Experienced Sexual Assault Attorneys Seeking Justice for Survivors Nationwide
Providing Confidential Legal Guidance & Compassionate Advocacy.
Seeking justice after sexual assault takes immense courage. Our dedicated sexual assault attorneys help survivors nationwide pursue accountability through civil lawsuits, and you pay absolutely nothing unless we win your case.
Pay Absolutely Nothing Unless We Win
Work with us risk-free – you pay zero upfront costs and owe no attorney fees unless we win your civil sexual abuse claim.
Aggressive Advocacy Against Perpretrators
Our sexual abuse lawyers fight relentlessly against perpetrators to achieve justice and get the maximum fair compensation you deserve.
Your Well-being Comes First
Your recovery is our priority; we handle the complex legal details so you can focus solely on healing.
Victim of sexual assault? Let us help you.
Understanding Civil Claims for Sexual Abuse
When seeking justice after sexual assault or abuse, it’s important to understand the difference between the criminal justice system and the civil justice system. A civil lawsuit offers a separate path focused on holding responsible parties accountable and securing resources for your recovery:
Focus of a Civil Lawsuit
A civil lawsuit for sexual assault is a legal action initiated by you (the survivor, as the plaintiff) against the individual(s) and/or institution(s) responsible for the harm (the defendant(s)). The primary goals are to establish legal accountability for their wrongful actions or negligence and to recover financial compensation (‘damages’) for the injuries and losses you suffered.
Focus of a Criminal Case
Criminal charges are brought by the state (represented by a prosecutor) against the alleged perpetrator. The main purpose is to punish the offender if found guilty, potentially through jail time, fines, or probation, and to protect society. While restitution might be ordered, the primary focus isn’t on compensating the survivor.
Separate & Independent Processes
Civil lawsuits and criminal cases operate independently. You can pursue a civil claim whether or not criminal charges were ever filed, even if charges were dropped, or even if the defendant was found ‘not guilty’ in criminal court. The burden of proof required in civil cases is typically lower than in criminal cases.
Why Pursue a Civil Claim?
For many survivors, filing a civil lawsuit is an empowering step. It provides a platform to directly confront the responsible parties, seek validation for the harm endured, and obtain necessary financial resources for therapy, medical care, lost income, and other damages related to the trauma. It’s a path toward personal justice guided by your chosen sexual assault attorney.
Seeking Justice from Negligent Institutions
In far too many cases, sexual abuse or assault happens within the context of an organization, like a school, church, workplace, youth group, or medical facility, where there is a failure to protect vulnerable individuals.
It’s important to know that a civil lawsuit for sexual assault can sometimes hold these institutions legally accountable alongside the individual perpetrator. Our dedicated sexual assault attorneys thoroughly investigate the potential liability of any involved organization.
Institutions may be held legally responsible for abuse committed by employees, volunteers, or others under their supervision under several legal principles, including:
Negligent Hiring, Supervision, or Retention
If the organization knew, or reasonably should have known (e.g., through background checks or prior complaints), that an individual posed a risk of sexual harm but hired or kept them anyway, or failed to adequately monitor their interactions with vulnerable people.
Failure to Create or Enforce Safety Policies
When an institution lacks reasonable policies and procedures designed to prevent sexual abuse or fails to properly implement or enforce the safety rules it does have which creates an unsafe environment.
Vicarious Liability (Employer Responsibility)
In certain circumstances, an employer can be held financially responsible for the wrongful acts of an employee if the abuse was related to or enabled by the authority or opportunities provided by the job itself.
Failure to Report or Respond to Warnings
If the institution received credible information or reports suggesting abuse was occurring (or likely to occur) but failed to take appropriate steps to investigate, intervene, protect victims, or report the conduct as legally required.
Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse Claims
One of the most significant legal hurdles survivors often face when considering a civil lawsuit for sexual assault is the ‘statute of limitations.’ This is a law that sets a strict deadline for how long someone has to file a lawsuit after harm occurs.
For many years, these deadlines were often unfairly short, preventing many survivors, especially those abused as children, from seeking justice because the effects of trauma, fear, manipulation, or a delayed understanding of the abuse made it impossible to come forward in time.
- Thankfully, recognizing the profound challenges survivors face, many states have enacted significant reforms to their laws in recent years. However, the specific statute of limitations for sexual abuse still varies dramatically depending on the state where the abuse occurred, the age of the survivor at the time, when the harm was recognized, and whether specific circumstances (like institutional cover-up) might apply.
These laws can be incredibly complex. Therefore, it is absolutely essential to speak with an experienced sexual assault attorney or sex abuse lawyer as soon as possible. We can help you understand the precise deadline relevant to your unique situation and protect your right to seek justice before time runs out.
Seeking Compensation Through a Sexual Assault Civil Lawsuit
While no amount of money can ever truly erase the trauma of sexual abuse or assault, a successful civil lawsuit for sexual assault aims to provide meaningful financial compensation (‘damages’).
These damages serve to acknowledge the immense harm suffered and provide critical resources to aid in the survivor’s healing, recovery, and efforts to rebuild their life. Our compassionate sexual assault attorneys fight diligently to recover compensation covering all aspects of the survivor’s losses, which may include:
These damages cover the tangible financial losses resulting from the abuse and its aftermath:
- Therapy and Counseling Costs: Expenses for past, current, and anticipated future psychological treatment needed to address trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, etc.
- Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: Compensation for income lost due to the inability to work or diminished capacity to earn a living resulting from the trauma's impact.
- Related Medical Expenses: Costs associated with any physical injuries or health conditions that arose directly from the abuse.
- Other Out-of-Pocket Expenses: Costs incurred for things like relocation for safety, security measures, or other expenses directly related to the consequences of the abuse.
These damages address the profound, though less easily calculated, personal impact of the abuse:
- Emotional Distress and Mental Anguish: Significant compensation acknowledging the deep psychological harm, including PTSD, chronic fear, anxiety, depression, shame, sleep disturbances, and other emotional suffering.
- Physical Pain and Suffering: If the abuse involved physical violence, compensation for the pain endured.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Addressing the diminished capacity to engage in relationships, activities, education, career pursuits, or simply experience life as before the trauma.
- Damage to Reputation: In certain circumstances, if the abuse or related events involved public exposure or false statements, causing significant reputational harm.
How Our Sexual Assault Attorneys Champion Your Fight for Justice
Pursuing a civil claim following sexual abuse or assault requires immense strength, and having the right legal support is crucial. Our team is committed to providing not only skilled legal representation but also a supportive and validating environment. Here’s how our dedicated sexual assault attorneys help empower survivors on their path to justice:
Trauma-Informed & Confidential Approach
We offer a safe, secure environment for your free initial confidential sexual abuse lawyer consultation, handling every aspect of your case with the utmost discretion and sensitivity to potential trauma triggers.
Thorough & Discreet Investigation
Our team carefully investigates the facts, working diligently and discreetly to identify all potentially liable parties – whether an individual abuser or involving institutional sexual abuse at a school, church, or workplace.
Managing All Legal Complexities
We handle every step of the legal process for your civil lawsuit for sexual assault, including all paperwork, deadlines, and communications with opposing attorneys, shielding you whenever possible.
Collaboration with Support Experts
When appropriate, we work collaboratively with therapists or other experts to help fully document the profound emotional, psychological, and financial impact the abuse has had on your life.
Assertive Negotiation & Litigation
Your sexual assault attorney acts as your strong advocate, whether negotiating assertively for a fair settlement or fighting powerfully and strategically for you at trial if necessary.
No Upfront Costs or Fees
We represent survivors on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe our firm absolutely nothing upfront, and we only receive attorney fees if we successfully recover compensation for you.
Nationwide Representation for Sexual Assault Civil Claims
No matter where the abuse occurred within the United States, our firm is committed to helping survivors seek justice and accountability through the civil legal system. Our dedicated sexual assault attorneys effectively handle civil claims for survivors in all 50 states.
Taking the First Step: Free & Confidential Sexual Abuse Lawyer Consultation
We deeply understand that reaching out to discuss experiences of sexual abuse or assault requires immense courage and trust. Please know that your safety, privacy, and comfort are our utmost priorities from the very first moment you contact us. We are committed to providing a secure, respectful, and supportive environment where you can explore your legal rights and options without any pressure or judgment whatsoever.
Your initial confidential sexual abuse lawyer consultation with our firm is always completely free and carries absolutely no obligation to move forward. During this private conversation, a compassionate and experienced member of our legal team (such as a dedicated sex abuse lawyer or a specially trained paralegal) will listen attentively to what you choose to share, answer your preliminary questions, and explain potential legal avenues available to you.