The Chicago Police Department is no stranger to lawsuits for a variety of reasons and allegations. These types of cases include, but are not limited to, allegations of civil rights violations, car crashes, racial discrimination, and sexual harassment suits. In early November 2019, the Chicago Police Department released an Accountability Dashboard, which allows for the public to look at the information for each office misconduct complaint. Impressively, from January 2007 through February 2019, there have been over 40,000 complaints filed against police officers due to misconduct. That is over 3,300 complaints a year.
If you have questions about an injury sustained during an encounter with the police, contact the experienced personal injury lawyers at The Kryder Law Group.
The High Cost of Lawsuits and Allegations Against the City of Chicago
With the increase of allegations against the City of Chicago and its police departments, it has brought on private attorneys to help defend the cases in both state and federal courts. In 2018 alone, the City of Chicago spent $30,000,000 on private attorneys. In 2018, the City paid out $97,900,000 in verdicts, settlements, or payouts of costs to the opposing attorneys. Simple math shows that litigation cost for the City in 2018 was approximately $130,000,000.
In terms of paying money in cases, since 2004, the City of Chicago has spent approximately $757,000,000 on settlements, verdicts, and other payouts. Under Mayor Emmanuel and the last few years of his time as mayor, the costs of these suits continued to grow at an alarming rate.
How to Get Help if You Are Injured by a Chicago Police Officer
The Chicago Police Department and its officers can be just as negligent or reckless as any other driver on the road. The numerous complaints and pay outs in both settlements and attorney’s fees show this. The numbers also show that even though the at-fault defendant is a police officer, it is still possible to pursue justice. A badge is not a barrier to someone seeking compensation for the injuries and trauma they received. The City is clearly able and willing to spend lots of moneys to defend these actions and claims, which is important you seek counsel with experienced attorneys.
If you have questions about a car accident, an encounter with the police, or were injured due to someone’s negligence, do not hesitate to reach out to us at the Kryder Law Group by phone at 312-223-1700, by email at info@kryderlaw.com, or through the interactive chat client on our website for a free and confidential consultation. The facts that are specific and unique to your situation will determine whether you are entitled to compensation under the law and whether you can recover monetary damages. It is important to contact our office soon because under Illinois law, there is a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit against the negligent party. We know injuries are incredibly stressful, so please read the positive reviews on our Google page and see how we’ve helped countless others handle similar injuries.
Learn more about the accountability of the Chicago police department and how it could apply to you.
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