Louisville Sexual Assault Lawyer
Have you been the victim of a sexual assault in Louisville, KY? You could be entitled to recover significant compensation for your medical bills, emotional trauma, and more. Contact HJV Car Accident Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation with a Louisville sexual assault lawyer at (502) 540 5700.
We understand that the time after a sexual assault can be extremely difficult for victims, and our caring and compassionate lawyers have decades of combined experience helping injured victims like you. We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for these victims, and we are ready to help you, too.
How HJV Car Accident Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Sexual Assault in Louisville
Sexual assault claims can be much more complex than traditional personal injury claims. Not only might these claims be intertwined with criminal charges, but they could involve multiple defendants.
Thankfully, the team at HJV Car Accident Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help. Our personal injury attorneys in Louisville, KY will help you with every step of your claim, including:
- Investigating your assault to uncover all the details
- Identifying all potential defendants to determine who has liability
- Gathering evidence to help prove your case
- Reviewing all your medical records to put an accurate value on your case
- Assessing all available insurance coverage and other sources of compensation
- Settling your claim for maximum compensation
- Taking your case to court if a settlement cannot be reached
Navigating the legal complexities of a sexual assault claim in Louisville, Kentucky, without the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer can be challenging.
Call our legal team today, and let us handle every aspect of your legal claim.
What Kinds of Damages Can I Recover From My Sexual Assault Claim?
Victims of sexual assault are typically entitled to recover both economic and non-economic damages. This means that you can recover compensation for your financial losses as well as your physical and emotional pain and trauma.
Some common types of losses in sexual assault cases include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- PTSD
- Mental anguish
- Depression
- Anxiety
Kentucky law also allows for the award of punitive damages in some cases. Intentional torts, such as sexual assault, often qualify for punitive damages. To obtain an award of punitive damages, the victim must show by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with “oppression, fraud, or malice.”
Kentucky does not place a cap on the amount of punitive damages that may be awarded. However, punitive damages must be supported by the evidence and not deemed excessive.
In addition to your civil claim, the perpetrator may also face criminal charges, which are prosecuted separately by the state and can result in imprisonment or other penalties.
Who Could Be Held Liable for Sexual Assault in Kentucky?
Not only can your attacker be held liable for their conduct, but others may also have liability if their negligence led to your assault.
For example, imagine that a hotel has inadequate lighting and no security in its parking lot. They are also aware of similar crimes that have been committed within a two-block area of the hotel. Upon your visit to the hotel, you are sexually assaulted in the parking lot. You may be able to hold the hotel responsible for your injuries due to their negligent security practices.
How Common Are Sexual Assaults?
Sexual assaults are one of the most common violent crimes committed in Kentucky. In fact, 24% of all violent victimizations involved a sexual assault in 2019. Additionally, there were 68 sexual assaults for every 100,000 people in the state. Most of these sexual assaults are committed by an offender that the victim already knows, such as a family member, co-worker, clergy member, or other acquaintance.
How Long Do I Have to File a Sexual Assault Lawsuit in Kentucky?
After a sexual assault, your time to file a claim for damages is limited. In most cases, victims of sexual assault have one year from the date of the assault to file a lawsuit for damages. This is a fairly short deadline, so you should get help from an experienced lawyer as soon as possible.
Missing the deadline to file your lawsuit can completely bar you from recovering any compensation for your injuries.
Contact Our Louisville Sexual Assault Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you have been the victim of a sexual assault in Louisville, KY, the experienced team at HJV Car Accident Personal Injury Lawyers is here to support you. We will begin investigating your case immediately to determine who may share responsibility. You do not have to go through this difficult time alone, so let us help you fight for the justice you deserve.
Call us now to schedule your free consultation with a Louisville sexual assault lawyer.