Dealing with excessive force when it comes to police is certainly one of the most polarizing issues in America today. People are both quick to judge the offending officer and the alleged victim and this can result in being one of the most sensitive types of cases possible.
Injury attorneys could be needed if personal injury law comes into play, but excessive force attorneys should be contacted immediately after any altercation. The most important thing to do during these situations is try to remember everything. It’s understandable if you forget parts or even the majority of a horrific event like this as they truly can be traumatizing, but it can prevent future confusion and unfair treatment later on if you have a better recollection about what took place.
Here are some of the most important pieces of evidence you can provide to your excessive force attorney in the days after the alleged assault.
Your Story of Exactly What Happened
Again, although you might struggle to remember every exact detail of the stressful event, you should try your best to reply the situation in your head so you can figure out everything. Never fabricate any details or make anything up in court, as that’s illegal and will certainly cost you your case, but you should do everything in your power to make sure the truth comes out. Try as hard as you can to recall what transpired that particular day. Your best bet is to write a detailed account of exactly what happened in the hours following the initial assault.
Eyewitness Accounts
The best thing you can do to help your excessive force attorney better understand your case and prepare for the trial would be to provide eyewitness accounts of what happened. If there were any other people nearby during the altercation who might’ve witnessed the alleged excessive actions should be contacted within days of the initial altercation. Get the names and information of anyone around and try to get a statement from them to avoid future confusion.
Photographs and Video
Search the entire area and take plenty of pictures yourself. If you can take pictures or record a video during the altercation that’s even better, but gathering multimedia afterward should be sufficient. Take a look at the surrounding area to see if there are any cameras present that might assist you as well.
Although these are difficult times, if you work with professionals and take it one step at a time, you will get through this stressful situation and eventually put it all behind you.