What if injuries caused by police dogs?
The police and military use dogs for patrol and making arrests. State statutes give police and military officers special protection when their dogs inflict injuries on people under certain circumstances. However, there is no protection for excessive force, civil rights violations, or injuries caused outside the scope of proper law enforcement activities.
Can I Sue For Injuries Caused By A Police Dog?Claims for injuries caused by police dogs are usually brought under the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964. Generally, police are forbidden from using unreasonable force when making an arrest. If they do, then they may be required to compensate the victim. In some cases, the officers might be punished, including having to pay punitive damages to the victim. Also, the federal law can possibly give victims some advantages, including an award of attorneys fees and costs and a longer statute of limitations to file their lawsuit.
Courts have held that officers can use dogs to bite and hold a person suspected of commiting a crime, but only when it is reasonable to do so. In one case, the court held that it was unreasonable because the officers did not give the suspect a chance to surrender prior to using the dog. Another man who was bitten by a police dog successfully sued the city that employed the officers after he had been stopped for a traffic violation. He ran away from his car, and officers pursued him with a police dog which had been trained to bite a suspect and hold him until officers commanded otherwise. The man's upper leg was bitten, and his femoral artery was severed.
Should I Consult An Attorney About Injuries Caused By Police Dogs?If you have been injured by a police dog you should contact an attorney immediately. A personal injury attorney can help evaluate your case and assert your rights so that you can recover damages for your injuries. |
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