What if a Miami, Florida police officer causes an individual to suffer an eye injury?
While some encounters with police officers are civil, others turn violent when a suspect refuses to comply with an officer’s commands or an officer oversteps their authority and applies excessive force. In the event a Miami police officer abused their power and caused an individual to suffer an eye injury, they or their department may be held financially liable for covering the cost associated with the care the individual needed to have rendered along with the other expenses they incurred.
Eye Injuries and their Symptoms
The eye is a very sensitive part of the body that can easily become injured with little contact. Depending on the type of incident that occurred, a person’s eye can become bruised, scratched, or punctured.1 Some common types of eye injuries include:
- Black eye. An individual might suffer a black eye after experiencing a blow to the face. The area around the eye becomes bruised and may even swell which can interfere with a person’s ability to see clearly, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
- Corneal abrasion. If the eye is hit with a foreign object or something like a fingernail, it can scratch the cornea.
- Orbital fractures. This is when the bones around the eye socket become fractured and is usually caused by “trauma or blunt force.” This can happen after an individual has been punched in the eye.
- Retinal detachment. Trauma to the eye can lead to retinal detachment. This can cause a person to experience permanent vision loss, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Symptoms of an Eye Injury
Depending on the type of injury that was sustained, an individual might experience one or more of the following symptoms after suffering an eye injury:
- Pain
- Bruising
- Redness
- Changes in vision
- Swelling
- Changes in eye appearance
- Inability to see
- Permanent loss of vision
Steps to Take After Suffering an Eye Injury Caused by a Police Officer
If an individual suffered an eye injury during their recent encounter with a Miami police officer and they would like to gain a better understanding of their legal rights, they can contact Mario Trespalacios P.A. to speak with a Miami, FL personal injury lawyer. Although police officers have the authority to apply force, even deadly force, they are not authorized to apply excessive force.
Excessive force is any level of force that is deemed unreasonable. An officer who hits a suspect who poses no threat to them or the community and is complying with their commands would be guilty of applying excessive force.
If an individual would like to find out if they have the grounds to sue a police department and for how much, they can contact a Miami, FL personal injury attorney. Mario Trespalacios P.A. is a personal injury law firm located in Miami and offers free consultations.
Mario Trespalacios P.A. can be contacted at:
9495 SW 72 Street, Suite B-275
Miami, FL 33173
Phone: 305-261-5800
Website: www.mtpalegal.com
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