Civil Rights Lawyers Versus Human Rights Lawyers

A South Carolina personal injury attorney can assist with a broad range of scenarios, whether you have been the victim of negligence, wish to begin a class-action lawsuit, or are entitled to compensation. Many clients feel unsure about when to hire a personal injury lawyer and whether their case involves a human or civil rights violation.

The right course of action is always to contact a skilled legal team as soon as you recognize that a violation of your rights has occurred–your attorney can then provide tailored support to guide you through the next steps.

How Do Civil and Human Rights Legal Cases Differ?

Perhaps the easiest way to think of human rights is that everybody in the world, no matter where they are, has human rights. Human rights were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, attempting to address the terrible imprisonment, torture, and execution of minority groups in World War II.

Human rights are the fundamental entitlements to live, express yourself, and seek education, and they are incorporated into international law.

What Are Civil Rights?

Civil rights are granted according to the country where you live, and the United States Constitution details the civil rights protected for every American citizen. The ten civil rights cover a range of protections (such as against discrimination) and rights (such as the right to free speech). 

What are the ten civil rights? Each amendment in the Constitution covers one of the elements that make up the entirety of our civil rights.

Personal Injury Claims Versus Civil Rights Lawsuits

The distinction between a personal injury claim and a civil rights lawsuit can be complex. Still, the primary contrast is that a personal injury case involves a person who has suffered emotional, financial, or physical damage. It can also relate to property damage, including fraud or a vehicle collision.

Civil rights claims involve suing an individual or a business that has breached your civil rights or civil liberties, such as refusing you a job based on your ethnicity or familial circumstances.

Examples of Personal Injury Cases

• Car accidents
• Product liability
• Dangerous driving
• Wrongful death

Examples of Civil Rights Cases

• Unlawful prisoner treatment
• Police brutality
• Discriminatory hiring processes
• LGBTQ discrimination

How Does the Legal Framework Protect Human Rights?

Everyone maintains human rights. Anybody who is a victim of a breach–whether an individual, a group, or an organization–can file a claim. If you believe you have suffered a human rights violation, your attorney can file a civil rights claim on your behalf.

There are multiple Amendments to the Constitution that recognize changes to global human rights and incorporate these within the civil rights framework, for example:

• The Civil Rights Act 1964 prohibits discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, religion, and nationality, including voting systems, workplaces, and education.
• The Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 makes equal opportunities for individuals with a disability a legal requirement.
• The Equal Pay Act of 1963 covers labor standards and pay discrimination. 
• The Fourteenth Amendment of 1968 addresses citizenship rights and due process.

In rare cases, a human rights claim may supersede federal legislation and call into question existing law; that suit would be escalated to the Supreme Court, which presides over how the US government manages the legal protection of human rights.