Have you been sexually assaulted in Friendswood, Texas? The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers can help when you call (281) 992-8633. We offer a free consultation with a Friendswood sexual assault lawyer who can listen to your story and explain your legal options.
Sexual assault is not only a serious crime—it’s a violation of your rights. You may have the right to seek compensation from your attacker or others who enabled the harm. Our award-winning Texas trial attorneys are committed to helping survivors fight for justice.
Call today to schedule your free, confidential case review.
Why Victims of Sexual Assault in Friendswood Turn to The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers for Legal Help
At The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers, we’re proud to serve survivors of sexual assault in Friendswood, TX, with compassion, strength, and proven legal skill. Here are just a few reasons why so many victims trust our team during some of the most difficult moments of their lives:
- Our attorneys bring more than 58 years of combined legal experience to every case we handle.
- We’ve secured over $500 million in verdicts and settlements for clients by holding powerful corporations, government agencies, and individuals accountable.
- Our team includes members of the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
- Several of our attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers, and named among the Top 100 Texas Super Lawyers.
- We are double Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization—an honor held by only a small percentage of Texas attorneys.
There’s no charge for an initial case review. Contact our law office to arrange your consultation with a Friendswood personal injury attorney today.
How Do I Win a Civil Sexual Assault Case?
Sexual assault is an intentional act. It occurs when another person intentionally touches you or forces you to touch another person in a non-consensual and explicitly sexual manner.
Criminal definitions of sexual assault tend to include rape, molestation, and sodomy. Since these are done purposefully, the perpetrator can be sued for an intentional tort – including assault.
When you bring a civil sexual assault case against your abuser in the state of Texas, you’ll need to prove:
- The defendant acted intentionally
- The defendant attempted to or successfully made harmful or offensive physical contact with you
- The sexual contact or activity occurred without your consent
- You’ve suffered damages
Unlike criminal cases, where the burden of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt, you have to prove your civil sexual assault claim by a preponderance of the evidence. Based on your claim, a jury (or another factfinder) has to be compelled to believe that your side of the story is more likely true than not.
Can I Sue a Third Party for Sexual Assault?
Yes, in some cases. While the person who assaulted you is directly responsible, other parties may also be liable—such as property owners or employers.
If the assault happened on someone else’s property, you may have a premises liability claim. Property owners and businesses have a legal duty to protect visitors from foreseeable harm. If they knew—or should have known—about a risk of sexual violence on their premises and failed to act, they may be held responsible.
You might also have a claim against an employer if the perpetrator was working at the time of the assault. Employers can sometimes be held liable for negligent hiring, poor supervision, or, in some cases, under vicarious liability if the assault occurred within the scope of employment.
Each situation is unique, so it’s important to speak with an attorney to explore all potential avenues for compensation.
How Much Money Could My Sexual Assault Claim Be Worth?
It’s hard to say exactly how much money you might be able to recover through a civil sexual assault lawsuit. A lot depends on the specific facts of your case. Factors that can influence your case value include:
- What types of physical injuries have you suffered?
- What out-of-pocket costs have you had?
- Has the sexual assault affected your ability to work?
- How has the quality of your life changed?
- Who’s liable for the sexual assault?
The more your life is shattered by the sexual assault, and the more severely you’re injured and traumatized, the more compensation you can potentially expect to receive in a settlement or in a verdict at trial.
What Compensation Can I Get if I Sue for Sexual Assault in Texas?
When you file a civil sexual assault lawsuit in Texas, you’ll have the opportunity to seek compensatory damages from your abuser and, if applicable, other liable parties. Compensatory damages fall into two different categories: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are awarded to help you navigate the objective financial burdens of the sexual assault, which might include:
- Emergency room treatment, hospitalization, diagnostic tests, surgery, and other current medical bills
- Reasonably necessary future medical expenses
- Therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Disability
Non-economic damages are awarded to acknowledge the more subjective, but no less devastating, consequences of being sexually assaulted, and could include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement
- Physical scarring
- Embarrassment
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Depression and anxiety
Since sexual assault is an intentional act, punitive damages can also be on the table if your lawsuit gets to trial. In these situations, a jury has the discretion to award additional compensation as punishment for the defendant’s malicious actions.
Sexual Assault Can Cause Devastating Injuries and Trauma
Victims of sexual assault don’t just suffer emotional trauma. They can also suffer serious and debilitating physical wounds.
The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight to recover compensation for your physical injuries, including:
- Broken bones
- Facial injuries
- Cuts and lacerations
- Crushing injuries
- Sprains, strains, and other soft tissue injuries
- Contusions and bruising
- Eye injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Leg injuries
- Chest injuries
- Nerve damage
If someone you love was killed during a sexual assault in Friendswood, our experienced Texas wrongful death attorneys can help you fight to hold their abuser accountable for the terrible grief and suffering their actions have caused.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Sexual Assault Attorney in Friendswood?
Don’t stress about attorney fees when you turn to The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers for help. We represent victims of sexual assault on a contingency fee basis. You’ll pay nothing until we’ve secured a settlement or won a verdict for you at trial.
When we win, our attorney fees are deducted from that monetary award. If we don’t win your sexual assault lawsuit, you’ll pay us nothing at all.
What Is the Statute of Limitations on Civil Sexual Assault Lawsuits in Texas?
Statutes of limitations in Texas for sexual assault depend on the victim’s age. For adult victims of sexual assault, the statute of limitations is typically five years from the last date of abuse. For children who are sexually assaulted, the statute of limitations runs until their 45th birthday.
The statute of limitations can potentially be tolled if the victim doesn’t discover they were sexually assaulted until much later in life or if the abuser is facing criminal charges. You have to file your civil sexual assault lawsuit before the applicable filing deadline expires.
Once time runs out, the right to hold your abuser personally responsible for the harm they’ve inflicted disappears.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Friendswood Sexual Assault Lawyer
Call The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers if you or someone you love has been the victim of sexual assault in Friendswood, TX. You have the right to take legal action against the abuser, and working with our top-rated Friendswood sexual assault lawyers can help you get the justice you deserve.
We’re an award-winning personal injury law firm that’s helped clients win hundreds of millions of dollars in monetary awards. Backed by 58+ years of collective legal experience, we can offer the depth of knowledge and winning legal strategies you’ll need to make your fight for compensation a success.
Your first case evaluation is free, so reach out to our legal team in Friendswood for help today.
