Police Brutality & Excessive Force Attorney in Atlanta
When Use of Force by Police Leads to Serious Injury or Death, We’re Here
America has a policing problem, and Atlanta is no exception. The use of
excessive force has become almost routine for law enforcement officers
who, acting on impulse, can seriously injure or even kill the citizens
they are sworn to protect. Between August and October of 2019, two former
Georgia police officers,
one from Atlanta, were sentenced to prison time for
violence against unarmed victims.
While we believe use of excessive force should be punished, prison sentences
don’t do anything for the victims of police violence or their families.
Attorney Tanya F. Miller is here to help you seek restitution if you’ve
been abused by law enforcement and left with serious injuries. Likewise,
if your loved one was killed in an altercation with the police, we are
here to help you pursue justice with a wrongful death lawsuit.
No one is above the law, especially not the police. If you have an excessive
force complaint, contact Attorney Miller online
or call our office at (404) 720-8111.
Traffic Stops Shouldn’t End in Tragedy
The Fourth and Eighth Amendments to the Constitution protect Americans
against the use of unreasonable or excessive violence during an arrest.
Though police are allowed to use force,
they must not use any more than necessary to perform law enforcement actions. Many do not follow this guideline.
According to data collected by the Washington Post, 709 people have been
killed by police between Jan 1st and Oct 15th, 2019. A
dataset collected by Vice suggests that roughly twice as many Americans will have survived police
shootings in that time—putting the number of serious injuries inflicted
around 1,400. Of course, police brutality doesn’t have to involve
guns. In the Atlanta case mentioned above, the officer was charged with
aggravated assault for kicking an unarmed teenager and choking him until
he lost consciousness.
Serious police-inflicted injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Head injury or traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Chemical burns
- Internal damage
- Non-fatal bullet wounds
- Heart attacks
Police Brutality Can Have Lifelong Consequences
Unfortunately, many victims of police brutality do not have a quick recovery
that allows them to return to their previous way of life. Many victims report
developing PTSD after police violence. Then, of course, there’s physical recovery to worry about. Aside
from astronomical medical costs, some injuries will never fully heal.
Victims may develop:
- Reduced brain function
- Scarring (especially on the face—many officers will slam victims
against walls or the ground)
- Quadriplegia or paraplegia
- Reduced use of limbs or digits
- Reduced organ function
- Arrhythmia or heart failure
- Chronic pain
Not only do these injuries require heavy treatment and an involved rehabilitation
process, they may also require the victim to change their job or quit
working, give up hobbies, or suffer other lifestyle changes. A personal
injury suit against your arresting officer (and other officers who failed
to stop the abuse) can help you recover compensation for medical bills
and other damages you suffer as a result of police violence.
Wrongful Death at the Hands of Police
When police brutality leads to the death of a civilian, family members
can bring a
wrongful death suit against the officer(s) liable. Though no human life has a price, suing
for wrongful death can help a family recoup losses while serving as a
punitive measure for at-fault officials. Even if they’re already
facing jail time, you can bring a case in civil court to address the harm
done to you and your family.
Though criminal cases require proof “beyond a reasonable doubt”
to convict a defendant, civil cases only require the plaintiff to prove
that their claims are more likely true than not. Therefore, even if a
criminal jury neglects to convict a police officer for his conduct, you
may win a civil court case.
We Help Clients Face Down Abusive Police Officers
Our team at the Law Office of Tanya F. Miller, LLC is dedicated to making
Atlanta more just. Police conduct that results in serious injury or even
death is often a violation of civil rights. Guilty or not, victims should
not have to deal with the heavy emotional and monetary burdens of this
kind of misconduct. We don’t want them to go it alone. If police
used excessive force against you or someone you love, we may be able to
help you get compensation in cases of serious injury and wrongful death.
Contact us online
or call (404) 720-8111 to talk to our experienced team today.