Have you been sexually assaulted in Austin, Texas? If so, don’t hesitate to contact Anderson Injury Lawyers at (512) 399-5000 today to schedule a free consultation. You have rights as a victim of abuse, including the ability to demand compensation from your attacker. An experienced Austin sexual assault lawyer can help you fight for the financial justice you deserve.
Since our opening, we’ve helped clients across the state of Texas recover more than $100,000,000 in settlements and jury awards in the wake of life-changing accidents and acts of violence. Discover how we can make a difference in your civil sexual assault lawsuit by contacting our Austin law office today. Your first consultation is free.
Why Choose Anderson Injury Lawyers for Help if You’ve Been Sexually Assaulted in Austin, TX
You’ve been violated. You deserve justice. You’ll only have one shot at it, though. The best way to do that is by hiring an experienced, aggressive Austin personal injury lawyer you can trust to take charge of your sexual assault lawsuit. Victims of abuse in Austin, TX, trust Anderson Injury Lawyers with these personal, high-stakes legal cases because we deliver compassionate and powerful legal representation during life’s most difficult times.
Members of our team are:
- Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- Texas Magazine Top Attorneys
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent litigators
- Super Lawyers
- Members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
We’re also highly rated by former clients on Google, Avvo, and other trusted platforms because we’re knowledgeable, experienced, and highly respected litigators with a multi-million-dollar track record of success.
When your life has been turned upside down by a senseless act of sexual violence, you’ll be able to count on our personal injury law firm to fight for you. We offer a free consultation with an Austin personal injury attorney, so contact us today to discuss the details of your sexual abuse lawsuit.
What Is Sexual Assault?
Broadly speaking, sexual assault is intentional, non-consensual sexual contact with another person. Sexual assault can happen when an abuser touches their victim in a sexually explicit manner, or when the abuser forces their victim to touch them in a sexually explicit way.
It can include:
- Molestation
- Groping
- Rape
- Sodomy
Sexual assault isn’t just a criminal offense in the Lone Star State. It’s also a flagrant violation of a victim’s right to be free from avoidable harm. So, when there’s an act of sexual assault, the perpetrator can face both criminal charges brought by the state and a civil lawsuit brought by the victim.
In Texas, there isn’t a specific sexual assault tort. Instead, sexual assault claims can be brought on the grounds of intentional torts like assault, battery, or intentional infliction of emotional distress. In some cases, especially in situations where someone other than the abuser is being sued, sexual assault lawsuits can also be based on the tort of negligence.
Who Can Be Liable For Sexual Assault in Austin?
More parties than you might think could potentially be liable for sexual assault in Austin, TX. Depending on the circumstances, responsible parties may include:
- Your abuser: The person who commits the sexual assault can be held liable for the harm they cause. Civil claims against an abuser may involve assault, battery, or intentional infliction of emotional distress.
- An employer: An employer may be liable when its negligent hiring, supervision, or retention contributes to sexual abuse by an employee. These claims may arise when an employer knew or should have known that an employee posed a risk and failed to take appropriate action.
- A property owner: A property owner may face liability when a failure to provide adequate security contributes to a reasonably foreseeable sexual assault. Examples can include inadequate lighting, defective locks, poorly trained security personnel, or failure to address previous incidents on the property.
- Nursing homes and hospitals: Healthcare and residential facilities may be liable when negligent hiring, supervision, security, or other failures contribute to the sexual abuse of a patient or resident.
- Schools and other institutions: Schools, universities, churches, and other organizations may face liability when their negligence contributes to sexual abuse. This can include failing to investigate reports of misconduct or adequately supervise staff members.
Depending on the circumstances, more than one party may be responsible for the harm caused by a sexual assault. Our Austin sexual assault attorneys can investigate what happened, identify potentially liable parties, and pursue available compensation from those responsible.
What’s My Sexual Assault Claim Worth?
It depends. Everyone who is sexually assaulted has a different experience. The details that make your story unique will drive the value of your civil sexual assault lawsuit.
As our Austin sexual assault attorneys build your case and assess its value, we’ll consider:
- The specific physical injuries you’ve sustained and the severity of each one
- The type of medical treatment you’ll probably need to recover from your injuries
- The ways in which the sexual assault is projected to change your quality of life
- How the sexual assault and resulting trauma will affect your ability to work, now and in the future
- Who can be held liable for the sexual assault
The more your life changes, and the more costs you have because you’ve been sexually abused in Austin, the more your legal claim for damages can be worth.
What Damages Can Be Awarded to Victims of Sexual Assault?
Just like with other types of personal injury lawsuits, you can pursue two types of compensatory damages in a sexual assault case: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are awarded to alleviate your financial burdens, which might include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Personal care assistance
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Diminished earning capacity
Non-economic damages are paid to acknowledge the trauma you have and will endure as a victim of sexual assault, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Chronic pain
- Physical scarring
- Embarrassment
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages can also be pursued in sexual assault claims that are based on allegations of intentional misconduct or gross negligence.
How Much Does It Cost To Pursue a Civil Sexual Assault Lawsuit?
There’s no out-of-pocket cost to hire our Austin sexual assault lawyers. We represent clients on a contingent basis, which means we only recover a fee if we win compensation for your sexual assault case. Our fee comes out of the monetary award. If we don’t recover compensation in your sexual assault case, you owe us nothing.
What’s the Statute of Limitations for Civil Sexual Assault Lawsuits in Texas?
Deadlines for filing a civil sexual assault lawsuit depend on how old you were when you were abused. For adults, the statute of limitations is five years from the last date of sexual abuse. For individuals who were abused as children, certain civil sexual abuse claims have a 30-year statute of limitations.
Don’t let the broad statute of limitations delay your claim. The sooner evidence can be preserved, and the sooner our team can investigate your case, the better your chances of recovering the life-changing monetary award you need and deserve.
Call Our Experienced Austin Sexual Assault Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Don’t struggle with the consequences of sexual abuse in Austin, TX, alone. Demand that your abuser be held accountable for the harm and trauma they’ve caused by calling Anderson Injury Lawyers.
Our Austin sexual assault attorneys are experienced and respected legal advocates who aren’t afraid to take on tough cases and tough defendants when our clients have been wronged. We’ll handle the fight for justice so that you can have the time you need to focus on coping with this traumatic experience and figuring out a path forward.
We offer a free consultation, so contact our office to get started today.