According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), a person is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds in the United States. This is extremely alarming, as anyone can become a victim of sexual assault with every minute that passes by. Nationally, over 430,000 individuals 12 years of age or older are sexually assaulted or raped in the United States each year.
In Kentucky, “more than 39% of women and 18% of men have experienced contact sexual violence in their lifetime.” More than half of all Kentucky rape victims are minors, and “82% of first victimizations in the state happened before the age of 25.”
If you or your loved one was sexually assaulted or abused in Louisville, you have legal options outside of the criminal courts. In Kentucky, survivors can file a civil lawsuit to recover damages.
The term “sexual assault” encompasses a wide array of abusive behaviors, so a survivor of rape, incest, childhood sexual abuse, or other egregious behavior may be eligible to file a sexual assault claim in Louisville, KY. A family member can also file a sexual assault claim on behalf of the victim if one of the following are true:
The perpetrator of the abuse or assault can be named in a lawsuit, but other parties may also be liable:
In some cases, there may be multiple defendants.
Every sexual assault case is different and unique. Therefore, you must take the time to determine the losses you have suffered since your sexual assault occurred. The most common types of losses that victims of sexual assault often claim are:
A criminal sexual assault claim may result in the perpetrator serving jail time, paying fines, and being put on probation. However, a civil sexual assault claim seeks financial compensation for the damages you have suffered.
If you are thinking about filing a civil sexual assault lawsuit, it is important to know that even if the responsible parties are not convicted of a criminal charge or you do not wish to press criminal charges, you can still file a civil sexual assault lawsuit as long as you have proof that you suffered losses.
Kentucky’s statute of limitations states that you have one year from the date of assault to file a sexual assault claim. Childhood sexual abuse lawsuits can be filed within five years after the individual turns 18 or within five years of discovery.
Experiencing sexual assault can be traumatic and devastating. Therefore, it may be difficult to find the courage to seek help and file a sexual assault claim against the perpetrator. However, with the assistance of a sexual assault attorney, you will have peace of mind knowing that you are represented by a caring and compassionate professional who knows how to help you and hold your abuser accountable for their behaviors.
After you have called 9-1-1 and reported your sexual assault and received the proper healthcare that you need, you may want to consider hiring a sexual assault attorney to help you file a civil lawsuit against the perpetrator. This is a brave step toward getting justice for the harm you suffered and making sure that others do not become victims of sexual assault from the same person.
While you have the option to take on this type of case by yourself, this may be a very overwhelming time in your life, and a difficult legal battle could cause further stress and frustrations. A Louisville sexual assault lawyer handles the obstacles and challenges of the legal process, while you focus on healing and recovering. Some of the different ways that your attorney will assist you include:
