What Damages Can Victims of Police Brutality Recover?

Injuries sustained when police use excessive force may result in devastating consequences. For survivors of police brutality, or, for those that do not survive, their Estate, the recoverable damages include: Non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering and the decline in your quality of life Attorneys’ fees, compensatory damages (those caused by the excessive force), and punitive damages (those designed to deter and punish the conduct at issue) The reimbursement of hospital bills, rehabilitation costs, prescription costs, and other medical expenses Projected costs of future medical care Lost wages arising out of missed time at work Any decreases in future earning potential due to disabilities arising out of your injuries For families who have lost a loved one to police brutality, a wrongful death settlement may award substantial damages that include: Pain and suffering that your family member experienced leading up to his or her death Medical expenses your family member incurred for addressing their injuries Funeral and burial costs Loss of financial support for the income your loved one would have been expected to earn over the course of their working life Loss of the companionship, comfort, affection, and non-financial support your loved one would have provided had they survived Our attorneys are available to discuss the potential avenues of recovery and the damages you may seek as a result of law enforcement misconduct.

How Much Do Lawyers That Handle Police Brutality Cases Charge?

Your financial background should have no bearing on whether you’re able to hold a city or other municipality or individual police force members responsible for the use of excessive force and improper policing. At Anapol Weiss, our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. They only get paid if you are compensated. There are no upfront costs to hire our firm to pursue a claim of police brutality or excessive force.

Philadelphia Police Brutality Lawyers | Police Excessive Force Attorneys in Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia Police Brutality Lawyers

Our Police Excessive Force Attorneys in Philadelphia, PA, Combat Civil Rights Violations by Law Enforcement

There’s no excuse for officers of the law or other municipal or state employees hurting citizens through their use of excessive force. Across Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania, incidents of police brutality and abuse of power cause victims significant harm.

Standing up to powerful law enforcement officers and influential police departments throughout the country isn’t easy. The seasoned civil rights attorneys at Anapol Weiss specialize in officer-involved assaults. We understand the administrative remedies that must be exhausted before a civil case can be initiated. Our attorneys also understand how to seek monetary relief for violations of 42 U.S. C. § 1983, the section of the United States Code that allows for a civil cause of action to be brought against those responsible for the deprivation of civil rights. Our attorneys are accustomed to combating frequently asserted defenses such as government and sovereign immunity. For a free consultation, contact us today.

Police Brutality Lawsuits in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Instances of excessive force and other forms of police misconduct are entirely too common in Philadelphia and the surrounding Pennsylvania communities.

Statewide, Pennsylvania has seen 260 killings by police between 2013 and 2021 and 5,018 civilian complaints over police misconduct from 2016 through 2021, according to the Police Scorecard project.

Many of the events that give rise to police brutality claims take place in Philadelphia, which is home to the fourth-largest police department in the United States. Police misconduct settlements cost the City of Philadelphia $20.7 million in 2022, news site Axios Philadelphia reported. The following year, the City agreed to pay a record $9.25 million settlement arising out of excessive force used by local police against hundreds of people during the George Floyd protests that occurred in 2020, as reported by CNN.

These major police brutality settlements illustrate the ongoing problem of law enforcement misconduct and the use of excessive force across Philadelphia and beyond. However, they also show that, with seasoned police excessive force attorneys in Philadelphia, PA, on your side, it is possible to hold officers and police departments accountable and simultaneously push for meaningful reform.

Areas Our Philadelphia Police Brutality Lawyers Serve

Our lawyers against police brutality represent victims of excessive force and other forms of law enforcement misconduct in all areas of the City of Philadelphia and beyond, including:

Center City
South Philly
Southwest Philadelphia
West Philadelphia
Lower North Philadelphia
Upper North Philadelphia
Near Northeast Philadelphia
Far Northeast Philadelphia
Roxborough-Manayunk
Germantown-Chestnut Hill
Olney-Oak Lane
River Wards

Our police brutality lawyers practice throughout the country and are prepared to review your case today at no cost.

What Constitutes Police Brutality?

Police brutality refers to civil rights violations and mistreatment at the hands of law enforcement. Often, instances of police brutality involve excessive force beyond what is warranted by or appropriate under the circumstances.

Examples of law enforcement actions that may constitute police brutality include:

Unreasonable searches and seizure
Using inappropriate force to restrain a suspect who is already subdued
The failure to intervene while observing another officer apply excessive force
Failing to adhere to state and local policy and procedure while carrying out an arrest
Applying lethal force to a suspect who is known to be unarmed or is posing no imminent threat to the officer’s or bystanders’ safety
Failure to render medical care
Unreasonable use of tasers, pepper spray, and handcuffs
Hitting, kicking, choking, stomping on, or beating a suspect who is already cooperating, asking for help, or begging for mercy
Verbal abuse
Torturing, sexually abusing, or assaulting a suspect who is restrained or in custody

Our team also handles matters involving race discrimination (equal protection violations) carried out by the police, as well as municipal liability claims related to the failure to adequately hire, train, maintain, and supervise employees (Monell claims).

The injuries that can arise out of police brutality are devastating. They include:

Wrongful death due to causes such as asphyxiation and gunshot wounds
Broken bones, gunshot wounds, head trauma, organ damage, and other injuries serious enough to require lengthy hospital stays
Physical damage that causes loss of feeling, function, or mobility, or other internal injuries or nerve damage
Permanent paralysis
Mental anguish, embarrassment, humiliation, and other emotional damages

Although law enforcement officers are authorized to use an appropriate degree of force in certain situations, they don’t have a free pass to abuse, injure, or even unjustifiably lead to the death of the local citizens they are supposed to have been protecting. If an officer uses force beyond that which is warranted, they can be held accountable both criminally and civilly.

The Benefits of Having Our Experienced Philadelphia Police Brutality Lawyers on Your Side

Why do you need knowledgeable police excessive force attorneys in Philadelphia, PA, to handle your case? As your interaction with law enforcement has already shown, holding authority figures accountable can be difficult and demands a command of the law.

The police brutality lawyers at Anapol Weiss are intimately familiar with establishing civil rights violations by officers and law enforcement agencies. An attorney can assist you by:

Undertaking a thorough investigation of the events to uncover any evidence that supports your argument of excessive force, such as potential failed customs and practices of the police force at issue and discriminatory or otherwise harmful policies and procedures
Calculating and compiling documentation of your damages
Placing the state entity at issue on notice of the claim; drafting pleadings and exchanging discovery; as well as communicating and negotiating with opposing counsel and the court
Representing your interests through all legal proceedings
Answering your questions at every stage of the litigation process

If you’re looking for a lawyer to hold a police department or individual officer(s) believed to have applied excessive force accountable, turn to Anapol Weiss. Our police brutality lawyers take your case seriously and fight aggressively for victims of law enforcement violence.

Contact the Philadelphia Police Brutality Lawyers at Anapol Weiss Today for a Free Consultation

Philadelphia law enforcement should be held accountable for all forms of police misconduct. With distinguished trial attorney Kristen Gibbons Feden leading the practice area at Anapol Weiss, our lawyers can answer your questions and provide a free case evaluation.

For help from a police brutality attorney, contact Anapol Weiss online or call 215-608-9645 today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Police Brutality Lawsuits in Philadelphia and Throughout Pennsylvania

Injuries sustained when police use excessive force may result in devastating consequences. For survivors of police brutality, or, for those that do not survive, their Estate, the recoverable damages include:
Non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering and the decline in your quality of life
Attorneys’ fees, compensatory damages (those caused by the excessive force), and punitive damages (those designed to deter and punish the conduct at issue)
The reimbursement of hospital bills, rehabilitation costs, prescription costs, and other medical expenses
Projected costs of future medical care
Lost wages arising out of missed time at work
Any decreases in future earning potential due to disabilities arising out of your injuries
For families who have lost a loved one to police brutality, a wrongful death settlement may award substantial damages that include:
Pain and suffering that your family member experienced leading up to his or her death
Medical expenses your family member incurred for addressing their injuries
Funeral and burial costs
Loss of financial support for the income your loved one would have been expected to earn over the course of their working life
Loss of the companionship, comfort, affection, and non-financial support your loved one would have provided had they survived
Our attorneys are available to discuss the potential avenues of recovery and the damages you may seek as a result of law enforcement misconduct.
Your financial background should have no bearing on whether you’re able to hold a city or other municipality or individual police force members responsible for the use of excessive force and improper policing. At Anapol Weiss, our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. They only get paid if you are compensated. There are no upfront costs to hire our firm to pursue a claim of police brutality or excessive force.