Have you been sexually assaulted in Fort Worth, Texas? Don’t hesitate to contact the compassionate legal team at Anderson Injury Lawyers. As a victim, you have the right to hold your attacker personally accountable for the harm they’ve caused. Our experienced Fort Worth sexual assault lawyers can help you take a stand and fight for the life-changing payout you deserve.
Since 2007, victims of devastating sexual assaults and other violent crimes have turned to Anderson Injury Lawyers for help. As award-winning Texas trial attorneys, we’ve successfully recovered more than $100 million in damages for deserving clients like you.
You don’t have to navigate this difficult time in your life on your own. Trust our top-rated litigators to help you make things right. We offer a free consultation, so contact our law office in Fort Worth, TX, today. You can call us at (817) 294-1900.
How Anderson Injury Lawyers Can Help if You’ve Been Sexually Assaulted in Fort Worth, TX
Sexual assault isn’t just a crime; it’s also a civil offense in the State of Texas. As a result, your attacker can face criminal charges for what they’ve done to you and be sued for the harm you’ve endured.
While the burden of proof in civil sexual assault cases is lower than in criminal matters, it can still be difficult to get the compensation you need and deserve. That’s why you should call our Fort Worth personal injury lawyers for help right away.
At Anderson Injury Lawyers, we’re recognized leaders in personal injury litigation. Founding attorney Mark Anderson is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specializations, while other members of our team are recognized as Super Lawyers, Texas Magazine Top Attorneys, and members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
When you turn to us for help with your civil sexual assault lawsuit, you’ll become part of our family. We’ll do everything in our power to help you obtain the monetary justice you deserve.
Count on us to:
- Thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your sexual assault case
- Identify all potentially liable parties and options for financial recovery
- Assess medical records, witness statements, accident reports, video footage, photographs of your injuries, DNA evidence, and other evidence obtained through discovery
- Navigate any challenges that may arise due to a related criminal sexual assault case
- Bring in expert witnesses to consult throughout the claims process
- Represent you during settlement negotiations with the defense
- Reject unreasonably low settlement offers and bring your sexual assault lawsuit to a Tarrant County jury, if necessary
You’re going through an incredibly difficult time in your life. Anderson Injury Lawyers will be there to help you move forward. We represent victims of sexual assault on contingency, so there’s no fee unless we win compensation for your case.
Contact our Fort Worth law office today to get started. Members of our team are always available – 24/7/365.
How Much Is My Civil Sexual Assault Injury Case Worth?
Sexual assault is an unforgivable crime. When you’re the victim, it can change the course of your life forever. When attempting to determine what your sexual assault injury claim is worth, it’s important to consider your financial costs and how the assault has affected your ability to live, work, and enjoy your life.
Several factors can influence the potential value of your sexual assault injury case:
- What types of physical injuries have you suffered?
- How has the sexual assault affected your quality of life?
- Have you struggled with mental health issues since you were assaulted?
- Have you been able to continue working since you were sexually assaulted?
- Has your income or earning capacity changed?
- What out-of-pocket costs have you had?
- Will you require long-term medical care?
- How old are you?
- Who is liable for your sexual assault?
The best way to get a sense of how much money you might be able to recover in a civil sexual assault case is by speaking with an experienced personal injury lawyer near you in Fort Worth.
At Anderson Injury Lawyers, our highly respected Texas litigators have the experience and resources you’ll need to make the most of this difficult situation.
What Do I Need To Prove To Win a Civil Sexual Assault Case in Fort Worth?
Sexual assault is both a crime and a civil offense involving nonconsensual sexual contact or penetration. However, there is no specific sexual assault tort in the State of Texas. Instead, sexual assault claims are brought on other grounds, including negligence, assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
What you’ll have to prove to win your sexual assault lawsuit will depend on the grounds on which you file your claim.
Negligence
The person who assaulted you isn’t the only one who could be liable. If someone else had a duty to protect you, they could be liable if they were negligent and you were attacked as a result.
For instance, if you were sexually assaulted at someone else’s home, in public, or at a business in Fort Worth, the owner of the premises where the sexual assault took place could be liable. Similarly, an employer could also be liable if the person who sexually assaulted you was working at the time of the attack.
When you bring a negligence action, you’ll need to prove:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care
- The defendant breached this duty
- The defendant’s conduct was the direct and proximate cause of your sexual assault, and
- You’ve suffered damages.
Filing a negligence action against a property owner, school, government agency, or business can help you fully recover your losses in a sexual assault claim. Many times, the person who sexually assaulted you might not have the resources to pay your damages, even if you win your case. By pursuing compensation from other parties, you can help to ensure that you recover the damages you need and deserve.
Assault and Battery
In Texas, many sexual assault lawsuits are based on torts of assault and battery. These are intentional torts, which mean that you’ll need to prove that you were injured because of another person’s intentionally harmful actions.
To win your sexual assault case, you’ll need to prove:
- The defendant intentionally touched you in a sexually-explicit manner
- You did not consent to the sexual contact
- The defendant intended for you to be harmed or feel offended by the sexual advances, and
- You’ve suffered damages.
You can also file a sexual assault lawsuit based on threats of an explicitly harmful sexual nature. However, these threats must be accompanied by an immediate ability to carry them out.
Is Sexual Assault Common in Fort Worth?
According to the Tarrant County Sexual Assault Response Team, hundreds of sexual assaults and other sex crimes are reported in and around Fort Worth every year.
These include rape, statutory rape, molestation, and other sex offenses.
Between October 2021 and September 2023, there were a total of 1,758 sexual assault reports. That’s roughly 2.4 sexual assaults every single day.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Sexual Assault Victims?
When you file a sexual assault lawsuit in Fort Worth, Texas, you can typically seek compensatory and punitive damages.
Compensatory damages fall into two categories: economic and non-economic. Economic damages are intended to offset your verified financial losses, while non-economic damages help you cope with the trauma of being sexually assaulted.
Examples include:
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost wages and earnings
- Disability
- Diminished earning capacity
- Nursing assistance
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement and scarring
Punitive damages can be awarded if your sexual assault lawsuit goes to trial. A jury will have the ability to award punitive damages if there’s evidence that the defendant’s conduct was intentional or grossly negligent.
How Long Do I Have To File a Civil Sexual Assault Lawsuit in Texas?
In Texas, the statute of limitations for most personal injury lawsuits is two years. If you’re an adult who was sexually assaulted, you’ll have two years from the date of the attack to formally sue your attacker or another liable party.
If a child is the victim of sexual assault in Texas, they’ll have 30 years from the date they turn 18 to sue their attacker.
The right to take legal action disappears once the statute of limitations runs out, and there are exceptions to the time limit for some cases. Protect yourself by contacting our Fort Worth sexual assault attorneys for help right away.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Fort Worth Sexual Assault Lawyer
As the victim of a sexual assault in Fort Worth, Texas, you have rights. You can sue your attacker, as well as other parties who may have contributed to your devastating assault. Anderson Injury Lawyers can help you fight for the substantial monetary recovery you deserve.
Our Fort Worth sexual assault lawyers have helped clients like you win in excess of $100 million in settlements and jury awards. We’re acclaimed trial attorneys who’ve been recognized as leaders in Texas personal injury litigation. Benefit from all that we have to offer by reaching out to our Fort Worth law office today to set up a time for your free consultation.
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