The answer depends on the circumstances of the incident that led to your injury. Tasers shoot electricity and may temporarily stop a person from doing something. Tasers are less likely than guns to result in fatalities and serious injuries and a police officer’s use of a Taser may be reasonable and justified in some circumstances.
Tasers May Also Be Excessive Force
All of the circumstances of a particular incident must be thoroughly reviewed in order to determine whether an officer’s use of a Taser was an act of police brutality. Some circumstances that could be relevant include whether:
- The officer was in danger of suffering a physical injury or reasonably believed that he was in physical danger.
- A member of the public was in danger or the officer reasonably believed a member of the public to be in danger.
- The officer tried other less invasive means of controlling the situation or taking you into custody.
- The officer was appropriately trained on the use of Tasers and complied with department policies and procedures.
If, based on the unique circumstances of your incident, the police officer acted with excessive force and you suffered a physical injury then you could have a potential police brutality claim.
Take Action If You Suffered a Police Brutality Taser Injury
The government often vigorously defends the police force against allegations of police brutality. However, if a police officer has hurt you by using excessive force then you deserve to make a fair recovery for all of your damages including, but not limited to, past and future medical bills, lost income, out-of-pocket costs, physical pain, and emotional suffering.
If our experienced police brutality lawyers believe that the officer’s use of a Taser was police brutality, then we will do everything that we can to help you recover. Please contact us today for a free consultation in any of our Iowa offices, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, or Davenport, or let us know if you would like us to come to you.