Philadelphia Criminal Lawyers
Practice Areas
Police misconduct is a gross abuse of trust and power, regardless of whether you are guilty of breaking the law. Law enforcement officers go through very rigorous training to learn how to properly and effectively handle citizens who may have acted outside the law, while still showing a certain level of respect and restraint. When this power is abused, it is common to feel scared or intimidated at the thought of confronting a police officer. But you are well within your rights to do so, and our team of Philadelphia police misconduct lawyers will be on your side, working hard to protect your rights.
Our dedicated team of criminal lawyers fight hard to protect the legal rights of our clients in a range of cases including the following:
- Automobile Accidents: Auto accidents can result in serious, sometimes fatal, injuries. The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that car accidents cause approximately 840,000 injuries and 1,700 fatalities each year. Some of the common causes of car accidents can include speeding, distracted driving, drowsy driving, drunk driving, and reckless driving. A car accident lawyer will determine who is responsible and work hard to secure the maximum financial compensation.
- Civil Rights: If you have been mistreated or discriminated against in any way due to your race, gender, age, ethnicity or sexual orientation, it is a violation of your civil rights. A civil rights lawyer will protect your rights and make sure that this unlawful treatment does not continue and that you are compensated for any mistreatment you may have endured.
- Criminal Defense: If you have been suspected of or charged with a criminal offense, an experienced criminal defense lawyer will work aggressively on your behalf to present the evidence needed to prove your innocence. Different rules and procedures exist for different offenses, so it is important to contact a lawyer who can provide the best, most aggressive defense for your case. We provide criminal defense representation in cases involving weapons offenses, violent crimes, murder, shoplifting, sexual assault, non-violent crimes and juvenile crimes.
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI)/Driving While Intoxicated(DWI): Being arrested and charged with a DUI or DWI in Pennsylvania is a serious situation that can result in sifnificant penalities including fines, loss of license, insurance surcharges and even imprisonment. The penalities increase each time a person is charged with drunk driving. If you or someone you know is facing a DUI or DWI charge, it is critical for you to seek the legal assitance of an experienced attorney.
- Drug Crimes: Drug-related crimes are serious in nature and can carry steep penalties, including hefty fines, loss of driving privileges and possible prison sentences. Drug charges like possession of illegal drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia or possession with intent to distribute are crimes that will require a competent, aggressive lawyer to provide a skilled defense.
- Excessive Force: Unnecessary force imposed on a victim can include excessive force during an arrest, unjustified use of deadly force, inappropriate use of Tasers or abuse by a prison guard. If you or a family member has been injured due to excessive force by a police officer, you are urged to contact a Philadelphia police brutality lawyer who will protect your rights and secure a fair financial compensation for your ordeal.
- Expungements: Having a criminal record can have long-term negative consequences for anyone in Pennsylvania who has been arrested, charged or convicted of a crime. This can include difficulty in obtaining employment, housing and education as well as securing a loan. There are specific criteria for record expungement depending on the type of violation. To determine if you meet the eligibility requirements to have your record sealed or expunged, call our Philadelphia expungement lawyers today.
- False Arrest: If you have been arrested or unlawfully detained for something that is not a crime – such as exercising your First Amendment right of speech – your civil rights have been violated and you may be entitled to financial compensation. Furthermore, if the police officer exhibited malicious behavior as a result of racial profiling or any other type of prejudice, you may be entitled to punitive damages. An experienced false arrest lawyer will protect your legal rights and ensure that you are protected by the law.
- Misuse of Taser Guns: Taser guns are generally thought of as a simple and safer method used by police to subdue a suspect or perpetrator. However, when law enforcement officers too quickly or frequently use these stun guns, the misuse of Tasers can lead to serious or even fatal injury.
- Personal Injury: If you have been injured in an accident that was the result of another person’s negligence or misconduct, a personal injury lawyer can make sure you receive the maximum financial compensation for your injuries. Personal injury accidents can include bicycle accidents, car accidents, dog bite accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrain accidents, train accidents, truck accidents and wrongful death accidents.
- Police Misconduct: In most cases, police officers are professional and respected members of the law enforcement community who are careful to respect the civil rights of a suspect. However, sometimes an officer will abuse his or her power and engage in behavior that violates a person’s civil and constitutional rights. When this happens, a police officer is guilty of police misconduct.
- Police Brutality: Police officers must obey the same laws that the rest of us do. And when they resort to acts of violence or severe intimidation that result in police brutality, it is a serious civil rights violation. You are legally entitled to hold the police officer accountable for their actions, as their actions are a gross abuse of trust and power.
- Premises Liability: Property owners and business owners are legally responsible for maintaining their property so that there are no safety risks. These could include frayed electrical wires, uneven sidewalks, missing handrails, inadequate lighting or slippery sidewalks. If an individual is injured in a slip and fall accident due to unsafe conditions, the property owner could be held liable under premises liability laws for compensating the injured party.
- Products Liability: Ideally, consumers should feel confident that the products they purchase have gone through rigorous testing before they become available to the American public to purchase and use. If there is a flaw in the design, manufacturing, packaging or installation of the product, which results in an injury or death of a consumer, the product manufacturer could be held liable for damages under products liability law.
- Wrongful Convictions: Ideally, every criminal case results in an honest conviction. However, sometimes an innocent person is convicted of a crime that he or she did not commit as a result of false eyewitness reports, incompetent defense lawyers, and improper forensic reports. If you have been wrongfully convicted of a crime, consult with an experienced, aggressive criminal lawyer who will aggressively protect your rights and preserve your innocence.
Philadelphia Police Misconduct Lawyers at the Law Offices of Patrick G. Geckle Protect Your Legal Rights
If you or someone you love has been the victim of police misconduct, from police brutality or police misconduct to false arrest or wrongful conviction, contact one of our Philadelphia police brutality lawyers so that we can review the details of your case and provide aggressive, personalized legal counsel. We will work hard to ensure that your civil rights are protected and a fair financial settlement is secured. Call us today at 800-555-7780 or locally at 215-735-3326 or contact us online.
Our offices are conveniently located in Philadelphia and we serve clients throughout eastern and central Pennsylvania, including Berks County, Bucks County, Carbon County, Chester County, Delaware County, Lackawanna County, Lancaster County, Lawrence County, Lehigh County, Luzerne County, Monroe County and Montgomery County.