Were you or a loved one sexually assaulted in Tampa, FL? You may be entitled to seek compensation from your attacker and the parties whose negligence allowed the attack to occur. An experienced Tampa sexual assault lawyer at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers can help you understand your rights and fight to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and your suffering.
Our lawyers have over 119 years of collective experience handling sensitive personal injury matters such as workers’ compensation cases in Tampa, workplace accidents, Tampa construction accidents, brain injuries, and more.
We have the resources to help you seek compensation for all of your losses.
The criminal justice system can’t help you get the money you need for treatment and other expenses. To learn more about how we can help, contact our law offices in Tampa, Florida, to schedule a free consultation today at (813) 223-6200.
How Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Sexual Assault in Tampa
Sexual assault is a horrible crime that can cause lasting damage. If you were a victim, you may deserve the full justice that the law can offer. An experienced Tampa personal injury lawyer can help you fight to secure justice in the form of monetary compensation.
When you hire Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers to handle your case, we will:
- Provide sound legal advice about your options
- Gather evidence to help you prove you deserve compensation
- Locate any party who may be responsible for your damages
- Calculate your case value
- Hire experts and specialists who can strengthen your case
- Negotiate with the insurance companies and defense attorneys
Since 2001, our Tampa personal injury attorneys have dedicated our legal practice to helping injured clients like you. We’ve helped countless clients recover meaningful compensation to help them get quality treatment and move on with their lives.
The thought of taking legal action can be overwhelming. Let our lawyers handle the legal aspects of your case while you focus on your physical and emotional well-being. All you have to do is contact us for a free initial consultation today.
How Common Is Sexual Assault in Tampa?
Across the State of Florida, 10,638 forcible sex offenses were reported in 2020. A total of 553 of those sex crimes were reported in Hillsborough County. Those figures include reports of rape, attempted rape, and forcible fondling.
Unfortunately, studies show that most sex offenses are never reported to authorities. That can make it extremely difficult to trust the statistics on sexual assault.
Overview of the Laws on Sexual Assault in Florida
Sexual battery (which encompasses sexual assault under state law) is a crime in Florida. If your attacker is caught, they could face years in prison, financial penalties, and sex offender registration requirements. A successful criminal case will, of course, give you a sense of justice.
Still, it can’t help you recover compensation for your losses. It’s important to understand that sexual assault is also an intentional tort. You can pursue compensation from the responsible parties in civil court even if your attacker is convicted of a crime.
You may be entitled to file a case in civil court against your attacker or a negligent party whose acts or omissions allowed the assault to occur.
What Is My Tampa Sexual Assault Case Worth?
To calculate the fair value of your personal injury claim, our lawyers will investigate and evaluate the circumstances of the sexual assault.
We’ll examine factors unique to your case, such as:
- The nature of the attack
- The severity of the injuries you sustained
- The cost of your medical treatment
- The duration of your recovery
- How the injury impacts your ability to work
- How the injury and attack impacts your quality of life
- Your emotional suffering and damage to your health and wellbeing
- The identity of the responsible party
Our lawyers will carefully evaluate these and any other factors that might influence your case value.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Sexual Assault?
Victims of sexual assault are entitled to seek compensation for economic damages and non-ecocnomic damages.
Under Florida personal injury laws, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Counseling and specialized treatments
- Rehabilitation
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- Disfigurement
- Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
- Loss of fertility
- Damage to relationships
- Loss of consortium
If your attacker is caught, our lawyers will also help you pursue punitive damages to punish the attacker for intentional wrongdoing.
Our Tampa Sexual Assault Attorneys Will Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Injuries
Sexual assault can be extremely violent. The physical injuries you sustain in an attack can change your life in unexpected ways.
Our lawyers often represent victims of sexual assault who have suffered:
- Broken bones
- Pelvic injuries
- Facial injuries
- Dental injuries
- Cuts and lacerations
- Head and neck injuries
- Severe bruising
- Internal bleeding
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Unwanted pregnancy
- Genital injuries
- Permanent or catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Our lawyers serving Tampa never underestimate the lasting emotional damage that sexual battery causes. Even after the physical injuries have healed, victims of sexual abuse often struggle with life-altering mental health issues. We’ll also help you fight to recover full compensation for the emotional suffering you have been forced to endure.
We Handle All Types of Sexual Assault Cases in Tampa, Florida
Our Tampa sexual assault attorneys at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers handle all types of assault injury claims, including those involving:
- Rape
- Attempted rape
- Date rape
- Statutory rape
- Rape or attempted rape on college campuses
- Unwanted sexual conduct
- Muggings and robberies
- Domestic violence
- Child abuse
- Unwanted sexual touching
If you were attacked, don’t hesitate to reach out to our sexual abuse lawyers in Tampa today.
How Do I Prove Liability After a Sexual Assault in Florida?
The perpetrator of a violent crime can be held liable in both civil and criminal court. In civil suits, you must prove that the attacker was responsible by a preponderance of the evidence. That means you may be entitled to compensation from your attacker even if they are never convicted of a crime.
On the other hand, someone other than your attacker may share the blame. Florida premises liability laws impose certain duties on property owners. Businesses, landlords, and other property owners must install adequate security if criminal activity on the premises is reasonably foreseeable. Most sexual assault lawsuits are based on negligent security.
To prove a business or property owner was negligent, you must establish:
- Their legal duty of care
- A breach of duty occurred
- The breach caused or allowed the sex crime to occur
- You suffered damages
The “duty of care” element varies from case to case. Businesses are subject to a heightened duty of care.
To prove liability in your case, our lawyers in Tampa will evaluate:
- The type of business involved
- Whether there is a history of prior criminal activity in the neighborhood
- Whether the owner knew, or should have known, that criminal activity was foreseeable
We’ll also examine the types of security precautions that the owner should have taken to prevent your attack.
Depending on the circumstances, property owners may be required to:
- Provide adequate lighting
- Make sure locks and deadbolts are working
- Install security cameras
- Hire security guards to patrol the premises
- Install locked gates or fences
- Train employees to recognize and respond to threats
If someone else could have prevented the sexual attack from occurring, our lawyers will fight to prove it. To learn more about your legal options, call our law firm in Tampa to schedule a free case evaluation today.
Who Is Responsible for Paying My Damages?
Aside from your attacker, the owner of the property where the assault occurred may be responsible.
You may have a valid premises liability claim against the negligent owner of a:
- College or university
- Apartment complex
- Bar
- Nightclub
- Restaurant
- Parking garage
- Hotel
- Hospital
- Nursing home
- Cruise ship
- Office building
- Government authority responsible for maintaining public spaces
The owners of these types of establishments are required to take reasonable steps to keep invited customers and visitors safe. If they fail, they can be held liable for the resulting harm.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After I Was Sexually Assaulted in Florida?
The statute of limitations in Florida personal injury cases is four years. You will have four years from the date of the sexual assault to file a personal injury lawsuit.
It’s possible that you could have more time if the assailant is facing criminal charges under Florida statutes. In these cases, the four-year statute of limitations is paused until the criminal defense is complete.
Contact a Tampa Sexual Assault Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Filing a civil lawsuit can give you a sense of justice, even in cases where prosecutors fail to convict in criminal court. Our lawyers at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers are here to help in any way we can. Please contact our law offices to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Tampa sexual assault lawyer to learn more about your legal options today.
Visit Our Law Office in Tampa, FL
Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyer – Tampa
601 W Swann Ave
Tampa, FL 33606, USA
Phone: (813) 223-6200
Hours: Open 24 Hours Daily
