Ocala Civil Rights – Police Brutality Lawyer

Ocala Civil Rights – Police Brutality Lawyer

Did a police officer violate your civil rights in Ocala, Florida? Law enforcement officials have broad discretion to act within their scope of duty, but there are limitations. If the police have overstepped their authority or used excessive force against you, they should be held accountable for their actions. 

The Ocala civil rights lawyers at Allen Law Firm, P.A. will work to get the compensation you deserve if you were the victim of police brutality. Our attorneys have over 100 years of combined experience helping injured people seek economic justice – and we’ve recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in the process. We also represent clients in other cases such as Ocala assault injuries, Ocala wrongful death, Ocala medical malpractice, bad faith insurance, negligent security, nursing home abuse, and other practice areas.

Call at (352) 351-3258 or contact our law firm in Ocala, FL online to schedule a free consultation to discuss your civil rights case and learn more about your options. We’re available 24/7 to listen to your story and provide honest legal advice and guidance. 

How Can Our Ocala Personal Injury Lawyers Help If Your Civil Rights Have Been Violated? 

How Can Our Ocala Personal Injury Lawyers Help If Your Civil Rights Have Been Violated? 

Police brutality and other civil rights violations are unfortunately common in the United States – and many incidents go unreported. Police officers have a difficult job, but they can’t use that as an excuse to engage in misconduct in the line of duty. They must follow protocols and procedures to avoid unreasonably harming citizens. 

If the police fail to uphold their professional standards, they and/or the applicable government agency can be held liable for damages in a civil action. An Ocala personal injury attorney can help you seek the full extent of your losses if your civil rights were violated. 

If you hire Allen Law Firm, P.A. to handle your civil rights case, we will: 

  • Thoroughly investigate the incident that led to the violation and collect evidence proving liability – including witness statements and videos, if available 
  • Consult leading experts – including law enforcement specialists and medical professionals – as we work to prove and value your case 
  • Obtain the offending police officer’s record to evaluate whether they have a pattern of misconduct or civilian complaints against them 
  • File all claims and negotiate on your behalf as we work toward a favorable settlement 
  • Take your case to court and argue it before a Marion County jury if we fail to acquire a fair out-of-court agreement 

If you’re standing up to a government entity, don’t attempt to handle your case alone. There are specific deadlines and requirements you must adhere to when filing these claims. Contact our Ocala civil rights and police brutality lawyers today to see how we can help.

Do I Have a Police Brutality Lawsuit? 

People in the United States are guaranteed certain constitutional rights. If you had an interaction with a law enforcement officer or correctional officer and think they violated your civil rights, you may have a Section 1983 claim. 

Pursuant to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, a person acting under color of law (e.g., a police officer) is liable if they deprive someone of their rights, immunities, or privileges given by the Constitution and laws. In other words, Section 1983 gives individuals the right to sue government employees for violations of federally protected rights and is a means of enforcing existing civil rights. 

The claimant in a Section 1983 lawsuit must prove the following: 

  • The defendant was acting under color of law when the incident occurred; and 
  • The defendant’s conduct deprived the claimant of their federal or constitutional rights.

“Acting under color of law” means either the officer was acting within the scope of their governmental authority or they held themselves out to be operating within the scope of their duties. 

Section 1983 cases often involve excessive use of force by the police and unlawful arrests, which falls under the Fourth Amendment. 

To determine whether a police officer’s conduct violated the Fourth Amendment, courts will evaluate whether their actions were reasonable given the facts and circumstances. They’ll assess whether a reasonable officer in the same situation would have acted the same way. 

We Represent All Victims of Civil Rights Violations and Police Brutality in Ocala, FL 

Our Ocala civil rights and police brutality attorneys can help you hold police officers, correctional officers, police departments, the city, and others accountable if your civil rights have been violated. 

We represent victims of all sorts of civil rights violations and police brutality, including but not limited to: 

  • Excessive use of force
  • Unreasonable use of force 
  • Racial profiling
  • Gender bias-based profiling 
  • Unlawful or false arrests 
  • Illegal searches 
  • Illegal seizures 
  • Assault 
  • Sexual assault 
  • Battery
  • Harassment and sexual harassment 
  • Sexual abuse 
  • Unreasonable use of a lethal weapon
  • Intimidation
  • Wrongful death

Contact us today to discuss your situation if you think you’ve been the victim of police brutality. We’ll review the facts and determine whether you have a valid claim.   

What Compensation Is Available for Victims of Police Brutality in Florida? 

Victims of police brutality in Ocala can seek compensatory damages, which include their financial (economic) and personal (non-economic) losses. 

Economic damages include the monetary costs of any injuries you sustained due to the encounter, including: 

Non-economic damages cover the hard-to-value losses you experienced due to the interaction, such as: 

Punitive damages may also be available in some civil rights cases. They’re awarded to punish defendants for egregious conduct. 

The Ocala police brutality attorneys at Allen Law Firm, P.A. understand that police misconduct can have significant physical and psychological effects on your life. Accordingly, we’ll work to value the full extent of your damages to seek the justice you deserve. 

How Long Do I Have To File a Police Brutality Lawsuit in Florida? 

You have limited time to file a Section 1983 claim due to the statute of limitations. Florida recently adjusted its statute of limitations for general personal injury cases. The deadline is two years if the accident happened on or after 3/24/2023 and four years if it happened before that date.

However, different deadlines may apply depending on the facts and defendants involved. It’s best to consult an experienced Ocala civil rights attorney as soon as possible to determine the deadline that applies to your case and preserve your legal rights to compensation. 

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Ocala Civil Rights – Police Brutality Attorneys

If your civil rights were violated by a police officer or other law enforcement official in Ocala, FL, you may be entitled to damages. Police misconduct and brutality are all too common, and offending officers should be held responsible for their actions. 

Contact Allen Law Firm, P.A. to speak with an Ocala police brutality lawyer to determine whether you have a valid claim and the compensation you can seek. We’re here to provide honest, compassionate legal advice. Our law office offers a free initial consultation, so schedule yours today.