Survivors of sexual assault have the legal right to seek financial recovery from perpetrators of sexual violence and those who turn a blind eye to wrongful actions.
D. Miller & Associates, PLLC® can help you with a civil claim or lawsuit to hold your assaulter and other negligent parties accountable. Our sexual assault lawyers serving Dallas will fight for monetary awards for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.
Thousands of Sexual Assaults Occur in Texas
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) received reports of more than 18,000 sexual assaults in 2017. According to the Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center (DARCC), sexual assault encompasses any form of sexual violence or nonconsensual sexual activity, including:
- Attempted rape
- Rape
- Marital rape
- Statutory rape
- Incest
- Unwanted touching
- Child sexual abuse
- Sexual harassment and threats
- Forced oral sex and forced sex acts
Assistance for Dallas Survivors
If you or a loved one suffered a sexual assault, help is available. You can contact DARCC at 972-641-7273 to learn about options for care and support. You can also contact the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN), the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, on its 24/7 National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 or via chat at online.rainn.org.
Our sexual assault lawyers serving Dallas can help you learn more about your options for taking legal action to pursue financial recovery. Our firm offers no obligation, free case evaluations.
Sexual Assault Can Lead to Physical, Psychological, and Financial Suffering
In addition to injuries sustained during an assault, survivors can experience a range of long-term physical, mental, and emotional health problems. According to RAINN, potential conditions include:
- Unplanned pregnancy
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Alcohol and drug abuse problems
- Eating disorders
- Depression, fear, and anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Flashbacks
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Sleep problems
- Dissociative disorders
- Self-harm and suicidal ideation
Sexual assault can also affect survivors economically. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) reports that survivors suffer an average of more than $240,000 in lost income over a lifetime due to lost educational and employment opportunities.
Our Sexual Assault Attorneys Can Help You Seek Fair Financial Recovery
Sexual assault is a devastating crime with far-reaching and lasting consequences for those harmed. We believe you should not suffer further because of expenses connected to your assault. Our attorneys will work tirelessly to secure the awards you deserve, which may include:
- Medical bills. We can fight for awards to pay for your current and future medical treatment. Damages may include the cost of emergency department services, testing, medical procedures, prescription drugs, hospitalizations, doctor visits, physical therapy, and mental health care.
- Pain and suffering. Sexual assault can rob you of your peace and security, changing how you live and interact with friends and loved ones. We can pursue financial awards for your emotional suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life. We can also seek damages for severe and disabling injuries, physical suffering, and chronic pain.
- Lost income. We can recover back pay, tips, bonuses, and other earnings lost due to physical and psychological sexual assault injuries. We can also pursue awards for lost earning capacity.
D. Miller & Associates, PLLC® has served injury clients since 2002. We understand that monetary recovery can never fully erase the damages done by an assault. However, we hope financial awards can provide you with a sense of justice and help you move forward.
Who Is Liable for Sexual Assault?
Civil liability for your assault rests with the perpetrator and individuals and institutions whose negligent actions allowed their wrongdoing.
Sadly, many sexual assault survivors know their victims. According to Texas DPS, in 2017, around 11 percent of assault perpetrators were romantic partners, 45 percent were family members, and about 54 percent were friends, acquaintances, and strangers.
Additionally, DPS reports that more than 14,000 sexual assaults occurred in private residences, and thousands more happened at schools, colleges, hotels, motels, bars, and nightclubs. Our sexual assault attorneys can help you take action against all those involved with your attack, including:
- Landlords
- Commercial and residential property owners
- Religious leaders
- Churches
- Teachers
- School administrators
- Employers, managers, and supervisors
- Coworkers
- Clients and customers
- Negligent security firms
Building Your Sexual Assault Case
We want to help you build a robust case and protect you from interactions with insurance agents and opposing counsel that could cause you further harm. Let us be your advocate and your ally. We will worry about your case while you focus on healing.
Our team will:
- Collect case evidence, including witness testimony, medical records, police reports, and surveillance video
- Identify your damages and fight for every dollar owed to you
- Handle all case-related communications (hopefully saving you from giving repeated accounts of your assault)
- Represent you during negotiations or at trial if necessary
- Make ourselves available to answer your questions and address your concerns
- Provide frequent case updates
- Serve you with compassion, respect, and professionalism
Texas’s Sexual Assault Statute of Limitations
Texas law establishes separate sexual assault statutes of limitations for adult and child survivors. Survivors who experience sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, trafficking, and compelled sex work as adults have five years from the time of the incident to take civil action.
Survivors who experience sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, or sexual abuse as children have up to 30 years from the time of the incident to pursue a case. The extended deadline is due to the recognition that child sexual assault survivors often struggle to disclose abuse, often years into adulthood.
Call D. Miller & Associates, PLLC® Today to Discuss Your Dallas County Case
D. Miller & Associates, PLLC® is serious about helping the injured get justice. We want to assist you with seeking fair financial recovery, and we want to do it in a way that minimizes your stress and reduces the chances of further trauma. Our team will be here for you every step of the way. From meeting you wherever is most convenient to holding Facebook live streams to answer your questions, we strive to make ourselves accessible to our clients and responsive to their needs.
Our sexual assault lawyers serving Dallas will listen to you and be your voice. Contact us today to get started with a free case evaluation.
