The news is rife with cases of police violence, leaving people to question what to do if they’re next. What happens next depends on a multitude of different factors, including both things you can and cannot control. Here’s what you need to know to get legal help.

It Depends On How Severely You Are Hurt

Some injuries are considered allowable, like bruised wrists from being restrained with metal handcuffs. If the police can make the case that the injuries you received are nonsubtantial and normal within the course of an arrest, it’s unlikely to count as brutality. Severe injuries caused by punching, kicking, and other types of abuse might depending on the circumstances.

Get Medical Care As Soon As Possible

Regardless of your injuries, seek medical care as soon as you can. This can be in jail if necessary just so long as there is a record of you clearly requesting or obtaining a medical evaluation immediately after the incident. If you are refused, this will be documented as well and can be used in your case.

Start Collecting Evidence

When you are released from custody, it’s important to work quickly to obtain evidence that you were unjustly hurt by the police. This might be a video someone who witnessed the incident recorded or possibly even footage from the officer’s body or dash cams. You want to be able to show what happened from beginning to end as clearly as possible.

Say Nothing to Law Enforcement

Remember your right to remain silent. This applies before, during, or after an arrest and to any interaction with law enforcement officers. If asked questions, decline to answer them. If you are offered any kind of deal or bribe by an officer, whether they are on duty or off, to keep quiet about what happened, don’t take it. Even if the deal seems great and you don’t want to deal with the publicity anyways, this usually has a hidden catch that will be worse for you in the end.

Call a New York Criminal Defense Attorney Right Away 

Don’t wait after being arrested – whether it was violent or not – to contact a qualified New York criminal defense lawyer. Scott Cerbin is a veteran attorney who will work with you fight the charges against you and hold police officers accountable for misconduct. Call now at 718-596-1829.