How a Proven Lawyer Can Help When You Have Been a Victim of Sexual Assault
When you’ve been the victim of an unsolicited sexual assault, your first inclination can be to try to forget about it, or to leave the matter exclusively to the criminal justice system. But a sexual assault can have far-reaching consequences. The pain, fear or shame associated with it can make it difficult or impossible for you to move forward with your life.
You may be unable to work. You may find it difficult to trust anyone, making it challenging to spend time with friends or family. It can cause you to stop doing things you used to enjoy and can make even the simplest tasks of daily life a struggle. That’s why you need to hold the perpetrator financially responsible.
What Is Sexual Assault in Texas?
Under Texas criminal law, sexual assault can take many forms:
- The sexual abuse of a person unable to consent due to disability or mental incapacity
- Intercourse and penetration with another adult without consent
- Intercourse, penetration, or sexual contact with a minor
- Forcible or violent intercourse, penetration or sexual contact, even when there is consent
- Coercive sexual acts
Filing a Lawsuit When You Have Been Sexually Assaulted in Dallas
When you have been the victim of sexual assault in Texas, you have the right to file a civil lawsuit to recover compensation for your losses. With such a claim, you can seek damages (monetary compensation) for a wide range of injuries and losses, including:
- Unreimbursed medical expenses, including mental, emotional, or psychological counseling
- Loss of income or wages, both as an immediate result of the attack and into the future
- The physical, mental, and emotional pain and suffering caused by the assault
- Any reduction in the quality of your life as a consequence of the attack, from a diminished ability to enjoy the day-to-day activities of life to a loss of interest in social activities, sports, or hobbies
- The inability to be in close relationships with family or friends, or to be involved in intimate relationships
Texas courts have also allowed victims of sexual assault to recover punitive damages in a civil claim.
Why You Need an Experienced Lawyer to Handle Your Sexual Assault Claim
It’s critical, in the aftermath of a sexual assault, that you retain experienced legal counsel to protect your rights. A proven attorney will:
- Understand the most effective ways to gather evidence, as well as the types of evidence that will be most compelling to a judge and jury
- Have a comprehensive knowledge of your rights and the different claims you can make, as well as the issues that can be potential stumbling blocks in a civil lawsuit
- Help can make good decisions about pursuing a settlement or taking your case to trial
- Ensure that all pleadings are filed in a timely manner, so that you don’t risk violating the statute of limitations or other court-mandated deadlines
- Protect your confidentiality at all times
- Help minimize your contact with the perpetrator
At the law office of Bailey & Galyen, we offer a free initial consultation to every client. To speak with a results-oriented attorney about your sexual assault claim, contact us by email or call us at 844-402-2992. You also can call our offices at one of the convenient locations listed below. We will take your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
