Legal Remedies for Victims of Sexual Assault

In our serious injury practice, regrettably, we have seen more and more cases involving sexual assault. These cases arise in of a variety of contexts. We have seen assaults on minor children committed by third parties (such as school or church officials), we have seen sexual assaults on wards of mental institutions committed by employees entrusted with their care and we have seen sexual assault cases involving rape where there has been negligent or gross security by apartment complexes where, for example, the tenant is attacked in her apartment in situations where the apartment complex was on notice of possible dangers and failed to provide adequate security and protection for the tenant.
These cases are, obviously, very traumatic for the victims of these horrible crimes. The cases are all the more challenging because the trauma is not only in the past, but likely will endure for a lifetime. Indeed, in most all of these cases, the victim has to undergo quite a bit of counseling to help them deal with the trauma of the event plus the understandable emotions, confusion and stress disorders that arise thereafter. Rape victims are oftentimes so traumatized as to require a lifetime of such therapy.
In any case involving an intentional tort, particularly those involving sexual assaults against innocent victims, we strive to work closely with the victim, their family and healthcare professionals to assist in the healing process. The legal remedies available to such victims, of course, are many times dependent upon the facts. If the perpetrator, such as an uncle, a neighbor or a church official has personal assets, litigation may help to provide some financial relief to cover future medical costs and to provide some element of compensation for the trauma. Many times, we also work with the prosecuting authorities and try to obtain funds under the State Crime Victim Compensation Fund. In other cases, particularly those against apartment complexes or other third party entities that have failed to adequately protect the victim of a sexual assault from a foreseeable attack, there may be sufficient available insurance to provide compensation for the victim.
There are new laws on the books in Georgia that provide additional levels of protection for victims of crimes, particularly victims of sexual assault. In short, innocent crime victims do have legal remedies available to them. Our firm has always been honored and privileged to represent innocent victims of crime. We are committed to doing all that we can to help our clients in these tragic circumstances.