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Police brutality is a troublesome trend that has persisted for a very long time in modern society. Just like its name implies, it involves a certain degree of physical harm or injury to a person's body caused by illegal and excessive application of force by a member or members of the police force. When such brutality occurs, there are several immediate steps to take which ensure the victim’s current safety and also preserve their right to seek justice and compensation later on in the future. Some of those steps include seeking proper medical attention, documenting the incident, and consulting a qualified police brutality lawyer, amongst others. Below, you can find more detailed information about all the right steps to take after experiencing police brutality.

Seek Medical Attention

Police brutality is a very distressing occurrence. It may result in concussions, heart attacks, cardiac arrests, broken bones, and other physical injuries. For that reason, your immediate priority if you have suffered from police brutality should be your health and safety. The first step would be to see a doctor for the proper treatment of any physical injuries sustained and for a thorough medical check-up even before you consult a police brutality lawyer. Medical attention is very important because it guarantees your physical well-being, and also enables you to obtain official medical reports and documentation which are very relevant for future claims.

Gather Evidence

After treating yourself and ensuring that your injuries have been attended to, there is a need to document and gather all evidence or information available regarding the incident. Nothing should be considered trivial at this stage, and all information ranging from the officer's name, badge numbers, physical description, date, time, and location of the attack, should be recorded. If there were any witnesses on the ground, this would be a good time to collect their names and their contact information. Likewise, if anybody recorded the brutalization or if there is any surveillance footage, attempts may be made to secure the same. Photographs of bodily injuries should be taken, and torn or bloodied clothing should be properly kept as these may become relevant in the future.

Consult a Police Brutality Lawyer

Last but not least, there is a need to approach and consult a police brutality lawyer. Consulting a police brutality lawyer is especially crucial, as they can help you seek justice under Section 1983 of the US Code, which addresses violations or deprivations of citizens' rights by any person or agency. Before such consultation, however, the victim is required to have gathered and documented key pieces of evidence and information, which he will then turn over to an experienced police brutality lawyer for evaluation, analysis, and advice on the best course of action. This is because a police brutality lawyer has more knowledge and experience in such cases than an ordinary citizen and is better positioned to help you seek justice and hold the responsible accountable for their actions.