Were you or a family member a victim of a civil rights violation in Chicago, IL? If your rights were violated, Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys is here to help. An experienced Chicago civil rights lawyer can help you fight for justice and get the financial compensation you deserve.
Our lawyers have decades of experience fighting for clients like you. We’ve proven our skills over the years by recovering more than $100 million in settlements and jury verdicts.
Our law firm has also helped hundreds of clients fight and get the maximum compensation after being involved in truck accidents, Chicago bicycle accidents, workplace injuries, product liability cases, Chicago slip and fall accidents, and more.
We’re ready to fight for you when you need help the most. Contact our personal injury law firm in Chicago, Illinois, to schedule your free consultation today at (312) 726-1616.
How Can Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys Help if the Chicago Police Violated My Civil Rights?
Civil rights violations can have a profound and lasting impact on your life. Police, employers, and business owners are all legally required to obey the law and respect your rights. When they don’t, an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer can help you fight for justice.
Our team at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys has been recognized by Super Lawyers, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and Best Lawyers in America. We’ve helped countless clients hold at-fault parties liable for their actions and are confident we can help with your case.
When you hire us to handle your civil rights case, we will:
- Conduct our own investigation and find out what happened
- Determine which laws can protect your rights
- Assess your damages and determine your case value
- Fight to hold the at-fault parties liable for the fair compensation you deserve
- Handle all negotiations with insurance companies and defense lawyers
- Fiercely advocate for justice at trial
Especially serious civil rights violations often result in criminal charges and penalties. Many victims don’t fully realize that they may also have the right to sue for financial compensation. If you were a victim of a civil rights violation, call our Chicago personal injury attorneys today. We have the experience and legal knowledge you need in your corner.
Do I Have a Valid Civil Rights Lawsuit?
Civil rights violations happen when businesses, organizations, or government entities violate an individual’s civil rights that are protected under federal or state law. In Chicago, your rights are protected under both the U.S. Constitution and the Illinois Civil Rights Act.
Many civil rights violations involve police and law enforcement officials. These incidents are also unfortunately common in the workplace.
Generally speaking, these laws are designed to prevent people in power from abusing their authority in ways that disrespect your basic human rights.
It’s possible that the person responsible for violating your civil rights could face criminal prosecution. Regardless of whether criminal charges are involved, you may also have the right to file a lawsuit in civil court. The goal of the civil courts is to award financial compensation to compensate you for the losses you have suffered due to the civil rights violation.
We Handle All Types of Civil Rights Violation Claims
At Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, we handle all types of civil rights cases, including those involving:
- Police misconduct
- Police brutality
- Sexual harassment
- Workplace discrimination, including wrongful termination
- Employment discrimination
- Discrimination based on race, color, or national origin
- Gender discrimination
- Citizenship or immigration status
- Religion
- Military status
- Age discrimination
- Pregnancy
- Housing discrimination
Civil rights violations can happen in many different types of situations. If you believe your rights were violated, calling an experienced lawyer is the best way to learn whether you have a valid case. Our law firm offers free case reviews, so contact us today to discuss your legal options.
Federal Civil Rights Violations: Police Misconduct Cases
Under federal law, police and other government officers can be held liable for civil rights violations. The relevant federal statute is 42 U.S.C. §1983.
To successfully win a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim, the victim must prove:
- The individual committed the relevant acts while acting under the “color of law”
- In the process, the defendant deprived you of a civil right that is guaranteed by a state or the federal constitution
Under the “color of law” means that the police or government officials were performing their official duties when they violated your civil rights.
However, it’s important to remember that these individuals don’t always exercise their legal authority in permitted ways. Actions involved in civil rights cases are often outside the scope of the officer’s authority. The law also protects people in situations where the at-fault party suggested that they were acting within their legal authority.
Both individual police officers and the police department itself can be held liable for misconduct. That’s because the Chicago police department, as an employer, is responsible for the actions of its employees.
We Represent Victims in All Types of Police Misconduct Cases
Our Chicago civil rights attorneys handle all types of cases involving civil rights violations, including those involving:
- Racial profiling
- False arrests
- Unlawful detention
- Unjustified shooting
- Fabricating evidence or tampering with evidence
- Sexual assault
- Harassment or sexual harassment
- Verbal abuse
- Physical assault (for example, beating a suspect who has already been subdued)
- Violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity
- Illegal and/or unreasonable searches and seizures
- Coercing confessions
- Wrongful conviction
- Neglect of inmates’ health in jail or prison
- Cruel and unusual punishment
- Allowing police “K-9” dogs to bite or attack suspects
These types of actions can have an extreme impact on your future. To learn more about your legal options, call us today for a free consultation.
How Do I Know Whether the Chicago Police Have Violated My Civil Rights by Engaging in Police Brutality?
Cases involving police brutality can be especially damaging.
While police are permitted to use a reasonable amount of force in conducting their police duties, the amount of force used cannot constitute excessive force. When law enforcement uses an unreasonable amount of force, they may be responsible in civil and criminal court.
What constitutes “excessive force” can vary from case to case, but might include:
- Kicking, punching, and other types of unwarranted physical violence
- Firearms, batons, or tasers
- Takedowns or chokeholds
- Pepper spray
- Tear gas
- The unreasonable use of restraints
Using excessive force can leave victims struggling with both physical injuries and emotional scars. If you were a victim, contact our lawyers in Chicago for a free case evaluation right away. We’ll do everything we can to protect your legal rights.
Civil Rights Violations Based on Membership in a Protected Class
Not all civil rights violations involve physical violence. In the United States, you also have the right to be free from discrimination based on your membership in a protected class. Often, these cases involve workplace discrimination.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects you against both intentional discrimination and actions that have a discriminatory impact.
If your employer has at least 15 employees, they can be held responsible for violations of Title VII.
Under federal law, “protected groups” include:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- Sex
- National origin
- Age
- Disability
Various other federal statutes may apply in your case. For example, the Americans With Disabilities Act provides specific protections against discrimination based on disability.
Illinois state human rights laws also provide additional protections.
What Types of Damages May Be Available to Victims of Civil Rights Violations in Chicago?
If your civil rights were violated, you may have suffered a wide range of damages.
Victims of civil rights violations in Illinois can seek compensation for all of their economic damages and non-economic damages, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and employment benefits
- Lost future earning potential
- Rehabilitation
- Psychological counseling
- Specialized therapies
- Property damage
- Restitution
- Funeral costs, burial expenses, and other damages for wrongful death
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- PTSD
- Shame
- Humiliation
- Disfigurement or scarring
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Loss of consortium
In cases involving extreme and intentional misconduct, punitive damages may also be available as punishment.
Generally, the types of damages you recover will depend on the nature of the harm you’ve suffered. Those damages can vary from case to case, so it’s important to consult an experienced attorney who can protect you.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Civil Rights Violation in Illinois?
To protect your rights under 42 U.S.C. 1983, you must file a lawsuit within two years of the violation. The statute of limitations in Illinois personal injury cases is also two years.
Under Illinois Human Rights Laws, you typically have 300 days from the date a violation took place to take action. The deadline for housing discrimination cases is one year.
Different deadlines can apply depending on the laws that apply in your case. Contact our lawyers today to make sure you don’t wait too long to file a lawsuit.
Schedule a Free Initial Consultation With a Chicago Civil Rights Lawyer Today
If your civil rights were violated, you don’t have to handle the aftermath on your own. Instead, contact Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys today. An experienced Chicago civil rights lawyer can help you fight for the justice you deserve.
