Wrongful Death by Taser on the Increase

It used to be wrongful death was caused by things like car accidents. Now, it may be the result of death by Taser.

“While Tasers may be the law enforcement tool of choice, it seems that more and more cases of victims dying as a result of being tased for too long are hitting the front page news. It’s not just a local problem either, it appears to be nationwide and growing,” outlined Scott Atkinson, a New Mexico personal injury lawyer. In many instances, the use or overuse of a Taser is being linked to police brutality. Many people have seen videos on the Internet of someone being Tased for too long. The results are indeed shocking.

“The origins of the Taser are interesting and the acronym TASER actually stands for Thomas A. Swift’s Electric Rifle. While that may make you think of a toy, this tool is ‘not’ a toy and the results demonstrate that all too clearly. However, the name did come from a character in children’s books written in the early 20th century,” Atkinson explained.

This lethal weapon shoots two darts of electricity (attached by a thin wire) into the victim. When the electrodes used at the tip of the Taser make contact, the weapon shoots out a stunning force that is intended to make the victims easier to handle. In some cases, the victim winds up dead instead. When the Taser first came on the law enforcement scene in the early 90s, people thought it was non-deadly; a good alternative to guns for dealing with criminals.

“The Taser is effective and a good alternative ‘if’ it is used according to the directions. It seems by the cases I have seen lately, that those directions are not being followed, with deadly consequences. Some civil rights groups even suggest the Taser is being abused by using it on unarmed suspects. Wrongful death cases involve an element of negligence and certainly, if someone used a Taser in a negligent fashion, there may be grounds to file a wrongful death lawsuit,” advised Atkinson.

Although this weapon was initially intended to be used on criminals, an unsettling proportion of cases lately indicates it is being used on the handicapped, elderly, disabled, unruly sports fans, people who don’t speak English and pregnant women. “If you care to know the stats, there have been 351 documented Taser deaths since 2001. In some of these cases, use of the taser was unlawful and completely without foundation,” Atkinson observed.

If someone has been tased and badly injured, or has succumbed to being shocked, it’s best to contact a New Mexico personal injury attorney to find out how to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

To learn more about Scott Atkinson visit http://www.attorneynewmexico.com

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