Were you or a loved one sexually assaulted in Miami, FL? You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages and your pain and suffering–even if your attacker hasn’t been charged with a crime. An experienced Miami sexual assault lawyer at Lavent Law, P.A., will work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve.
Our attorneys have experience handling even the most complex cases–and we’ve won millions of dollars in compensation for our clients over the years.
We offer a free initial consultation, so don’t hesitate to call our law offices in Miami, Florida, to learn more about your legal rights today.
How Lavent Law, P.A., Can Help With Your Miami Sexual Assault Claim
Sexual assault is an unforgivable crime. It’s also a civil offense that gives victims the right to file a civil claim for compensation. If you’ve been assaulted, you deserve to hold the attacker criminally responsible. However, you’ll probably be left with medical bills, physical pain, and emotional trauma even if your attacker is put behind bars.
You deserve to be compensated for those losses, as well. Unfortunately, that’s not always easy. Insurance companies may seem sympathetic, but at the end of the day, their job is to pay you as little as possible.
An experienced Miami personal injury attorney at Lavent Law, P.A., can help you fight to recover the full range of damages you deserve. When you hire us, you can expect our team to:
- Launch a detailed investigation into your attack
- Identify all parties who might be financially responsible for your injuries
- Work with experts and specialists who can help us assess the value of your case
- Negotiate with the insurance companies and defense lawyers to maximize your compensation award
Are you ready to learn more about how our Miami personal injury lawyers will put our years of experience to work for you? Contact our offices for a free case review today.
How Common Is Sexual Assault in Miami?
Sexual assault is much more common than most people would like to believe. Statistics show that someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds. One in every six women has been a victim of attempted or completed rape in the United States.
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, there were 8,105 rape cases and 331 attempted rape cases in 2018, the last year in which data was reported. Only 1,937 attackers were arrested.
It’s important to remember that sexual assault isn’t always reported. It’s estimated that about 80% of all sexual assaults go unreported–meaning that many more Americans struggle with the pain caused by sex crimes.
What Is My Miami Sexual Assault Case Worth?
It’s important to be prepared before you take any type of legal action. To recover damages, you’ll have to know what your injury case is worth. That means you’ll be required to document your past expenses, estimate your future expenses, and try to put a price tag on your pain and suffering.
Calculating the value of an injury claim is every bit as complex as it sounds. Our experienced attorneys at Lavent Law, P.A., can help.
When valuing your claim, we’ll consider factors such as:
- The nature of your injuries and the cost of your medical treatment
- Whether you’ll suffer a permanent disability
- Your emotional suffering and trauma
- The impact of the ordeal on your quality of life, family, and career
Over the years, we’ve handled many sexual battery claims. We’ve developed relationships with experts and specialists who can offer insight into the fair value of your claim.
Our lawyers know that you’re struggling and we’re here to help in any way we can. To learn more about how we can help you fight for justice, call for your free consultation today.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Sexual Assault?
Filing a personal injury lawsuit in civil court gives you the right to two key forms of damages: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages provide direct reimbursement for past and future expenses, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
Non-economic damages attempt to compensate you for more subjective and personal losses, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
- Loss of consortium
Because sexual assault is a shocking, intentional act, you could be entitled to punitive damages to punish the attacker–even if the attacker is never convicted of a crime.
It isn’t always easy to recover damages from your attacker. Practically speaking, some assailants are never caught. Others might not have the financial resources to cover even your basic expenses.
That doesn’t mean you should back down. You may still have options. Our Miami sexual assault attorneys have handled cases similar to yours in the past. We’ll explore every option to help you get the fair compensation you deserve from anyone who might share responsibility for your suffering.
Ready to learn more? Call today for a free case review.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Sexual Assault Injuries
Victims of sexual assault suffer both physically and emotionally. At Lavent Law, P.A., we’ll help you fight to hold the responsible parties fully accountable for all of your injuries, including:
- Soft tissue damage
- Injuries caused by use of a weapon or foreign object
- Facial injuries
- Injuries to the genitals
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Brain injuries and concussions
- Spinal cord damage
- Nerve damage
- Head and neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Broken bones
- Unwanted pregnancies
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
The memory of your assault can haunt you for years to come. Our attorneys know that, and will also fight to recover compensation for PTSD, anxiety, and depression that you might suffer.
How Do I Know Whether I Have a Valid Sexual Assault Claim in Florida?
Sexual assault in the state of Florida is both a crime and a civil offense. You may be entitled to file a lawsuit for damages in civil court even if a criminal case is pending against your attacker.
You do have the right to sue your attacker for damages. You may also have the right to sue anyone else whose careless or reckless actions allowed the sexual assault to happen.
That means you may be entitled to recover compensation from:
- Property owners
- Your attacker’s employer
- Hotels
- A bar, restaurant, or nightclub
- Other business owners
- Colleges and universities
- Government entities
- A school or daycare
- A place of worship
- Landlords
These lawsuits are almost always based on negligence. The basic premise behind your claim is that you wouldn’t have gotten hurt if the third party had acted reasonably to prevent criminal acts on their property.
Property owners are required to provide adequate security for invited guests and visitors. Florida premises liability laws allow victims of crimes to hold property owners liable for negligent security. More specifically, you can recover compensation if the owner failed to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable criminal activity on the property.
What constitutes “adequate security” can vary depending on where the property is located, the type of business and whether any criminal acts had occurred on the property in the past. Reasonable security might include:
- Hiring security guards
- Installing security cameras
- Installing fences and gates
- Making sure all locks are working
- Providing adequate lighting in parking lots, alleys, and hallways
Failing to take these steps can be considered a form of negligence. In other words, the owner may have breached a legal duty of care and indirectly contributed to the cause of the assault.
Employment Liability Theories
Employers can be held vicariously liable for the acts of employees. If you were sexually assaulted while the attacker was working, you may have a valid claim against the attacker’s employer.
For example, if you were attacked by a server in a dark corner of a restaurant, the restaurant’s owner may be responsible. It’s up to the employer to take reasonable steps to screen and supervise employees who may have a criminal record.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit for Sexual Assault in Florida?
You’ll usually have four years from the date of the attack to file a personal injury lawsuit. That’s true whether you’re suing a property owner, employer or the attacker for committing an intentional tort.
Once the four-year statute of limitations is over, you’ll lose your right to compensation.
We know that the legal system is complicated. When you’re struggling with the aftermath of sexual assault, it can be difficult to take legal action. Our lawyers are here to help in any way that we can. Just call our law firm to schedule your free case review today.
Contact a Miami Sexual Assault Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Were you a victim of sexual assault in Miami? Don’t let those responsible off the hook. Call a Miami sexual assault lawyer at Lavent Law, P.A. for the legal advice you deserve today. Your initial consultation is free, so there’s no risk to learning about your legal options.
This website is for general informational purposes only. Receipt or viewing information on this website does not constitute an attorney client relationship. The information is not intended to create advice for any individual case or situation and viewing does not constitute legal advice.
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