If you believe that your civil rights have been violated, you need to seek legal counsel immediately. An experienced California civil rights attorney can help you assess your case and determine your best course of action.
Civil rights laws prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, or religion. These laws can apply to businesses, schools, government agencies, and other organizations.
Statute of Limitations
If you’re filing a civil action for a personal injury, the statute of limitations tells you how long you have to file your suit. This is usually two years from the date of the accident, but it also applies to wrongful death cases.
A statute of limitations is designed to encourage parties to file lawsuits quickly and avoid losing or destroying evidence. It also helps ensure that juries decide personal injury cases based on the best available information.
The discovery rule carves out an exception from the statute of limitations when a plaintiff discovers or should have discovered that they were injured. This allows victims to recover compensation for injuries that may only show up years after the accident occurred.
The statute of limitations also can be tollled for certain circumstances, such as when someone leaves the state, goes to prison or is ruled insane. Once these conditions are satisfied, the statute of limitations can resume running.
Damages
If you have suffered harm due to a civil rights violation, a civil rights attorney california can help you seek compensation for your losses. Generally, victims can recover economic damages for tangible losses such as medical bills, property damage, and lost wages.
In addition to economic damages, a victim may also be entitled to non-economic damages, which include compensation for emotional suffering and loss of companionship. In some cases, a plaintiff may be awarded punitive damages.
A civil rights attorney can help you determine whether you can recover damages for your injury or wrongful death. These damages can include compensation for medical expenses, therapy costs, and lost income.
Filing a Complaint
If you believe that you have been discriminated against, it is important to seek help from a civil rights attorney. This individual can assist you with filing a complaint, explaining your rights, and helping you resolve the issue.
Discrimination is the most common form of civil rights violations and it can be caused by any number of different things. It could be based on your race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, citizenship or disability.
You may also have a right to sue an employer for workplace discrimination, harassment or retaliation. In some cases, you can receive monetary damages for these types of claims.
The process of filing a complaint depends on the type of violation you are claiming and the laws in your state or federal jurisdiction. In some cases, you must file a claim with the government first before you can pursue a private lawsuit.
Representation
If you have been a victim of racial profiling, false arrest or excessive force by the police, you may need legal representation to help ensure your rights are protected and pursue justice. A civil rights attorney california can provide you with personalized, comprehensive representation in these cases and will work to make sure that your constitutionally guaranteed rights are protected and enforced.
Our attorneys have experience representing people in a variety of different cases, including cases involving discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation. We are also experienced in handling civil rights claims related to workplace harassment and employee retaliation.
A California civil rights attorney can also help you file a federal claim against the government entity that violated your constitutional rights. However, this requires careful planning. The claim must be filed within six months of the incident and it is important to ensure that your legal counsel has sufficient time to review the facts, prepare the claim and submit it on time.