The term sexual assault tends to connote images of violent sex acts when in reality, sexual assaults are often violent but there is also a very wide range of less-violent seeming reasons that today, too many people are in need of an experienced sexual assault lawyer Washington DC community members have come to trust.
What Constitutes Sexual Assault?
An act of sexual assault or sexual misconduct can take on many different forms. Behaviors that are considered appropriate in a consensual, adult relationship can be considered inappropriate between strangers or co-workers or relatives or others- when they are instigated by one person and the other person attempts to refuse their advances, or the other person is not in a position where they can refuse these advances. There are many situations where an act of sexual assault occurs in a consensual relationship when one person attempts to refuse the advances of their partner even though they may have consented to this same or similar behavior in the past. A sexual offense does not require sexual intercourse to warrant criminal charges.
If you think that you or a loved one has been a victim of sexual assault you may be entitled to seek monetary compensation through a personal injury case. If you are unsure of whether or not you or a loved one has a case against their attacker, talking to a sexual assault lawyer Washington DC residents know they can rely on, may help you to make an informed decision about this.
Damages from Sexual Assault
Regardless of the nature of the assault, regardless of whether the assault can be tried as a criminal case, regardless of whether the victim has been left with scars that are not visible or scars and damages that are visible- victims of a sexual assault often do not fully recover from the damages they suffered during and as a result of their assault.
While no amount of money can take back or repair the psychological and emotional damage and/or physical damages that a sexual assault often causes, seeking compensation for the damages someone has suffered can be a key part of a victim’s healing process. Doing this alone can be overwhelming and stressful. In order to understand the legal aspects of your particular and highly unique case, it is recommended that victims of sexual assault and their families seek the advice of an experienced and compassionate sexual assault lawyer Washington DC is proud to have on its side.
Who Can be Sexually Assaulted?
Anyone can be sexually assaulted. People of any age, gender, race, socio-economic level, education, physical level of fitness, level of cognitive ability, physical dis/abilities, sexual orientation- can be sexually abused in the form of one, or repeated acts over time. The nature of sexual assaults and how deeply they can affect an individual’s sense of self and self-worth, can change a person’s future abilities to be in successful relationships and intimate situations.
Talking about a sexual assault can often feel just as bad or even worse than the act itself. It is important to have an understanding and licensed sexual assault lawyer Washington DC citizens have come to trust, to guide you through these difficult and sensitive matters.
According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, about 20 percent of adult women and 5-10 percent of adult men recall being sexually abused at some point in their lives. And these are just the individuals who are in a place in their lives where they want to and feel comfortable enough to tell others of their abuse. Some victims suffer from physical and mental symptoms that last longer than the physical injuries incurred during the abuse. These and other harmful effects of injuries from an assault are ones that victims may be able to seek compensation for.
If you or someone you love is a victim of sexual assault, or if you are not sure whether an incident one of you has endured would be considered this, contact a sexual assault attorney Washington DC has relied on in the past, to help you with this difficult time and the difficult decisions you may be facing.
If you have been a victim of sexual assault and/or harassment, you may be thinking about reaching out to a sexual assault lawyer Washington DC victims trust. Over the past few months, there has been a watershed of allegations against men who held positions of power – in the entertainment industry, journalism, and politics – by women and men who have shown remarkable courage in coming forward and exposing these offenders.
Many of these victims have also reached out to sexual assault lawyers to advocate for them and have moved forward with filing lawsuits against the men who assaulted them.
As each week goes by, it seems new victims come forward and another alleged offender is exposed. In the past, when a victim would make the decision to come forward, they would often automatically be accused of lying or making the story up for financial gain, as a seasoned sexual assault lawyer Washington DC clients recommend can attest to. This is the reason why many victims stay silent for so long, afraid they will just be victimized again by the public if they told.
But the tide appears to have turned and in the majority of these new revelations, the public and the media believe the victims without hesitation. And it is this turnaround that is encouraging so many victims to finally feel empowered enough to tell their stories.
It is important to note that although many of these cases that we are hearing about in the media involve celebrities or well-known people, sexual assault can happen to anyone by anyone. At Cohen & Cohen, we aggressively fight for justice for sexual assault victims and have successfully represented many victims from all walks of life in obtaining financial damages for the physical and emotional injuries the assault caused.
In November, Cohen & Cohen, handled one of the highest profile cases against Massage Envy, a massage chain that is currently under fire for cases of sexual assualt perpetrated by employees. Our client’s lawsuit was recently reported on in multiple news outlets including CNN, HLN, MSN, Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS, and more after our client bravely decided to come forward and speak out about the sexual assault she experienced at the facility. After our handling of this case, it has been revealed that more than 180 victims have come forward and have either filed lawsuits, police reports, or filed complaints with state licensing boards against Massage Envy spas.
Tort law allows victims to file personal injury lawsuits against their perpetrators that can include both economic and non-economic damages. If you or someone close to you has been the victim sexual assault, seek out a consultation from the personal injury lawyers Washington DC trusts.
Economic damages include medical expenses for any physical injuries the victim may have suffered, as well as medical expenses for any psychological treatment the victim has needed or will continue to need. The victim can also be awarded compensation for any income he or she lost as a result of the assault, whether it was missed time from work or if the offender was someone the victim worked for and that affected their income or position in any way.
Noneconomic damages can include the pain and suffering the victim has endured, as well as the emotional and mental anguish the sexual assault has caused.
Sexual assault lawsuits are also one of the few types of personal injury cases where the victim can be awarded punitive damages, as a way to punish the perpetrator of the assault and to send a message that this type of behavior will not be condoned by society.
Contact a Sexual Assault Lawyer Washington DC Residents Depend On
If you have been a victim of sexual assault or harassment and would like to speak with a sexual assault lawyer in DC, contact Cohen & Cohen today. We are available to meet and discuss the circumstances of your case and how we may be able to help.
Call a compassionate sexual assault lawyer Washington DC offers today at (202) 902-8020 for a free consultation.
