NYPD Shooting Death & Injury Lawyers

Santana Law Firm is a New York City law firm that handles wrongful police shootings that result in death and injury. Our Manhattan and Bronx-based lawyers have helped shooting victims and their families recover millions of dollars in compensation and seek justice for unlawful police deadly force.

The use of a deadly weapon should be a last resort. Yet, due to some combination of poor training, inexperience, and a tendency towards violence, some officers reach for their guns much too quickly. The deadly truth is that gun-happy NYPD cops are often allowed to serve on the force even if they demonstrate an unwillingness to use de-escalation tactics first.

A police officer’s right to use deadly force against you is restricted, even if you have committed a crime. Ethical cops know this and abide by the law. The problem comes when police departments relax their hiring and training criteria and allow unskilled officers with a “shoot-first” mentality onto the force. Department-wide lies and cover-ups mean that many of these officers face no consequences for unlawful shootings.

At Santana Law Firm, we work to hold these officers accountable even when no one else will. Over the last 20 years, our team has taken on the NYPD’s toughest cops and secured millions of dollars in damages for people who have suffered senseless injuries and death at the hands of police. Even if you have been arrested or charged with a crime, you have rights—and those rights must be protected.

NY Police Shootings Cause Death and Severe Injury

Although most officers never or rarely fire their weapons, the few that do tend to do so repeatedly and recklessly. The consequences of these negligent shootings have a devastating impact on victims and their families.

Common police shooting injuries include:

• Wrongful death
  
• Spinal cord injuries
  
• Brain injuries
  
• Paralysis
  
• Loss of limbs
  
• Loss of organs
  
• Coma
  
• Disfigurement
  
• Blindness
  
• Chronic pain
  

These injuries frequently require lifelong medical care that can cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. Victims may be permanently disabled and unable to work or enjoy life as they did before. Children, spouses, and families are left to pick up the pieces when a loved one is severely disabled or wrongfully killed.

Compensation for NYPD Shootings

Although nothing can make up for the pain and suffering of a police shooting, damages can help families pay for medical costs, recover lost wages, and feel a sense of justice. If a police officer or department is found to have acted negligently or violated your civil rights, they may be ordered to pay compensatory damages (designed to compensate you) or punitive damages (designed to punish the behavior and prevent it from happening again).

You may receive compensation for:

• Current and anticipated medical expenses
• Wrongful death
• Lost wages and loss of future earning potential
• Pain and suffering
• Psychological harm, including PTSD and depression
• Violation of civil rights

If you believe you have a case against a NY police department, you must act quickly to preserve your right to file a lawsuit. In New York State, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days after the shooting to initiate the process. After this deadline, it may be extremely difficult to get the justice you deserve.

Do not try to take on the police without the help of a lawyer experienced in police shooting cases. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to maximize your chance of a successful lawsuit.