Police Shooting Lawyer in Washington D.C.
An officer-involved shooting has the potential to shatter families and communities, and it’s more important than ever to get in touch with a police shooting lawyer that Washington D.C. trusts. At Cohen & Cohen, we understand that a police shooting can end in tragedy for more than just the people involved, and we understand that real justice comes from legal action.
Police shootings are under more scrutiny than ever, and it seems like every day we hear about another unarmed or innocent civilian being shot by a trigger-happy and abusive police officer. If you or a loved one has been involved in a police shooting, you may have endless questions: “Why does this keep happening? How do we hold the police accountable? Who is going to pay for medical care?”
It’s frustrating, confusing, and overwhelming. Fortunately, you can take legal action to ensure it doesn’t happen to anyone else. However, before you contact Cohen & Cohen for a free consultation, take some time to get familiar with the rules the police need to follow. Educating yourself is the first step to educating institutions that need to change from within.
When are Police Officers Allowed to Use Force?
Whether we agree with it or not, the police are allowed to use force to protect themselves and others. However, the degree of force they use should always be scrutinized. There’s a huge difference between reasonable force and excessive force, and the circumstances surrounding a shooting will prove whether or not the shooting was necessary in the first place.
The best way to talk about excessive force is by using a few examples. Let’s say a man had a gun and aimed it at a police officer with the intent to shoot. In response, the police officer shot him. In this case, it could be argued that the police officer used reasonable force when he used his own firearm. There was the threat of immediate and lethal violence, and it was met with similar force.
On the other hand, let’s say a man was standing on the sidewalk with a baseball bat. He could have made verbal threats to use it as a weapon, or he could have just retrieved it from his car. Just like the previous example, in response, a police officer shot him. In this case, it could be argued that the police officer in question used excessive force: The suspect had no firearm, and was not posing an immediate threat to anyone in his vicinity.
It’s important to remember circumstances when going over the details of a police shooting. You’d be surprised to learn that the injuries sustained from an officer-involved shooting don’t determine whether excessive force was used. Instead, the circumstances surrounding the shooting determine whether a police officer resorted to excessive force. If someone was shot while brandishing a firearm, it could be argued that a police officer used reasonable force, instead. If you’re unsure of whether an officer used excessive force, you should contact a police shooting lawyer in DC.
How Can Cohen & Cohen Help Me?
An officer-involved shooting is rarely as simple as the media makes it. There are many historical legal cases that should be considered when you attempt to take legal action against the officers who used violence against you or a loved one. Fortunately, a police shooting lawyer has plenty of familiarity and experience with similar cases, and can use this expertise to help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.
Reach out to Cohen & Cohen today, and see how a police shooting lawyer in DC can help.
