Sexual abuse and assault affect thousands of Americans per year.  Tragically, every nine minutes, the victim is a child. Most of those perpetrators are never held accountable–either criminally or civilly–for their wrongdoing. In Washington ,non-consensual sexual contact is against the law; there are a variety of sexual abuse and sexual assault crimes recognized by the state. While a person who commits sexual assault should absolutely be prosecuted by a criminal court, the outcome of a criminal case will not yield any form of monetary compensation for a victim. A victim must bring forth a civil action against the perpetrator for damages. 

Our Spokane sex abuse and assault injury attorneys at the law firm of Albrecht Law, PLLC can help. Call (509) 495-1246 now.

Can I File a Lawsuit if I’m a Victim of Sexual Abuse or Assault?

If you are a victim of sexual abuse, sexual assault, or assault, you should report the crime to the proper authorities immediately. You may also retain the right to file a civil action, for the purpose of recouping monetary damages, against your assailant. In addition to the person who committed the crime against you, you may also be able to file an action against the owner of the property where the incident occurred if you can prove negligent security. Negligent security is a theory of premises liability that holds that a property owner has a duty to provide the degree of security that is reasonable to prevent harm to those who enter the property. 

You can successfully bring a premises liability claim against a business or entity where your sexual assault/assault occurred if you can prove that:

• The business has a responsibility to implement a reasonable amount of security;
• The business breached this duty by failing to maintain reasonable security; and
• The sexual abuse or assault would not have occurred but for the lack of reasonable security. 

Damages Recoverable in a Sexual Abuse or Assault Claim

Sexual abuse and assault can result in both physical and psychological injuries to a victim. Much like other personal injury case types, a victim of sexual assault maintains the right to bring forth a claim for the full value of their economic and noneconomic losses, including:

• Lost wages related to the incident;
• Medical expenses; 
• Costs of mental health/psychological care;
• Emotional pain and suffering; and
• Exemplary damages, which are available when the plaintiff can prove that the conduct of the plaintiff was malicious or “taken in reckless disregard of plaintiffs’ rights.” 

The Statute of Limitations on a Sexual Assault Case

It can be difficult to take action after a sexual abuse or assault case; oftentimes, victims go years without telling anyone what has happened to them. Our lawyers understand how traumatic abuse or assault can be; however, if you do not act within three years from the date of the incident, you will be forever barred from recovery. When you work with our lawyers, we will work hard to protect your privacy and your rights throughout the entire process. We know how sensitive these cases can be and will try to avoid a public trial. 

Call Our Top Rated Spokane Sex Abuse and Assault Injury Lawyers Today

If you are the victim of sex abuse or assault that results in injury, you deserve to be compensated. Our lawyers are here to help. To schedule a free consultation with our Spokane personal injury attorneys and learn more about your rights and how we can assist you, please call us or send us a message directly. 

To learn more, please call (509) 495-1246 today or send us a message. We are here to serve you.