Free Case Review
Chicago Police Brutality Lawyers Enforce Your Civil Rights
Seeking justice for Illinois victims of police misconduct and negligence
Police are supposed to protect the communities they serve from criminal conduct, including the improper use of force. While they do have a right to protect themselves and often do need to assert themselves to stop criminal activity, there are lines of behavior they are simply not allowed to cross. All citizens have civil rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and by Illinois law. Civil rights protect citizens for illegal searches and seizures and self-incrimination.
At Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers, we help Chicagoans who have been subject to excessive force, assaults, and threats. We understand the balance between a police officer doing his/her job within the boundaries of the law and crossing those boundaries. If you or a loved one was hurt or killed due to a police officer that crossed the line from legal behavior to illegal behavior, you do have recourse. Our Chicago police brutality lawyers understand the federal and state civil rights laws and work to hold police and the government accountable for their wrongs.
Free Case Review
Police brutality is a violation of your civil rights
The main law we use to seek compensation for civil rights violations, such as police brutality, is Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Law of 1964. Pursuant to that section, the police and the government entity involved, such as a county or state, can be sued for violating your civil rights. In Section 1983 cases, we demand compensation for injuries and often ask for punitive damages and the payment of attorney’s fees.
Some of the types of civil rights and police brutality cases Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers handles include:
- Racial profiling
- The use of torture to get a false confession
- Prosecution without merit
- False arrest
- Illegal body cavity or strip searches
- Sexual abuse
- Denial of medical treatment
- Physical violence
Our Chicago police brutality lawyers explain what documentation you need after the brutality occurs, such as proof of seeking medical attention and taking photographs of your injuries. No matter the type of police brutality you have suffered, it is imperative to your case that you have evident to support your claims.
Common injuries due to police brutality
When the police use excessive or illegal force, injury or death can result. Some of the injuries that follow police brutality are:
- Stun gun or taser injuries
- Injuries from pepper spray
- Broken bones
- Bruises
- Sexual assault and rape
- Soft tissue and organ damage
Any type of force that is beyond that which is needed for the police officer to effectively and legally do his/her job may be considered police brutality.
Types of Cases We Handle
Some of the more serious types of injuries our firm handles are:
If the police failed to treat you correctly, call our Chicago civil rights lawyers for help
Every citizen is presumed innocent. All too often police make a judgment of guilt, which is supposed to be left to a jury. Police have the right to protect themselves, but they must also protect the rights of everyone they encounter. In many cases of police brutality, the officer crossed the line. The difficulty in police brutality cases is actually proving the officer failed to honor his/her duties and getting a jury to confirm that violation. The Chicago police brutality attorneys at Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers understand how difficult but also how necessary police brutality cases are. Please call our firm to discuss your case and your remedies. You can reach us at 312-600-9585 or complete our contact form.