To know if your civil rights were violated, you must be aware of what civil rights you have and the common violations. Our Ohio civil rights lawyers can help you determine whether your civil rights were violated.
We can review your case and determine if your rights have been violated. Our law firm has over 100 years of combined experience helping people get justice and compensation for civil rights violations.
What Are Civil Rights?
Civil rights are legal protections established under both federal and state laws that guarantee people fair and equal treatment regardless of certain personal characteristics. Some key things to know about civil rights include:
- Protected classes: Civil rights laws protect individuals from discrimination or unequal treatment based on attributes such as race, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, and disability status.
- Anti-discrimination: Major civil rights legislation, like the Civil Rights Act and Americans with Disabilities Act, prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, public services, education, and other areas based on protected class membership.
- Government protections: The U.S. Constitution and individual state constitutions outline basic rights to due process and equal protection under the law for all citizens.
Our civil rights lawyers can help you understand your civil rights when you meet with us.
For a free legal consultation, call 614-481-6000
Common Civil Rights Violations
As civil rights lawyers, some of the most common violations we see involve discrimination, harassment, and unlawful conduct by government authorities. Here are a few examples:
Discrimination of a Protected Class
If you’ve been denied a job, housing, or public services because of your race, religion, national origin, gender, disability, or other protected attribute, your civil rights may have been violated. Things like harassment or unequal treatment based on these traits are also against the law.
Harassment in Public or Workplace Settings
Pervasive or severe harassment that creates a hostile environment could amount to a civil rights issue, whether it occurs at your job, school, housing complex, or other public area. Both physical and verbal harassment related to a protected characteristic warrants a civil rights violation.
Excessive Force or Unreasonable Search and Seizure
Suppose law enforcement or government agents have subjected you to excessive or unnecessary physical force during an arrest, detention, or interaction or conducted an unreasonable search of your person or property. In that case, your 4th Amendment rights may have been breached.
Retaliation for Exercise of Protected Rights
It’s illegal for anyone, like an employer, to subject you to negative consequences for making a discrimination complaint or participating in a civil rights lawsuit. Our office handles retaliation claims frequently.
What Should You Do After Your Civil Rights Were Violated?
After your rights have been violated, it’s time to take action. Some steps you should take include:
- Document everything immediately: Record all details of the incident, including date and time, any witnesses, names of those involved, and evidence like photos of injuries.
- Contact an Ohio civil rights lawyer: We can fully assess your case and advise on your options. There may be timelines to meet for filing claims.
- File an EEOC or state-level administrative complaint: This initiates proceedings with agencies to resolve workplace discrimination and harassment matters.
- File a police report: If assault, excessive force, vandalism, or property damage was involved, report this to law enforcement right away.
- Notify your employer or school of the incident: Request they investigate and take any necessary disciplinary steps regarding the responsible parties.
- Request a copy of your records: Get documentation about the incident from sources like employers, police, and hospitals.
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How Can a Civil Rights Lawyer in Ohio Help After Your Rights Have Been Violated?
A civil rights attorney in Ohio can help you after your rights have been violated. Here are some ways our lawyers can help you:
Review Your Case
A civil rights lawyer will want to meet with you to hear your full account of what happened. We will ask detailed questions to understand all aspects of the incident and the context around it. The initial consultation is important for our lawyer to evaluate the potential legal issues and your chances of success.
Our attorneys may also request that you provide any evidence, like documents, photos, or witness contacts, that could aid our assessment. Bringing organized case materials to this meeting helps us efficiently determine the merits and direction of your claim.
Advise on Legal Options
Our Ohio civil rights lawyers know the statutes and case law pertinent to potential violations. Based on our experience, we can outline whether claims could proceed via a lawsuit, administrative agency complaint, or another process.
The lawyer will candidly discuss the pros and cons of each legal avenue, such as the potential compensation available, filing deadlines, evidentiary standards, and the likelihood of achieving a resolution. Our guidance helps you make an informed choice on your legal strategy.
Conduct a Legal Investigation
To prepare strong legal arguments and fill any information gaps, an experienced lawyer will systematically investigate unanswered questions. We may submit request letters to gather documents from parties involved in the civil rights violation.
We may also arrange to interview important witnesses to assess what they know and add their statements to your file. Where facts are unclear, formal legal procedures allow us to collect further evidence through third-party questioning.
Represent You in Litigation
If negotiations fail to achieve a settlement, our lawyers are ready to litigate the case in court fully. We will organize all evidence, draft important legal submissions arguing how your rights were breached, and advocate vigorously on your behalf at all hearings or trials.
Representation by counsel experienced in civil rights proceedings significantly increases the prospects of a litigated outcome that achieves justice for what was done. Our team is known for taking on the most difficult cases and achieving results.
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Learn More About How to Know if Your Civil Rights Were Violated
After someone violates your civil rights, it can seem like a neverending legal process. But when you work with our team, we take on the legal process while you relax and recover. We’re ready to prove your right to compensation after your rights were violated.
Contact us today to learn more about how to know if your civil rights were violated.
Call or text 614-481-6000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
