California Police Shooting Attorneys

More than $2 billion* recovered

Police officers are expected to protect and serve the community, but too often, power corrupts those we trust we policing. In California, police shootings continue to be a major cause of injury and death, leading many to seek justice by partnering with an experienced police shooting attorney. Whether you were hurt in a police shooting in California or a loved one was injured or killed by a police officer, you deserve compensation for the unimaginable pain and emotional and financial burdens associated with a police shooting.

Complete the form to speak with a skilled BD&J police shooting lawyer in California and find out how much you could be entitled to.

Key Takeaways

• Nearly 200 people each year are killed during encounters with police officers in California.
• Black people are nearly three times more likely to be seriously injured or killed by California police officers, and Latino people face a disproportionately higher rate of forceful police action than White people.
• Almost 250 people are shot by California police each year.
• Some of the most high-profile police brutality lawsuits ever have returned millions of dollars in compensation.
• Over 40% of all non-fatal police shootings in California involve a victim who suffers from a mental health condition and/or substance-use disorder.
• A California police brutality and police shooting attorney can help victims and their families recover compensation for medical bills, therapy, lost income, funeral costs, and even punitive damages.
• SB1421 and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act require transparency in investigations and for all police shootings to be investigated by the Department of Justice.
• In 2025, California victims of police shootings, excessive or deadly force, and police brutality have filed dozens of lawsuits claiming unlawful and unfair use of force.
• The Department of Justice currently has 52 open investigations into police shootings, some dating as far back as 2022.

How Do I Know if a Police Shooting Was Wrongful?

The most important factor impacting whether a victim of a police shooting could bring a personal injury or wrongful death case against an officer or the police department is determining if the firearm use was wrongful or unlawful. Policing is highly regulated, especially since the public outrage over several high-profile shootings, assaults, and killings perpetrated by police in and around the year 2020.

In essence, for a police officer to utilize force against a citizen, there must be necessity, legality, and proportionality.

• Necessity determines if a police action was needed to protect others or themselves.
• Legality determines if the use of force was within the confines of a police officer’s legal duties.
• Proportionality determines if a use of force is comparable to the crime or threat at hand. For example, if a person is shoplifting and the police officer shoots the shoplifter, the shooting would be seen as wrongful. The crime was minor in comparison to the punishment of being shot.

If you aren’t sure if the shooting you experienced was wrongful, contact a California police shooting attorney to get personalized insight and guidance on your rights.

Can I Still Sue if the Shooting Wasn’t Fatal?

Yes, serious injuries from being shot are still grounds for bringing a lawsuit. Hundreds of personal injury lawsuits nationwide and in California have been filed due to nonfatal shootings and misconduct, including some of the largest in history. Randy Cox was arrested in New Haven, Connecticut, and was being transported in a police van while handcuffed. During transport, the van driver braked hard, sending Cox headfirst into the metal partition and paralyzing him from the chest down. Although the injuries were nonfatal, Cox obtained a landmark $45 million settlement. This case, though not a shooting, highlights to power and benefits of holding police officers accountable for wrongful treatment and misconduct, no matter the perceived severity.

What to Do After Police Misconduct or Wrongful Police Shooting

If you or a loved one were injured or shot by police officers, it’s extremely important to ensure your safety and the safety of others in the aftermath. Follow these steps immediately after being assaulted, shot, or brutalized by law enforcement.

1. Get medical help. While documentation is important, your safety should be your primary concern. If a police officer shot you, call an ambulance or get to a hospital as soon as possible. California police officers are legally mandated to call for medical assistance as soon as a citizen is shot by a police firearm. Make sure all your medical concerns from the encounter with law enforcement are documented and treated, including broken bones, bruising, and other injuries associated with the police assault or shooting.
2. Document everything you can about the scene and situation. Take photos and videos of the injuries and gunshot wound you sustained from the shooting. Write down as much as you can remember about the situation leading to the police shooting. Collect contact information for all the witnesses at the scene so they can corroborate your story. Remember: police activity is not protected by privacy laws in California. Witnesses can and should record or photograph the police.
3. File a complaint to the Department of Justice regarding the wrongful assault and police shooting you sustained. This violation of your civil rights does not have to go unanswered. By filing a complaint, your matter will be investigated and there will be a paper trail of the police assault outside of the police department, in case the department chooses to downplay the shooting or cover it up.
4. Contact a skilled and experienced police shooting attorney in California as soon as possible. The police department may attempt to question you on the shooting and the situation that to it. You have a right to consult an attorney first before answering police questions. At BD&J, our police brutality lawyers can help you understand your civil rights and demand compensation for your injuries.

How to Stay Safe During a Police Encounter

During a police encounter, there is an obvious power dynamic at play that is unlike any other in the United States. In no other situation does a party have the right to shoot or kill you if they deem it necessary. For this reason, millions of Americans fear police officers, but fear can lead to reckless actions. If you’re confronted by police, try to stay calm and follow these rules to avoid any potential harm or assault.

• Cooperate. Avoid escalating an already dangerous situation by yelling, insulting, attacking, or running away from officers. Though it’s unfair, you may need to follow unlawful or unfair demands as well to avoid any harm.
• Know and state your rights calmly. You have the right to stay silent. You have the right to demand an attorney if you are being detained. You have the right to refuse a search if the officer does not have a warrant. Simply say, “I’m exercising my right to remain silent,” “I would like to speak to an attorney,” or “I do not give you consent to search by belongings.” Police officers may try to push you, threaten you, or lie to you to bypass your rights, but hold firm.
• Keep your hands visible at all times, preferably in the air. If you need to reach for something in a pocket or bag, inform the officer calmly what you are doing and why BEFORE you move.
• Record the interaction, if possible. You have a right to record police activities as long as it doesn’t interfere with their actions.
• Ask if you are free to go before leaving. If you aren’t under arrest, ask the officer calmly if you can leave. They cannot keep you without an arrest. If they block your exit or try to detain you, do not try to push past. Simply request a lawyer and stop talking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do police officers have to report when they discharge their guns?

Yes. Thanks to California Assembly Bill 392, all police officers must report when they shoot their guns, even accidentally or if no one was injured. In many cases, this reporting has helped reduce the frequency of police shootings – both fatal and nonfatal. If a firearm is discharged accidentally, many police departments formally reprimand the officer involved to encourage the most rigorous gun safety possible.

Are police shooting attorneys considered civil rights or personal injury lawyers?

In a way, California police shooting attorneys are both civil rights and personal injury advocates. Not only do police brutality lawyers pursue compensation for injuries sustained through shootings or excessive force, but they also utilize civil rights as a basis for defining what is excessive or unjustified force. These two areas of law are inherently intertwined in a police shooting case.

Does California have laws that protect citizens from police shootings?

Yes. Assembly Bill 392, passed in 2019, is a revision to the penal code that previously governed police officer use of force against civilians. In AB 392, law enforcement was legally mandated to avoid the use of deadly force, including shootings, unless in defense of human life. This means that if a civilian is suspected of a felony and is reasonably likely to injured or kill themselves, others, or the officers themselves, officers are authorized to shoot. In all other situations, officers are called to de-escalate and avoid use of deadly force.

What kind of training do police officer go through to avoid shootings?

During their academy training, police officers are trained in de-escalation techniques and nonviolent conflict resolution, as well as nonfatal force techniques. Additionally, many police departments across California mandate continuing education in de-escalation tactics. Los Angeles Police Department has, in fact, implemented a virtual reality de-escalation training module where officers can practice various uses of force in a controlled environment. However, this has been criticized for potentially “gamifying” the most violent acts of police work, reducing empathy for real civilians.

I’m afraid the police department will retaliate. Can a California police shooting lawyer help?

Yes. Police shooting attorneys are allies through your case, from proving your injuries to defending your civil rights against unscrupulous officers or departments. We at BD&J will never allow a police department to intimidate or target you for exercising your right to safety and compensation. If you feel you’ve been targeted for retaliation by a police officer or department you are bringing a case against, alert your lawyer immediately and we will notify the courts of this gross overstep.

How many police shootings have happened in California?

With so much scrutiny over the number of violent police encounters across the country, it’s no surprise that many of California’s largest police departments are attempting to highlight reduced use-of-force metrics. However, it seems, at least in Los Angeles, the problem of police shootings seems just as bad as ever. Though LAPD has emphasized that their new de-escalation training methods have resulted in a dip in police shootings in 2024, the number is on track to be the highest in recent years in 2025. In 2023, LAPD shot at 34 people. In 2024, only 29. But as of September 2025, the department has shot at 31 people, with three more months to go. In the past ten years, California law enforcement have been involved in over 1,700 police shootings statewide.

What should I do if there’s no bodycam footage?

If the police shooting that resulted in your or your loved one’s injury or death is not recorded on bodycam, had the bodycam footage erased, or bodycam footage was otherwise not available, report this to your California police brutality lawyer. Bodycams keep officers and civilians safe, and any use of force for which bodycam footage is not available appears suspicious. Your lawyer will investigate this lack of record extensively and identify other areas of evidence that can support your claim.

How do police shooting lawyers prove a shooting was wrongful?

Proving a shooting was wrongful can sometimes be difficult, especially if officers claim the client was armed or aggressive. This is where evidence such as security footage or bodycam footage can be useful. Luckily, when a use of force, such as a shooting, results in serious injury, police brutality lawyers are not the only ones investigating. The State and County Departments of Justice will also investigate the incident, allowing for more resources to locate evidence. At BD&J, our team will identify witnesses or photo/video evidence to support your claim. We will also request character statements and medical records which can determine if our client is prone to violent behavior and whether they were aggravated on the night of the incident.

Police Shooting Attorneys in California Protecting the Rights of Injured and Killed Victims

At BD&J, our police shooting lawyers prioritize community safety above all else. We are devoted to advocating for wronged and injured citizens whose civil rights were violated and are unafraid of police departments or government legal teams who attempt to bury wrongdoing. Whether your loved one’s life was lost to a reckless or aggressive officer or you were shot and injured by one, you deserve the compensation to hold law enforcement accountable and build your new normal.

We are available to you 24/7/365. Call anytime to schedule a free consultation with our police brutality lawyers and learn whether you qualify for compensation.