A serious Taser injury can create losses that continue long after the police encounter ends.
A person may leave the scene with puncture wounds or burns, but the more serious harm may come from the fall that follows. A Taser deployment can cause a person to lose muscular control, making it difficult or impossible to protect the head, face, spine, or arms during impact.
That can lead to:
- concussion;
- traumatic brain injury;
- skull or facial fractures;
- spinal injury;
- broken bones;
- dental damage;
- nerve injury;
- permanent scarring;
- lost income;
- rehabilitation needs; or
- long-term disability.
If police used excessive force and that force caused legally compensable harm, a civil-rights claim may potentially seek damages designed to address those losses.
But there is no standard payout for Taser injuries.
The value of a case depends on both sides of the equation:
How strong is the evidence that the force was unlawful?
and
How much harm did that force actually cause?
Federal investigators have repeatedly identified excessive or unjustified Taser use as a serious civil-rights problem, including use against restrained or non-threatening people and repeated deployments that were not necessary.
What Compensation Can a Police Taser Injury Case Include?
Depending on the claim, applicable law, and evidence, compensation may potentially address:
- past medical expenses;
- future medical care;
- lost wages;
- lost employment benefits;
- reduced future earning capacity;
- physical pain;
- emotional distress;
- permanent disability;
- disfigurement or scarring;
- loss of normal activities;
- rehabilitation costs;
- assistive equipment;
- wrongful-death damages in fatal cases;
- punitive damages against individual defendants in appropriate cases; and
- attorney’s fees where authorized by federal civil-rights law.
Not every category is available in every case.
The injury, jurisdiction, defendants, legal theory, and evidence all matter.
Is There an Average Police Taser Injury Settlement?
No.
Published settlements do not provide a reliable average for another person’s case.
Consider three very different scenarios:
Case A: A person is tased once, falls onto grass, and suffers temporary bruising.
Case B: A handcuffed person is repeatedly tased, falls face-first onto concrete, suffers a skull fracture, and misses six months of work.
Case C: A person falls from an elevated location after being tased and suffers permanent brain or spinal injury.
All three involve a Taser.
Their damages could be dramatically different.
The legal strength may also vary.
A catastrophic injury does not automatically prove excessive force.
And clearly unreasonable force does not automatically create a large damages award if little injury resulted.
What Are Compensatory Damages?
Compensatory damages are intended to compensate a person for losses caused by unlawful conduct.
They generally fall into two broad categories:
Economic damages
These are losses that can often be documented in dollars.
Examples include:
- medical bills;
- rehabilitation expenses;
- lost wages;
- future treatment;
- reduced earning capacity;
- transportation for medical care;
- home modifications; and
- other measurable costs.
Non-economic damages
These can involve harm that does not come with a simple invoice.
Depending on applicable law, examples may include:
- physical pain;
- emotional distress;
- humiliation;
- fear;
- loss of enjoyment of life;
- disfigurement; and
- permanent limitations.
The evidence supporting each category matters.
How Are Medical Bills Calculated?
Medical damages can include far more than the emergency-room visit immediately after the incident.
A serious Taser-related fall may require:
- ambulance transportation;
- emergency care;
- CT scans;
- MRI imaging;
- surgery;
- hospitalization;
- neurological care;
- orthopedic treatment;
- physical therapy;
- occupational therapy;
- medications;
- mental-health treatment; and
- follow-up appointments.
Keep records of all treatment related to the incident.
A person who suffers a brain injury or spinal injury may continue receiving care months or years later.
Those future needs can become a major part of the claim.
What if Insurance Paid the Medical Bills?
Do not assume the medical expenses no longer matter.
Insurance payments can create additional legal issues involving:
- reimbursement rights;
- liens;
- Medicare or Medicaid;
- health insurers;
- workers’ compensation in unusual circumstances; or
- other benefit programs.
The amount billed, amount paid, and amount legally recoverable are not always the same.
A lawyer may need to analyze both the medical damages and any repayment obligations attached to a recovery.
Can Future Medical Care Be Included?
Potentially.
Future care can become especially important after:
- traumatic brain injury;
- spinal injury;
- serious fractures;
- permanent nerve damage;
- significant scarring;
- chronic pain; or
- loss of mobility.
A future-care claim should be supported by medical evidence.
Doctors may need to explain:
- what treatment is reasonably expected;
- how long it may continue;
- whether surgery may be required;
- whether medication will remain necessary;
- whether therapy is ongoing; and
- what permanent limitations are expected.
Future damages should not be based on guesswork.
What if the Taser Caused a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Brain injuries can dramatically change the damages analysis.
A person may appear physically recovered while continuing to experience:
- headaches;
- memory problems;
- difficulty concentrating;
- dizziness;
- balance issues;
- sleep problems;
- mood changes;
- sensitivity to light or noise;
- fatigue; or
- difficulty returning to work.
These symptoms can affect both medical damages and earning capacity.
Evidence may include:
- emergency records;
- CT or MRI scans;
- neurological testing;
- neuropsychological evaluations;
- therapy records;
- employment records; and
- testimony from people who knew the person before and after the injury.
Can a Taser-Related Fall Cause More Damage Than the Taser Itself?
Yes.
This is one of the most important issues in this cluster.
The electrical deployment may last only seconds.
But the uncontrolled fall can produce devastating trauma.
A person may strike:
- concrete;
- stairs;
- a curb;
- a wall;
- furniture;
- a vehicle;
- another hard object; or
- the ground from an elevated position.
The resulting injury can include:
- skull fracture;
- intracranial bleeding;
- facial fracture;
- broken teeth;
- shoulder injury;
- wrist fracture;
- hip fracture;
- spinal trauma; or
- permanent brain injury.
In an older federal civil-rights prosecution, DOJ described a handcuffed man who immediately fell after being tased and could not break his fall because his hands were restrained behind him. That pattern of facts illustrates why restraint status can increase the risk of falls.
What if the Person Was Handcuffed?
Being handcuffed may affect both liability and damages.
Hands restrained behind the back can make it difficult to protect the head or face during an uncontrolled fall.
That can increase the risk of:
- facial trauma;
- dental injury;
- head injury;
- shoulder injury; and
- neck injury.
If the person was also compliant or non-threatening, the restraint status may become important to the excessive-force analysis itself.
Recent DOJ investigations have repeatedly identified Taser use against people who were already restrained or controlled as a serious concern.
Can Lost Wages Be Recovered?
Potentially.
If injuries prevent someone from working, wage loss may be included in the damages claim.
Documentation may include:
- pay stubs;
- tax records;
- employer letters;
- time sheets;
- disability records;
- missed shifts;
- overtime history; and
- bonus or commission records.
Suppose a person earns $1,200 per week and cannot work for 12 weeks.
A simplified wage-loss calculation starts with:
$1,200 × 12 = $14,400
But actual damages may also involve:
- overtime;
- commissions;
- benefits;
- bonuses; and
- future earning effects.
What if You Used Sick Leave or Vacation Instead of Losing Pay?
That can still matter.
Using accrued leave due to injuries may result in a real economic loss.
A person might avoid missing a paycheck only by exhausting:
- vacation days;
- sick leave;
- paid time off;
- disability benefits; or
- other accumulated benefits.
A lawyer may evaluate whether those losses are compensable under the applicable law.
What Is Loss of Earning Capacity?
Lost wages look backward.
Loss of earning capacity looks forward.
Suppose someone worked in construction before suffering a serious spinal injury.
The person can eventually return to work—but can no longer perform heavy physical labor.
They may have to accept a lower-paying occupation.
The claim may involve the difference between:
what the person probably would have earned without the injury
and
what the person can reasonably earn afterward.
Evidence may include:
- prior earnings;
- education;
- work history;
- medical restrictions;
- vocational testing;
- labor-market evidence; and
- economic analysis.
What if the Person Can Never Work Again?
Permanent inability to work can dramatically increase economic damages.
A long-term claim may involve:
- decades of lost earnings;
- lost retirement contributions;
- lost benefits;
- health insurance;
- pension value; and
- other employment-related compensation.
Future calculations generally require evidence and may involve economists or vocational experts.
The younger the injured person, the longer the potential future earning period may be.
But every calculation must still be grounded in the person’s real work history and reasonable future expectations.
Can Pain and Suffering Be Part of the Case?
Potentially.
A serious Taser injury may cause substantial physical pain.
Pain damages can involve:
- the initial incident;
- hospitalization;
- surgery;
- rehabilitation;
- chronic pain;
- headaches;
- nerve pain; and
- permanent discomfort.
There is no universal dollar amount for pain.
Evidence may come from:
- medical records;
- treatment history;
- testimony;
- physical restrictions; and
- how the injury affects daily activities.
Can Emotional Distress Be Compensated?
Potentially, depending on the legal claims and circumstances.
A police force incident may cause emotional harm such as:
- fear;
- anxiety;
- humiliation;
- nightmares;
- depression;
- post-traumatic symptoms;
- fear of police encounters; or
- distress related to permanent injury.
Evidence can include:
- counseling records;
- medical records;
- medications;
- testimony from the injured person;
- family observations; and
- contemporaneous communications.
The seriousness and duration of the harm matter.
Do You Need a Mental-Health Diagnosis?
Not necessarily in every case.
A person can experience real emotional distress without receiving a formal psychiatric diagnosis.
But medical or counseling evidence can strengthen a claim when emotional harm is significant.
The evidence should accurately reflect what happened.
Do not seek unnecessary treatment simply to increase damages.
Treatment should be based on genuine health needs.
Can Scars Be Compensated?
Potentially.
A Taser deployment may cause:
- probe scars;
- burns;
- facial scars from falling;
- surgical scars; or
- other permanent disfigurement.
Photographs can be important.
Take clear pictures during healing and after the injury stabilizes.
For facial injuries or other prominent scars, the location and permanence may affect damages.
What About Broken Teeth or Facial Injuries?
These can create both medical and cosmetic losses.
A face-first fall may cause:
- broken teeth;
- jaw fracture;
- nasal fracture;
- orbital fracture;
- lip injury;
- facial lacerations; or
- permanent scarring.
Treatment may involve:
- emergency care;
- dental reconstruction;
- oral surgery;
- implants;
- orthodontics;
- plastic surgery; or
- future procedures.
Keep dental records separately from general hospital records.
Can Permanent Disability Increase Compensation?
Potentially.
Permanent disability can affect:
- work;
- mobility;
- independence;
- hobbies;
- household tasks;
- relationships;
- future medical needs; and
- overall quality of life.
A spinal injury causing permanent mobility limitations may therefore involve much greater damages than a temporary soft-tissue injury.
The extent of impairment generally must be medically supported.
What Is Loss of Enjoyment of Life?
Serious injuries can prevent a person from doing things they previously enjoyed or relied on.
Examples may include inability to:
- exercise;
- play sports;
- drive;
- care for children;
- hike;
- work on a hobby;
- travel;
- perform household tasks; or
- participate in community activities.
These losses can sometimes fall within non-economic damages where permitted.
The strongest evidence is specific.
Instead of simply saying:
“My life changed.”
the evidence may show exactly how daily life changed.
Can Punitive Damages Be Awarded?
Potentially against individual defendants in appropriate federal civil-rights cases.
Punitive damages are different from compensatory damages.
They are designed to punish particularly serious misconduct and deter similar behavior.
The U.S. Supreme Court has held that punitive damages may be available in § 1983 cases when an individual defendant’s conduct is motivated by evil intent or involves reckless or callous indifference to federally protected rights.
They are not automatically available whenever excessive force is proven.
They also generally are not available against municipalities under § 1983.
The precise defendants matter.
Can a City or County Pay Damages?
Potentially, but government liability requires its own legal analysis.
A municipality is not automatically liable under § 1983 simply because it employed the officer.
A plaintiff may need to prove that a constitutional violation was connected to a municipal:
- policy;
- custom;
- practice;
- training failure;
- supervisory failure under the applicable standard; or
- decision by an authorized policymaker.
DOJ pattern-or-practice investigations demonstrate why institutional practices can matter. For example, DOJ found that Mount Vernon police excessively used Tasers particularly against people already taken to the ground, controlled by several officers, or partially or fully restrained.
But a DOJ institutional finding is different from proving municipal liability in an individual damages lawsuit.
Can Attorney’s Fees Be Recovered?
Potentially.
Federal civil-rights law can permit a prevailing plaintiff to recover reasonable attorney’s fees in appropriate § 1983 litigation.
Attorney’s fees are legally distinct from compensation for the physical injury itself.
They can become important because federal civil-rights litigation may require:
- extensive discovery;
- expert witnesses;
- depositions;
- video analysis;
- medical review;
- police-practices experts; and
- substantial motion practice.
Can You Recover for Property Damage?
Potentially under applicable law if property was damaged during the incident.
For example:
- eyeglasses may break during a fall;
- a phone may be damaged;
- clothing may be cut during emergency treatment;
- personal property may be destroyed.
These losses are usually much smaller than serious injury but should still be documented.
Save:
- photographs;
- receipts;
- replacement costs; and
- the damaged item where practical.
What if Medical Bills Are Still Coming In?
Do not rush to evaluate a serious case before the medical picture is understood.
Someone with a brain, neck, spinal, or orthopedic injury may need months before doctors can reasonably assess:
- maximum recovery;
- permanent restrictions;
- future treatment;
- surgery;
- long-term therapy; or
- disability.
Settling too early can create risk if the person later discovers that future care will be much more expensive than expected.
The appropriate timing depends on the case.
What Is Maximum Medical Improvement?
Doctors sometimes use maximum medical improvement, or MMI, to describe the point when a patient’s condition has stabilized enough that further significant improvement is not expected.
Reaching MMI can help clarify:
- permanent impairment;
- future treatment;
- work restrictions;
- ongoing pain;
- rehabilitation needs; and
- future expenses.
It does not necessarily mean the person is fully recovered.
Should You Accept a Settlement Before Reaching MMI?
That requires careful evaluation.
A settlement may require the injured person to release future claims arising from the incident.
If the person later needs surgery, additional therapy, or long-term care, reopening the claim may not be possible.
Before resolving a serious injury case, questions may include:
- Is the diagnosis complete?
- Is surgery likely?
- Are symptoms still changing?
- Is permanent impairment known?
- Can the person return to work?
- Are future costs reasonably estimated?
There is no universal rule that every case must wait for MMI, but future uncertainty matters.
Can a Settlement Include Future Medical Expenses?
Potentially.
Future medical costs may be part of damages when supported by evidence.
A life-care planner or medical expert may estimate expenses involving:
- surgery;
- therapy;
- medication;
- neurological treatment;
- assistive equipment;
- home care;
- mobility aids; or
- long-term support.
A serious permanent injury may create costs extending for decades.
What if Police Say the Injury Was Caused by the Person’s Own Conduct?
That can become a major causation and comparative-fault issue under applicable law.
Police may argue the injury resulted from:
- running;
- resisting;
- climbing;
- intoxication;
- ignoring commands; or
- another action by the person.
A lawyer may compare that claim with:
- video;
- witness testimony;
- Taser data;
- officer decisions; and
- medical evidence.
State-law comparative-fault rules may apply to some claims.
Federal constitutional claims use their own legal framework.
What if the Person Had a Preexisting Injury?
Preexisting conditions do not automatically eliminate damages.
But they can make causation more complicated.
Suppose someone already had neck pain before the encounter.
After being tased and falling, doctors diagnose a significant worsening.
The legal question may become whether the incident:
- caused a new injury;
- aggravated an existing injury; or
- had no meaningful effect.
Prior medical records can therefore be important.
Trying to conceal a preexisting condition can damage credibility.
What if the Person Was Intoxicated?
Intoxication does not automatically eliminate a civil-rights claim.
It may affect:
- behavior;
- officer threat assessment;
- medical causation;
- memory;
- toxicology; and
- comparative-fault arguments.
A lawyer should know the actual facts.
Video and medical evidence may be especially important when memory is incomplete.
How Can Experts Affect Case Value?
Serious Taser injury cases may involve several types of experts.
Medical experts
May explain:
- diagnosis;
- causation;
- permanent injury;
- future care.
Police-practices experts
May evaluate:
- use-of-force procedures;
- training;
- Taser deployment;
- officer tactics.
Biomechanical experts
May analyze:
- falls;
- impact forces;
- body position;
- injury mechanics.
Vocational experts
May evaluate whether the person can return to work.
Economists
May calculate future earning loss and other financial damages.
Expert testimony can be expensive but may be important in complex cases.
Can Taser Data Affect Compensation?
Yes indirectly.
Taser records do not establish damages by themselves.
But they can affect the strength of the liability case.
Suppose a person claims six deployments.
The officer reports one.
Device data confirms six.
That could strengthen credibility and liability arguments.
A stronger liability case may affect settlement negotiations.
Conversely, records contradicting the injured person’s account may weaken the case.
How Can Video Affect Settlement Value?
Video can be one of the most influential pieces of evidence.
Clear footage may show:
- compliance;
- resistance;
- handcuffs;
- warnings;
- unnecessary repeated force;
- a dangerous fall;
- officers’ reactions;
- delayed medical aid.
When the video strongly supports one version of events, litigation uncertainty may decrease.
But video can also hurt a case.
If footage clearly shows active violent resistance, the defense may have stronger arguments that Taser use was justified.
Case valuation should reflect both helpful and harmful evidence.
Does a Police Policy Violation Increase Compensation?
Not automatically.
Police policy and constitutional law are not identical.
An officer may violate department policy without violating the Constitution.
An officer may also comply with a poorly written policy yet still face constitutional scrutiny.
Still, policy violations can be relevant to:
- reasonableness;
- training;
- credibility;
- supervision; and
- institutional liability.
They may influence negotiations depending on the facts.
Does Repeated Tasing Increase Damages?
It can.
Repeated Taser use may increase:
- physical injury;
- pain;
- emotional harm;
- medical complications; and
- evidence of potentially unreasonable conduct.
DOJ has identified excessive repeated Taser use as a recurring civil-rights concern, including in its Portland reform litigation and Mount Vernon investigation.
But the number of cycles alone does not determine compensation.
Each deployment must be considered in context.
Can Wrongful-Death Damages Be Available?
Potentially when a person dies and the evidence supports both liability and causation.
Wrongful-death damages are generally governed heavily by state law.
They may involve:
- lost financial support;
- funeral expenses;
- loss of companionship or other relationships where permitted;
- survival damages;
- pain and suffering before death where allowed; and
- other statutory damages.
The people entitled to bring the claim also vary by state.
How Do You Prove That a Taser Contributed to a Death?
Medical causation becomes central.
A person may die after an encounter involving several factors:
- Taser deployment;
- fall trauma;
- restraint;
- blunt-force injuries;
- drug toxicity;
- heart disease;
- excited physiological stress;
- delayed medical care; or
- another condition.
An autopsy alone may not answer every legal question.
Experts may need to analyze:
- toxicology;
- pathology;
- cardiac history;
- physical injuries;
- video;
- timing;
- EMS records; and
- hospital records.
The fact that the Taser came before the death does not by itself prove causation.
Can Families Recover Funeral Expenses?
Potentially under applicable wrongful-death or survival law.
Keep:
- funeral invoices;
- burial or cremation expenses;
- transportation costs; and
- related receipts.
The exact damages available depend on state law.
What if Several Officers Were Involved?
A damages claim may involve more than the officer who fired the Taser.
Possible issues include:
- another officer using additional force;
- failure to intervene;
- supervisory decisions;
- delayed medical care;
- municipal liability.
Each defendant’s role should be analyzed separately.
Liability is not automatically shared equally.
Can a Case Settle Without a Lawsuit?
Potentially.
Some civil-rights matters resolve before trial.
Settlement can happen:
- before filing;
- after filing;
- during discovery;
- after major court rulings;
- during mediation; or
- shortly before trial.
But police cases often involve government defendants, indemnification rules, public entities, and complex approval procedures.
Settlement strategy can therefore differ from an ordinary personal-injury claim.
What Can Non-Monetary Relief Look Like?
Money may not be the only objective.
Depending on the case, broader relief can include:
- policy changes;
- training;
- supervision reforms;
- Taser-use restrictions;
- data collection;
- reporting;
- disciplinary review; or
- other institutional changes.
DOJ pattern-or-practice settlements have historically required reforms to Taser policies, procedures, training, and accountability systems when systemic misuse was identified.
A private individual case does not automatically produce the same kind of institutional relief, but reform can become part of some resolutions.
What Factors Can Increase the Potential Value of a Case?
No single factor determines value.
But more serious damages may be associated with:
- catastrophic injury;
- permanent disability;
- brain or spinal injury;
- substantial future care;
- long-term wage loss;
- permanent disfigurement;
- compelling video;
- repeated unjustified Taser cycles;
- use against a restrained or compliant person;
- strong evidence contradicting police reports;
- credible witnesses;
- punitive-damages evidence; or
- proof of broader institutional problems.
Again, these factors do not guarantee a particular result.
What Factors Can Reduce Case Value?
Potential weaknesses may include:
- evidence of an immediate serious threat;
- active violent resistance;
- strong justification for force;
- video contradicting the claimant;
- minimal injury;
- unrelated medical conditions;
- large treatment gaps;
- weak causation;
- inconsistent statements;
- qualified-immunity issues;
- missed procedural deadlines; or
- inability to prove municipal liability.
A realistic valuation has to account for weaknesses as well as strengths.
Why Qualified Immunity Can Affect Settlement Value
Qualified immunity can create significant litigation risk for claims against individual officers.
Even if a court believes force was unconstitutional, a plaintiff may still have to show that existing precedent made the unlawfulness sufficiently clear in the particular circumstances.
That means factually similar prior cases can matter.
A strong injury claim may have less settlement value if major immunity issues remain unresolved.
Conversely, clearly established precedent involving very similar conduct can strengthen the plaintiff’s position.
Why Deadlines Can Affect Compensation
A potentially strong case can be lost if required deadlines are missed.
Police misconduct cases may involve:
- federal limitation periods;
- state limitation periods;
- municipal notice requirements;
- state tort claims acts;
- wrongful-death deadlines; and
- other procedural requirements.
Some government notices may be required long before the ordinary lawsuit deadline.
Prompt legal review protects more than evidence.
It can protect the claim itself.
What Records Help Establish Damages?
Create a damages file.
Medical records
Keep:
- hospital records;
- imaging;
- surgery records;
- therapy records;
- prescriptions;
- specialist reports.
Financial records
Keep:
- bills;
- receipts;
- insurance statements;
- travel expenses.
Employment records
Keep:
- pay stubs;
- tax returns;
- overtime history;
- benefits;
- missed-work records.
Daily impact
Keep an accurate record of significant limitations, such as:
- inability to drive;
- missed family activities;
- sleep problems;
- difficulty walking;
- cognitive problems;
- restrictions on work.
Do not exaggerate.
Consistency is critical.
Should You Keep Photographs of the Injury?
Yes.
Photographs can show healing over time.
Consider documenting:
- Taser probe wounds;
- burns;
- bruises;
- facial injuries;
- swelling;
- stitches;
- casts;
- surgery scars; and
- permanent scars.
Include dates when possible.
Do not digitally alter the images.
Should You Keep a Pain Journal?
A factual journal can help document recovery.
Entries may note:
- pain level;
- headaches;
- sleep;
- therapy;
- medication;
- mobility;
- work limitations;
- doctor visits.
Keep it accurate and concise.
Assume anything written could eventually be reviewed during litigation.
Do not use a journal to speculate about the officer’s motives or exaggerate symptoms.
What if You Recover Faster Than Expected?
That is medically good, even if it reduces potential future damage.
The goal of treatment should be recovery, not maximizing a lawsuit.
If symptoms improve:
- report improvement honestly;
- follow medical advice;
- return to activities when medically appropriate.
Damages should reflect actual harm.
What if Your Condition Gets Worse?
Seek appropriate medical care.
Document new symptoms and tell providers when they began.
A worsening condition may require:
- new imaging;
- specialist referral;
- surgery;
- therapy; or
- additional work restrictions.
Medical evidence can help determine whether the change is related to the original injury.
Should You Settle Before Seeing the Body-Camera Footage?
That can be risky.
Without video, the parties may have very different views of liability.
Body-camera footage could:
- dramatically strengthen the claim;
- reveal additional misconduct;
- identify other officers;
- confirm dangerous fall conditions; or
- show facts that weaken the case.
Important evidence should generally be understood before a serious case is valued whenever practical.
What if the Government Offers a Small Early Settlement?
Evaluate the whole case before signing a release.
Questions should include:
What injuries are still being treated?
Do future medical needs remain unknown?
Has all important video been obtained?
Are wage losses complete?
Could permanent disability develop?
What rights does the release waive?
Does the offer include all defendants and claims?
A quick payment may be attractive after medical bills and missed work.
But a release can end the case permanently.
Recent DOJ Findings Show Why Taser Practices Still Matter
Federal civil-rights investigations continue to identify Taser misuse as part of broader excessive-force problems.
DOJ found that the Mount Vernon Police Department used excessive force in numerous ways, including overuse of Tasers against people who had already been taken to the ground, were controlled by several officers, or were fully or partially restrained.
DOJ’s Civil Rights Division has also described Taser-related excessive-force concerns in jurisdictions including Minneapolis, Worcester, Portland, and Cleveland, as well as in correctional settings.
Those institutional findings do not establish the compensation due in any individual case.
They do show why police Taser policies, restraint status, repeated deployment, training, and accountability can become important evidence.
What Should You Do Before Discussing Compensation?
Focus on documentation.
- Continue appropriate medical treatment.
- Request medical records and bills.
- Preserve photographs.
- Keep wage and employment records.
- Document work restrictions.
- Preserve video and witness information.
- Keep police and court documents.
- Do not exaggerate injuries.
- Do not sign a release without understanding it.
- Determine what legal deadlines apply.
A compensation claim is only as reliable as the evidence supporting it.
How the Police Taser Injury 3-Pak Fits Together
The first article, Police Taser Injury Lawsuit, addresses:
When might Taser use qualify as unconstitutional excessive force?
The second, Police Taser Injury Lawyer, addresses:
How can an attorney reconstruct the encounter and prove what happened?
This article addresses:
What harm can be compensated if liability is established?
That includes:
- medical costs;
- future treatment;
- lost wages;
- reduced earning capacity;
- brain injury;
- spinal injury;
- pain;
- disability;
- scarring;
- punitive damages where appropriate;
- wrongful-death losses; and
- other legally available remedies.
The next two articles will narrow the intent further:
Can I Sue the Police if a Taser Caused Serious Injuries?
and
Who Is Liable When Police Tasing Causes a Fall or Head Injury?
Talk With Ben Crump Law About Police Taser Injury Compensation
The true cost of a Taser injury may not be obvious immediately after the encounter.
A fall can lead to months of medical treatment.
A brain or spinal injury can affect work for years.
Permanent disability can alter income, independence, and daily life.
If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries after police Taser use that may have involved excessive force, a civil-rights attorney can evaluate both sides of the case: whether the force was unlawful and what harm it caused.
Contact Ben Crump Law at +1 (800) 683-5111 for a free, confidential consultation.
