint with the official complaint process for cases against law enforcement officials in Philadelphia, it will be reviewed by the Internal Affairs Divisional Commander. If the complaint successfully proves that proper procedure was not followed to protect your rights and safety, they will start an investigation.
Investigators will then talk to witnesses, gather evidence or informational data, and record statements from all parties involved. The investigation reports will be sent to the Internal Affairs Divisional Commander, who will review the documents and circumstances tied to the investigation. The Internal Affairs Divisional Commander will then make recommendations regarding the investigation and send the final reports to the Police Commissioner, next up in the line of command.
If your investigation reveals that one or multiple allegations filed in the complaint are supported by evidence in the investigation reports, then your case will be sustained. This means that violations were reported during your investigation, and with the right team of lawyers stating your case, you may be entitled to significant compensation.
If your case is not sustained, there are many other disciplinary actions that may benefit your case or cause punitive action towards a law enforcement officer that has been proven to break protocol. Check out some different possible disciplinary actions that will be taken for the infractions involved in your case below:
- Mandatory training or counseling
- Strict reprimand
- Suspension from duty with no provided income
- Termination of position in department
- Criminal prosecution under the law
Police enforcement officers in Philadelphia are entitled to certain protections and rights, so if your case does not have sufficient evidence, it may be completely dismissed. The complaint will be filed, and the law enforcement officer who has been investigated will be notified of your complaint after the investigation. Hire a professional attorney that has experience in working with civil cases and can review your evidence to present it in a convincing way to the jury and/or judge.
Filing a Case For Excessive Force
Law enforcement in Philadelphia is allowed to use whatever force is necessary to protect themselves against what they deem as a potential threat. A law enforcement officer will be more inclined to use force the more a suspect resists their commands, but when an officer does so without probable cause or evidence of resistance, they may be tried for excessive force.
Excessive force can cause severe damages such as head injury, broken bones, or even harmful cuts and bruises. Just like in the other civil case examples, the plaintiff will have to prove that the “preponderance of evidence” suggests excessive force causing physical harm to the potential suspect.
In order to prove his or her innocence, the defendant must raise a legal defense or justification that proves there was legal jurisdiction that protected them and allowed them to use the amount of force thought necessary in the situation regarding the case.
Just because you are guilty of the convicted crime and the officer had a right to arrest you does not mean that you deserve excessive force, especially if you were not resisting arrest. Navigating civil law is complicated though, and you will want to make sure that your case is well represented in court.
If your complaint is valid, you may be able to receive significant compensation or reduce your sentencing. Each case is different, and you will want to be advised on the best legal options that are available for your situation. Medical bills you may have to pay after winning a successful excessive force case will be expensive, and you may have insurance issues.
Do not let one bad run-in with a cop ruin your long-term health. Hire a professional lawyer and get the compensation you deserve.
Unnecessary K9 Dog Bites and Attacks
There are many specially trained dogs (K9 units) that law enforcement officers use as a tool to detect illegal goods and stop fleeing criminal suspects. These dogs protect many Americans from harm, but if a law enforcement officer in Philadelphia is found guilty of manipulating their dogs to cause harm to a civilian without proper cause, they may be in some serious legal trouble.
Find a trustworthy attorney that will help you determine if you have enough evidence to support the supposed infringement of your rights committed by law enforcement officers.
A police K-9 unit is capable of puncturing lite sheet metal, cause crush wounds, tears, punctures, and avulsions. These dogs are capable of some serious carnage, and you do not want to represent your case against these infractions alone, because it may be hard to prove your rights were neglected, but a dedicated team that has experience navigating tricky civil court case lawsuits will best negotiate terms that will benefit you. Injuries that you may sustain from a police dog unit encounter include:
- Lacerations from the dog’s long carnivorous teeth
- Bone fractures because of crushing, or pulling from the dog’s mouth
- Internal bleeding or muscle injuries sustained by lacerations
- Long-term infections that will require professional medical attention
- Permanent scars and battle wounds
Having significant injuries from a K-9 unit will not prove negligence in court, but injuries sustained from the accident will be great evidence if it is found that the police officer in question used excessive force or broke protocol. Many law enforcement teams in Philadelphia have had to reconsider their consistent use of K-9 units, as they are more likely to cause more harm than other tools like pepper spray, tasers, or batons.
Filing Emotional Abuse Claims Against Law Enforcement Officers in Philadelphia
Even if your police confrontation did not include physical injury, you may be able to prove that an officer broke protocol and caused you extensive emotional distress. Suing for this claim is very difficult, and this type of civil lawsuit is hard to win in court unless you have a team of confident and capable lawyers that can give you the best legal options available.
There are two ways that a citizen can file against the emotional distress caused by a law enforcement official. If you can prove that an officer intentionally acted in a way that causes long-term emotional injury, or if a police officer caused significant emotional injury through acts of neglect. If you cannot prove that either of these circumstances arose while in the provisional custody of a said officer, then your case may be dismissed, and the officer will become immune from penile action.
An officer may have intentionally caused emotional distress to a certain party if the officer’s conduct was reckless or impulsive, or if the incident caused a traumatic situation in which the perpetrator must recover from, either by therapy or other mental health resources. Mental health professionals are expensive, so get a professional attorney to represent your case and get the money you need to put your mental health back on track.
Providing substantial evidence for mental distress that may have been intentionally or recklessly implemented by a law enforcement officer is difficult, so it is hard to prove your rights have been infringed upon in court. Do not be afraid of going to court if you have evidence that an officer conducted extreme behavior that is outside of the realm of tolerable actions because if you can successfully prove this in court, you may be able to father provisions in the law that stop law officials from making a mistake like that in the future.
If you can prove that an officer knew the plaintiff was sensitive to emotional distress and still created a pattern of reckless or humiliating actions that have infringed upon your rights, you may be able to successfully win your case in court. If a police officer used their position of power to influence you into doing things that you are not legally required to perform, you may have substantial evidence for emotional distress and you can file a claim against the law enforcement officer that infringed upon your rights.
Find Legal Help to Stand Up Against Law Enforcement Infractions
If you have suffered from a dangerous and reckless situation caused by a police officer in Philadelphia, act quickly and get a legal team that will help you discover the best legal actions to take. Civil law is confusing, and you do not want to miss out on any legal opportunities that may reduce your sentence or financial compensation that will help you get back on the right track fiscally.
If you have any further legal questions about the necessary actions to make a complaint and file a civil case against a police officer, consider a consultation in which we consider your case and give you the best legal options to proceed with your case. You cannot go wrong with the guarantee, “We Win or It’s Free” ®
Do not stand up against the law alone. Research legal resources available to move your case along and get your life back on track. Every American citizen is entitled to a fair trial process, and our dedicated team of lawyers will make sure that you have only the best representation in court.