When to Get Medical Care After a Use-of-Force Incident

Why Timely Medical Help Matters

If you've just gone through a violent encounter involving police or security personnel, your mind may be spinning. You might feel shocked, scared, or unsure about what just happened. But the first thing you need to do, once you're safe, is to get checked by a medical professional. Even if you don’t see blood or feel pain right away, that doesn’t mean you’re okay.

In New York State, hospitals like NYU Langone, Mount Sinai, and community-based urgent care clinics have experience treating people injured during arrests or restraint. When you visit, let the medical staff know exactly what happened. That creates a clear medical record tied directly to the use-of-force incident. 

You don’t need to go through this alone. If you’ve suffered from excessive force, a Bronx civil rights attorney at Horn Wright, LLP, can help you understand what steps to take and how to protect yourself. We’ll focus on the legal process so you can focus on healing.

Don’t Wait for Symptoms to Get Worse

After a physical altercation, it’s tempting to just go home and hope things settle down. You might want to sleep it off or wait to see how you feel in the morning. But that delay can create real problems. Some injuries don’t show up immediately. Others start small and grow worse with time.

Internal bleeding, soft tissue damage, or organ trauma may take hours or even days to reveal serious symptoms. Headaches, joint pain, and stiffness can sneak up slowly. If left untreated, these injuries can cause long-term damage that’s harder to manage.

Some people also avoid care because they fear medical bills or don’t want to explain what happened. But skipping care could leave you at risk for infections or permanent harm. In New York, you have the right to seek care without disclosing every detail to hospital staff, but it’s better to be open if you’re comfortable.

• Pain that worsens over time could signal deep bruising or nerve injury
• Delayed swelling can indicate ligament tears
• Shortness of breath might point to broken ribs or lung trauma

Taking action early protects you later, physically and legally.

Go to the Doctor After Any Head or Neck Contact

When force is used on your head or neck, even if it seemed brief, you should get medical attention as soon as possible. These areas are sensitive and extremely vulnerable to serious injuries.

If you were hit in the head, shoved against a surface, choked, or restrained by the neck, those are red flags. A concussion may not cause immediate unconsciousness. You might just feel foggy or off. Dizziness, nausea, or trouble remembering things are warning signs of brain trauma. 

Let a doctor assess your condition to rule out bleeding, pressure, or neurological issues.

Neck injuries can also be subtle at first. Soreness, trouble swallowing, or tingling in your arms can indicate spinal stress. These injuries can become dangerous without proper evaluation. Medical professionals may use CT scans or MRIs to check for deeper damage.

• Report head and neck contact honestly and in detail
• Mention any memory gaps or mood changes
• Avoid driving until cleared by a doctor

Injuries to these areas need care fast to prevent lifelong problems.

Seek Emergency Care for Chest Pain or Breathing Trouble

If you experience chest pain, difficulty breathing, or a racing heartbeat after a use-of-force incident, go straight to the emergency room. These symptoms may point to serious injuries involving your heart, lungs, or ribs.

Forceful restraints like being pinned face-down, struck in the torso, or kneed in the ribs can affect how your body takes in air. The danger may not feel intense right away, but labored breathing and tightness in the chest can worsen quickly.

Hospitals across New York, such as Bellevue Hospital or Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, have trauma units equipped to handle these symptoms. Doctors can check for signs of cracked ribs, collapsed lungs, or even cardiac complications caused by electric devices like tasers.

Watch for these warning signs:

• Chest bruising or pain with movement
• Wheezing, shallow breaths, or chest tightness
• Sudden fatigue or disorientation

Breathing issues should never be ignored. They’re one of the clearest signals to seek immediate care.

Clean and Treat Surface Wounds and Taser Marks

Cuts, bruises, and taser wounds may seem simple to manage on your own, but they often require professional cleaning and evaluation. Improper care can lead to infection, delayed healing, or deeper complications.

Even small scrapes can introduce bacteria, especially if force was used on dirty pavement or unsanitary holding conditions. Get the wound cleaned, disinfected, and bandaged by a trained provider. Deep bruises should be monitored in case they signal internal bleeding or muscle damage.

Taser injuries can leave visible marks, burns, or punctures. Some people also experience lingering soreness or heart-related symptoms. Emergency rooms or urgent care providers may order an ECG to check for irregular heart rhythms or muscle trauma.

• Don’t pull out taser probes yourself
• Photograph surface injuries before treatment if safe to do so
• Keep follow-up appointments to monitor healing

Tending to these visible injuries also documents how the event affected your body.

Address Emotional and Psychological Trauma

Medical care after a use-of-force incident isn’t just about physical injuries. Emotional trauma is just as real. You may feel jumpy, anxious, irritable, or numb. These are common reactions to traumatic events and deserve just as much attention.

People often downplay their stress, especially after interacting with authority figures. But if you can’t sleep, have panic attacks, or feel overwhelmed in crowds or near police, those are signs of post-traumatic stress. The sooner you talk to someone, the sooner you can begin to recover.

In New York State, organizations like NYC Well or Mount Sinai’s Center for Stress, Resilience, and Personal Growth offer trauma-informed mental health support. Some clinics accept walk-ins or provide sliding-scale payment options.

• Track changes in your mood, sleep, or appetite
• Don’t wait until things feel unbearable to ask for help
• Choose providers experienced in trauma and systemic abuse

Keep Medical Records and Stick with Treatment

Every visit to a doctor, clinic, or therapist creates a record. These documents tell the story of what happened to you. They also show that you took your injuries seriously and sought proper care. That’s important if you ever pursue a civil rights or injury claim.

Ask for discharge summaries, treatment notes, imaging results, and referral letters. Store everything in one place, either digitally or in a folder. If you go to physical therapy, counseling, or follow-up visits, keep those appointment records too.

You don’t have to keep every item forever, but during the first few months, collect as much as you can. If your lawyer takes on your case, they’ll use these records to support the facts and show the extent of your injuries.

• Request copies of every visit or discharge summary
• Keep prescription receipts and medication instructions
• Document missed work due to medical recovery

Following through with care also helps your body heal more fully. Skipping visits can slow down your progress and hurt your case.

You Deserve Care and Legal Support

If you’re dealing with pain, fear, or confusion after a use-of-force incident, don’t second-guess your need for care. Your health matters. The earlier you seek treatment, the better chance you have to recover and protect your rights. Getting help shows strength.

The civil rights attorneys at Horn Wright, LLP, represent New Yorkers who’ve been hurt by excessive force, wrongful arrests, and mistreatment. We know what these cases require. If you're ready to talk, we're here to listen. We’ll help you take back control, one step at a time.