Were you or a loved one a victim of sexual assault in Los Angeles, CA? Even if your attacker is never convicted, you may be entitled to financial compensation. A Los Angeles sexual assault lawyer at M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight to recover money to cover your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Collectively, our legal team has over 100 years of experience. We’ve also recovered more than $400 million in compensation to help injured clients get justice from the parties responsible for their injuries.
It can be difficult to stand up and fight for what’s fair. Our lawyers will help in any way we can. Learn more about your legal options by calling our law offices in Los Angeles, California, at (877) 300-4535 or contacting us online to schedule a free consultation today.
How Can M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers Help if I Was Sexually Assaulted in Los Angeles?
If you were sexually assaulted, you deserve the full justice that the law has to offer. While prosecutors handle the criminal aspects of your case, a Los Angeles sex crimes lawyer can help you fight for justice in civil court.
At M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve helped countless clients recover the maximum compensation they deserve for their injuries over the years. We have a proven track record of success you can count on.
Our team has been selected as “Rising Stars” by Super Lawyers Magazine and chosen to receive the Avvo Client’s Choice Award for excellent client service. We’re also lifelong members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
When you choose us, you can count on our legal team to:
- Provide personal attention and support during this difficult time
- Launch an investigation into the circumstances of the attack
- Identify all parties who share financial liability
- Hire expert witnesses to strengthen your case
- Negotiate with the insurance companies to maximize your compensation award
Money can’t take away your pain. It can help you get the medical care and therapies you deserve. Please contact us today to learn more about how our Los Angeles sexual assault lawyers can help.
How Common is Sexual Assault in Los Angeles?
According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, it’s estimated that one out of every five women is a victim of attempted or completed rape in their lifetime.
While reports of rape decreased in Los Angeles during the COVID-19 pandemic, studies also show that most sexual assaults are never reported to the police. However, in 2020, 34.2 forcible rapes were reported for every 100,000 California residents. Since California has a population of about 39.5 million, that works out to about 13,509 reports of rape in 2020 alone.
That number doesn’t even begin to account for unreported rapes and cases of attempted sexual assault.
Overview of the Laws on Sexual Assault in Los Angeles
Sexual assault is a criminal offense. Two primary criminal laws govern sexual assault cases in California:
- Rape, which is any type of non-consensual sexual intercourse
- Sexual battery, which is defined as touching another person’s intimate parts without consent for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification, or abuse
However, there are many different types of sex crimes. California laws also provide additional protections for children and the elderly.
It’s up to law enforcement and the district attorney to hold your attacker responsible in criminal court. You may not even realize that you have rights in civil court. Criminal courts punish criminals with jail time and other penalties. You may also be entitled to financial compensation by filing a lawsuit in civil court.
What is My Los Angeles Sexual Assault Injury Case Worth?
Your civil judgment should account for all of the losses you’ve sustained because of the unwanted sexual contact. It should also give you a sense of justice.
The value of your sexual abuse case is based on unique factors, such as:
- The cost of your medical treatment
- Whether your injuries prevent you from working
- Whether you’ll suffer any impairments that limit your future earnings
- How the attack impacts your quality of life
- Your emotional scars
- The nature of the responsible party’s actions
The responsible parties won’t simply hand over fair compensation. In civil cases, you have to prove how much your personal injury case is worth. Our sexual assault attorneys in Los Angeles can help with this complex task. To get started, call our law firm for a free initial consultation today.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Sexual Assault?
Assault victims are entitled to seek compensation for their financial damages and personal, non-financial losses.
Depending on the situation, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Rehabilitation
- Counseling
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement or scarring
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Humiliation
- Damage to personal relationships
- Loss of consortium
Your attacker may also be on the hook for punitive damages. Punitive damages don’t compensate for specific losses. Instead, they punish the attacker for intentional wrongdoing.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Sexual Assault Injuries
Injuries caused by sexual assault can be far-reaching. In fact, you may be entitled to file a claim for damages even if your attacker wasn’t successful in completing the rape.
Our sexual assault lawyers in Los Angeles will fight to recover fair compensation for all of your injuries, including:
While sexual assault is a violent crime that can cause severe physical injuries, victims are often left struggling with emotional scars. Your settlement or verdict should account for those emotional injuries in addition to the physical harm you’ve endured.
We Handle All Types of Sexual Assault Claims in Los Angeles, California
Sexual assault can happen in many different situations.
Our team at M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers handles all types of sexual assault claims, including those involving:
- Date rape
- Domestic violence
- Rape on college campuses
- Muggings
- Clergy member abuse
- Statutory rape
- Sexual abuse of children
- Sexual assault of teenagers
- Nursing home abuse
- Sexual harassment
Sexual assault and battery are never acceptable. Regardless of the circumstances, our Los Angeles sexual assault attorneys are here to fight for you. All you have to do is pick up the phone for the legal advice you need and deserve.
Who Can Be Held Financially Liable for Sexual Assault Injuries in California?
Sexual assault is an intentional tort. Your attacker can be held financially responsible for the injuries you sustained in the attack.
However, it’s also possible that a third party’s negligent acts or omissions allowed the attack to happen in the first place. Under California’s comparative fault rules, those parties can also be held liable for damages.
Most sexual assault injury claims are based on negligent security. Business owners and property owners in California are required to provide adequate security under California premises liability laws. So, if you were injured on someone else’s property, the owner may be liable.
Examples of responsible parties include:
- Colleges and universities
- Hotels
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Apartment complexes
- Bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and other business owners
- Parking garage operators
- Sports complexes and entertainment venues
- The city of Los Angeles and other government agencies
- The sex offender’s employer, if they were working at the time of the attack
A third party’s liability in sexual assault injury cases depends on what types of security would be reasonable under the circumstances. If the attack was reasonably foreseeable and the owner failed to take steps to prevent it, they may be liable for damages even though they never intended to hurt you.
Can I Recover Damages for Sexual Assault if My Attacker Isn’t Convicted?
Possibly. The standard of proof is lower in civil cases. State prosecutors have to prove your attacker was guilty of sexual assault beyond a reasonable doubt.
In civil court, we only have to show that the responsible party’s negligent, reckless or intentional acts caused your injuries by a “preponderance of the evidence.” Essentially, this is a “more likely than not” standard that’s easier to satisfy than the burden of proof in criminal court.
How Long Do I Have to File a Civil Lawsuit After a Sexual Assault in California?
Like any car accident victim, you have a limited amount of time to file a personal injury lawsuit. A two-year statute of limitations applies in California personal injury cases.
Regardless, you may be entitled to more time if criminal charges are pending. The personal injury statute of limitations can be paused or tolled until the criminal case is resolved.
If you or a loved one have been sexually assaulted in Los Angeles County, our lawyers are here to help you fight for justice. Call M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free case review with an experienced Los Angeles sexual assault lawyer today.
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