Sexual assault is, unfortunately, very common. Sexual assault can occur practically anywhere and at any time. It is common knowledge that victims of sexual assault can take action against their attackers – and depending on the situation, on the attacker’s employer. However, many people do not know what they could have grounds to sue property owners for any sexual assault that occurs on their premises.
If you or a loved one suffered sexual assault at a rental apartment, a rental home, a shopping mall, a bar, an office building, a gym, etc., you could have grounds to file a lawsuit against the property owner or business owner. If you would like to explore the legal options available to you, do not hesitate to contact the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible.
The experts here at the Normandie Law Firm have decades of experience handling personal injury claims and fighting for the rights of our clients. We are ready to handle your sexual assault claim and help you recover the highest payout available. If you are interested in exploring your legal options, contact us at your earliest convenience. Our sexual assault lawsuit lawyers are ready to help you every step of the way.
What is Sexual Assault?
Sexual assault is an umbrella term that covers many different types of sexual misconduct. Sexual assault includes the following:
- Rape
- Attempted rape
- Molestation
- Unwanted touching, unwanted groping, unwanted touching, unwanted fondling, etc.
- Forcing the victim to perform any sexual act, including oral sex
- Any unwanted sexual conduct
Many people mistakenly believe that sexual assault only consists of rape and attempted rape. This is a harmful misconception that often leads to other types of sexual assault to be disregarded. It is important to recognize all types of sexual assault and its lasting consequences.
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The Harm Resulting from Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is likely to have lasting effects on the victims.
Some of the physical harm that can be associated with sexual assault includes the following:
- Injury to reproductive organs
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Fractures
- Scrapes and bruises
- Lacerations
Some of the mental and emotional harm that can be associated with sexual assault includes the following:
- Depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Fear
Many victims of sexual assault suffer long-term consequences. Even if their physical injuries fully heal, the mental and emotional injuries resulting from the incident can be lifelong.
Who is Liable for Sexual Assault on Different Types of Properties?
Who is liable for sexual assault? Many people think that the answer to this question is obvious, that the only person liable for sexual assault is the attacker. However, other parties could also be liable. For instance, if the attacker was hired by a school, a business, etc., then these parties/entities could be liable on the basis of negligent hiring, for example.
How does liability work on different types of properties? Before we dive in, it is important to mention that all the property owners listed below can potentially be liable for sexual assault that occurs on their property:
- Landlords of rental houses, rental duplex units, ADU’s, backhouses and owners of apartment buildings
- Owners and operators of shopping malls, strip malls, shopping centers, stores, etc.
- Owners of nightclubs, bars, and other nighttime establishments
- Owners of office buildings
- Owners and operators of hospitals, emergency rooms, urgent care hospitals, doctor’s offices, etc.
- Owners and operators or nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, physical therapy centers, etc.
- Owners of gyms, dance studios, workout centers, training centers, etc.
- Owners and operators of hotel chains, motel chains, extended living facilities, assisted living facilities, etc.
Why can these property owners be held liable? These property owners and business owners can be held liable for sexual assault, rape, molestation, etc. based on the concept of premise liability. Based on premise liability, all property owners have a duty to keep their premises safe and free of any dangerous conditions that could potentially lead to or increase the risk of incidents. They must identify and address these hazards. If they fail to do so, then they can directly contribute to incidents and be liable for resulting harm.
It is important to note the hazards and dangerous conditions that could ultimately contribute to sexual assault incidents at apartment buildings, shopping malls, hospitals, gyms, hotels, and all the other different types of properties mentioned above. These hazards can include the following: a lack of appropriate security (including no on-site security), no surveillance cameras, untrained security guards, untrained employees, no safety protocol in place, poorly lit areas, isolated areas, unrestricted access to the property, etc. All of these dangerous conditions can increase the risk of sexual assault incidents happening.
Some property owners argue that they couldn’t have known that a sexual assault incident could have occurred on their property. This could be a valid defense given that there were no dangerous conditions on their property. However, in properties where sexual assault incidents have previously occurred (at the property or nearby), property owners have no way to claim that they were unaware of the risk of sexual assault.
For more information about how different property owners and business orders could be liable for sexual assault, including rape and molestation, that occurs on their property, do not hesitate to contact the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible.
Your Right to Sue
As mentioned above, there are different parties that could be liable for sexual assault. Depending on where the sexual assault occurred, you could have grounds to sue one of the parties mentioned above. Can I sue my landlord for sexual assault? Can I sue the owner of a shopping mall for sexual assault? Can I sue a bar owner for sexual assault? Can I sue the office building owner for sexual assault? Yes – you can sue these property owners and other property/business owners for sexual assault that occurred on their premises. For more information about your right to file your sexual assault lawsuit, do not hesitate to contact the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible.
What Compensation Can I Recover for a Sexual Assault Lawsuit?
Based on the details surrounding the sexual assault incident and the harm suffered, you could have grounds to file a lawsuit and potentially recovery compensation. What compensation can I receive if I sue for sexual assault? The type of compensation that you could recover could include the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
- Legal costs
For more information about the type and amount of compensation that you could recover, do not hesitate to contact the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible. Our lawyers are completely dedicated to helping you recover the highest settlement available for your claim. Whether we have to negotiate a settlement or take your claim to trial, you can trust that our lawyers are ready to go above it all to get you the highest recovery available for your sexual assault claim.
The Time to Sue for a Sexual Assault Incident
All claims are subject to a statute of limitations. A statute of limitations determines the total length of time that claimants have to file their lawsuits. If claimants fail to file their claims on time, then they can lose their right to sue.
How long do you have to sue for sexual assault? In the state of California, the law states that victims of sexual assault have ten years from the date of the incident to pursue a claim. If the victim was a minor at the time of the incident, then the statute of limitations will not begin until after the victim is legally an adult. Even though you could have up to ten years to file your claim, we recommend that you act promptly so that your claim can be resolved and you can recover the payout that you are owed in a timely manner. For more information about the time that you have to file your sexual assault lawsuit, contact the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible.
Contact the Normandie Law Firm Today
Were you or a loved one sexually assaulted? Depending on the details surrounding the incident, you could have grounds to file a lawsuit against the property owner – given that the property owner’s negligence contributed to the incident in some way. If you are ready to discuss your legal options with the experts here at our law firm, contact us immediately. The lawyers here at the Normandie Law Firm have decades of experience handling all sorts of personal injury claims, including sexual assault claims. We are not afraid to take on any property owner or business owner to protect the rights of our clients and get them the highest recovery available. If you are ready to speak with our sexual assault lawyers, contact us today.
Here at our law firm, we always aim to remain accessible for those looking for legal help. We offer free legal services, which include free consultations and free second opinions. During these legal services, our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions, address all your concerns, and provide you with the guidance that you need to begin or continue your lawsuit. To benefit from these free legal services, contact the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible.
Our Zero-Fee guarantee ensures that our clients will not have to worry about upfront legal costs. In addition, our law firm works on a strict contingency structure; therefore, our clients will never be required to pay anything until after winning your claim. If you do not win, you will not be required to pay any legal costs whatsoever.
For more information about your legal options, contact us today.
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