Police are powerful people, but that does not mean they can do whatever they want. Police officers need to abide by certain rules as well. They cannot prevent citizens from exercising their rights and inflict harm on them for no good reason. Unfortunately, police brutality has become a sad reality in today’s time.
New cases of police brutality appear in the news every day. The police who are supposed to make citizens feel safe are the same to make them feel threatened and scared. If you are a victim of police brutality like many others, you deserve justice. Atlanta civil rights attorneys can help you understand what steps you can take.
Steps to take after experiencing police brutality
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Contact a skilled attorney.
When you experience injustice at the hands of people who are supposed to serve justice and protect you, you may be scared and confused about your next step. The best thing to do during such times is to contact a skilled attorney.
An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence against the police officer or officers. They can also assist you in filing paperwork and submitting them before the deadline.
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Remain calm.
It is understandable that you may not be able to remain calm after experiencing injustice at the hands of a police officer. You may be angry and want to defend yourself. However, that will only worsen things.
Avoid showing any signs of anger or contempt towards the officer and instead, do whatever they ask you to. Police can take legal action against you if you become violent. Therefore, do not give them reasons to hurt you.
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Preserve and gather evidence.
The key to winning any legal case is having solid evidence. Thus, you must try to collect as much evidence as possible. If possible, take pictures of your injuries, the location where the injustice took place, the police officers, and their vehicles. Try to gather surveillance videos that show the misconduct. Hiring a lawyer can facilitate the evidence-gathering procedure.
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Exercise your rights.
Many districts require their police officers to wear body cams and use dash cams to ensure fair treatment. If they are not wearing any cameras, you can take out your smartphone and record any interaction you have with a police officer. You have the right to remain and ask for an attorney during your arrest. If they do not arrest you, ask if you are free to go. If they say yes, leave quietly without saying anything.
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Seek medical attention.
Unfortunately, certain cases of police brutality can injure you significantly. Victims are often found with serious and even fatal injuries. If you are injured, you must seek medical attention and get your injuries documented. You are entitled to compensation even if you suffer from psychological or mental trauma from the incident.
