Many states allow officers to use tasers to detain people. A taser, while less deadly than a gun, can still severely injure a person. An officer is only supposed to use a weapon in situations where they feel threatened, or if a subject is particularly unruly and needs to be sedated to handcuff. While officers are generally helpful and serve the public, there are many cases of individuals suing officers for the use of excessive force with a weapon; meaning the officer did not use their best judgment and knowingly injured a person who did not warrant it.
Are Tasers Safe?
Tasers are considered safer than guns. However, the electrical current that goes through a person’s body when they are tased can result in serious harm. Tasers are particularly detrimental to anyone who has a heart condition, is wearing a heart monitor, or is pregnant. These medical conditions are not apparent to the naked eye, and an officer using a taser may accidentally cause excessive medical damage to that individual.
Courts have repeatedly called the use of tasers into question. Many people consider the use of tasers on people who are unarmed as excessive force no matter the situation.
Incidents Involving Tasers
An individual may have to deal with a significant fallout from serious medical problems caused by tasers. Reuters estimated that over 1,000 individuals died after sustaining injuries from an incident with a taser in 2017. While it is difficult to fight the police department in court, any person who suspects an officer using excessive force can sue for medical bills and other damages.
It is vital to hold police departments accountable for the unwarranted damage to their officers’ cause. An experienced police brutality attorney can help you piece your case together and present it in front of the judge. A lawyer may even be able to settle with your state’s police department and get you the compensation you need to cover your medical bills.
Reasonable Suspicion
Police officers must believe that there is a threat to use the taser, known as reasonable suspicion. The increased coverage in the media of police abuse and brutality has caused some departments to rethink their training strategies for officers. Other states have passed laws requiring police officers to wear body cameras. These laws have helped individuals prove their case against an officer.
Once in court, an officer will have to prove that they acted within the scope of their duties. They will insist that they had a reason to stop and use a taser on that particular individual. The police department has their team of lawyers working diligently to protect their officers.
Any individual involved in a lawsuit with a police department should have a lawyer that is working in their best interests as well. The attorneys at Michigan Legal Center are ready to take on your case and work to give you the justice you deserve. With over twenty years of experience, our small firm has developed a reputation as one of the leading forces in Michigan. If you believe you are a victim of excessive force by a police officer, contact us today at (800) 961-8477 for a free case evaluation.