Chicago Police Brutality Lawyers

What Is Police Brutality?

Police brutality is the unreasonable or excessive use of force by police or other law enforcement officers acting under the authority of the state. This can happen even in commonplace situations, such as a police officer conducting a traffic stop or making an arrest.

Everyone understands that there are times when law enforcement has a legitimate reason to use force, and most officers never exceed what is required or reasonable under the circumstances. Unfortunately, there are some police officers who go too far, employing force that is far greater than what is necessary for them to safely and effectively carry out the legal responsibilities of the job.

Police brutality may occur because of improper training, dislike for certain groups of people, or sometimes even simple laziness. Whatever the reason, the outcome remains the same: Somebody’s constitutional rights are violated, and that person suffers harm that may be quite severe and sometimes even fatal.

Police brutality victims and their families have the legal right to seek justice and financial compensation for the wrongs that have been inflicted upon them. If you or a loved one has been a victim of police brutality, contact the Chicago police brutality attorneys at GWC Injury Lawyers LLC today to schedule a free case evaluation. Call our office at (312) 464-1234 or click here to chat with a representative at any time.

GWC Represents Victims Of All Types Of Police Brutality

• Excessive Force – The number of excessive force cases in Chicago and surrounding communities continues to grow. Only through large verdicts and settlements will the message be understood that the citizens of Illinois will not tolerate police brutality by our sworn officers.
• Police Dog Attacks – Police dogs are often well trained, but some officers improperly order their animals to bite suspects, causing unnecessary harm to potentially innocent individuals.
• Injuries to Subdued Arrestees – Police should not hurt individuals after they have been handcuffed or otherwise taken into custody. Police officers can be held liable for punching, kicking, or hitting individuals who are handcuffed and not posing a threat to officer safety.
• Improper Takedowns – Police officers should only use violent takedowns in extreme situations where an individual is forcibly resisting a lawful arrest. If you have been subjected to chokeholds or other improper police takedowns despite not resisting arrest, we can represent you for your injuries.
• Baton Beatings – Batons are police instruments that can be just as dangerous as guns. Police officers must refrain from hitting a person with batons after they have been subdued, and many departments have banned baton hits to a suspect’s head because they can result in debilitating brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, disfigurement, and wrongful death.
• Excessive TASER Usage – Police departments frequently view the usage of TASERs and other electric-shock devices as a convenient way to quickly get a suspect under control. Unfortunately, there have been several individuals who have suffered severe personal injuries, including heart attacks, due to excessive or unnecessary TASER use.
• Wrongful Gun Use – The use of firearms by police officers should be a last-case scenario. However, police shootings are growing increasingly common and often impact bystanders and misidentified individuals.
• Improper Usage of Chemical Sprays – The excessive usage of chemical sprays such as mace or pepper spray is a form of police brutality that is all too frequent.
• Car Accidents – The use of a squad car to stop a suspect can result in serious personal injuries or death, and the reckless operation of a squad car can also endanger the lives of innocent pedestrians and other motorists.
• High-Speed Chases – The City of Chicago, like many municipalities, has general orders requiring officers to cease and desist high-speed chases under many different scenarios. Unfortunately, these orders are frequently ignored in the heat of the chase, sometimes resulting in serious injury to bystanders.

If you have been the victim of police abuse in Chicago or any city in Illinois, we want to hear from you.

Our Contingency Fee Guarantee

Our Chicago police brutality lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means that legal fees and other case-related expenses will only be due if we win your case.