Houston Sexual Assault & Sex Crime Lawyer
Movements such as #MeToo and #TimesUp have made it much easier for victims of sexual assault to come forward and seek the justice they deserve. While holding criminals accountable for their actions is important, it will not undo the difficulties you will forever face as a result of an assault. To recover for your losses, it is critical to speak to a Houston sexual assault lawyer that can help you make things right.
Filing a Claim Against the Catholic Church and Boy Scouts Organizations
In Houston, as throughout the rest of Texas, it is essential to file a lawsuit as soon as possible after the assault. This is sometimes difficult because unlike in other personal injury cases, the psychological and emotional impacts of sexual assault are not known for years.
For example, adult victims are now starting to come forward about sexual abuse they endured while they were part of the Catholic Church. Others have started to shed light on the abuse that occurs within the Boy Scouts organizations. While abuse in these organizations typically occurred when the victim was a child, victims are not often aware of the negative impacts until they become adults. It is for this reason that Texas law outlines different statutes of limitations in sexual assault cases.
In Texas, for example, when a person is sexually assaulted as an adult, they have five years from the date of the attack to file a claim. In the event that a child was the victim of abuse, they have 30 years from the date of their 18th birthday to file a sexual assault claim.
Civil Lawsuits vs. Criminal Cases of Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is a very serious criminal offense in Texas. When victims come forward, their attacker will often be charged and have a criminal trial to determine if they are guilty or innocent. But, criminal cases carry a different burden of proof – beyond a reasonable doubt; whereas, a civil lawsuit carries a preponderance of the evidence burden – more likely true than not true. It is crucial to work with a sexual assault lawyer that can prove your case and help you pursue the financial damages you deserve.
Types of Sexual Assault and Sex Related Cases
The term sexual assault refers to sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent of the victim. Some forms of sexual assault include:
- Attempted rape;
- Fondling or unwanted sexual touching;
- Forcing a victim to perform sexual acts; and
- Penetration of the victim’s body, also known as rape.
While sexual assault is at one end of the liability spectrum, there are other sex-related cases that may entitle you to compensation including the following:
- Child sexual abuse;
- Domestic violence;
- Elderly sexual abuse;
- Groping;
- Sexual harassment;
- Stalking
- Unwanted sexting;
- Revenge porn; and
- Human trafficking or sex trafficking.
Let Our Sexual Assault Lawyers in Houston Help with Your Case Today
Sexual assault is inexcusable and at Gilde Law Firm, our Houston sexual assault lawyers wants to help you. Call us today at 800-973-3106 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation so we can advise you of your legal options.
