Victims of sexual assault or abuse have the right to sue whoever hurt them for damages. Any sex crime can be eligible for a lawsuit. Rape, sexual battery, sexual abuse of a child, indecent exposure, or any other non-consensual act in the sexual nature can be grounds for a lawsuit. The defendant doesn’t have to be convicted of the crime or even charges before a lawsuit can be filed against them. As a victim of sexual assault or abuse, you can get both punitive and compensatory damages for lost wages or earning capacity (when unable to work), pain and suffering, medical bills, psychological counseling, anxiety, and emotional trauma, to name a few. At Emanuel Law Group, our legal team specializes in representing victims of sexual assault and sexual abuse
Who can sue for sexual assault or abuse in California?
Anyone who has been a victim of an unwanted sexual act can sue for damages. Families of victims may also be eligible to sue if they witnessed the assault, the abuse or assaulted resulted in someone’s death, or if the assault or abuse resulted in loss of companionship or moral support. In a criminal trial, the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, which can be hard to do with this type of crime. However, with a civil lawsuit, we must only establish liability and that more likely than not they committed the crime. In a civil trial only 9 out of 12 (unlike a criminal trial where all 12 must agree) must agree that the defendant was in fact liable. You have two years from the date of the sexual assault to sue for damages in the State of California. For a child who was assaulted or abused, they have until their 40th birthday or 5 years from when the victim discovers that an injury or illness resulted from the crime.
Call to Schedule a Free Consultation With a California sexual assault attorney
If you’ve experienced sexual assault or abuse in California, you need to hire legal representation to file a civil lawsuit for damages. Our experienced legal team at the Emanuel Law Group can help you win the compensation that you deserve for your pain and suffering. We will investigate your case to determine how you’ve been affected by the assault or abuse and can find all available compensation owed to you. Visit our website: Siliconvalleylawyer.net or call us at 1-800-308-0870 and let us give you legal guidance you can rely on. We proudly service clients in our San Mateo, San Francisco, and San Jose offices.
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