If you were sexually assaulted in Dallas, you may want the individual to be held criminally responsible. However, Texas law gives survivors ways to hold the responsible parties civilly responsible as well.
A Dallas sexual assault lawyer at Trujillo Gonzalez, P.C. can help you seek justice and compensation to address the harm you’ve experienced. Call (972) 550-6818 to speak with an attorney during a free consultation.
Why Choose Trujillo Gonzalez, P.C. for a Sexual Assault Case?
An assault is something no person should ever have to experience. You deserve a legal team that listens first and prepares to fight for you next.
Survivors turn to Trujillo Gonzalez, P.C. because:
- Our founding attorney has hundreds of trials and proceedings under his belt.
- We have secured seven-figure results for injured clients and over $275 million total
- Our personal injury law firm has been recognized by Texas Lawyer Magazine and the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- We work in English and Spanish, so you can tell your story in the language you are most comfortable with
- We work on a contingency fee basis, so you owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation
Call today to get a Dallas personal injury lawyer on your side. We’re here to stand up for you.
How Is a Civil Claim Different From a Criminal Case?
A criminal case is brought by the State. A prosecutor decides whether to file charges, and the goal is punishment. A civil case is brought by you, and the goal is compensation for the harm you suffered.
You do not need a criminal conviction to file a civil claim; you can file even if police never made an arrest or prosecutors declined to pursue the case. The standard of proof is lower in a civil case than in a criminal one, and you only have to prove your case by a preponderance of the evidence, meaning it is more likely than not that you were assaulted.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Sexual Assault in Dallas?
The person who committed the assault is the most obvious defendant. But others may share blame when they allowed it to happen or ignored warning signs that it could occur.
Depending on the facts, that can include:
- Property owners and managers that failed to provide reasonable security
- Employers that hired or kept a worker despite red flags, or failed to supervise
- Schools and youth programs that failed to protect children
- Healthcare and care facilities with abusive staff
- Bars and event venues that let threats or predatory behavior go unchecked
- Ride services and carriers that put drivers with known problems on the road
To be liable for assault under Texas law, a third party generally must have known or should have known about a risk and failed to address it.
What Is the Deadline to File a Sexual Assault Lawsuit in Texas?
Texas gives survivors more time than it gives most injury victims. Section 16.0045 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code provides five years for civil claims based on sexual assault or aggravated sexual assault of an adult.
The law provides thirty years for certain offenses involving children, including sexual assault of a child, indecency with a child, and continuous sexual abuse. Claims against third parties can follow different rules.
Do not assume you are out of time. Likewise, be careful about waiting too long, as the evidence for your claim can disappear and make it harder to prove your case. Reach out to an attorney to identify the deadlines in your case and get started working on your options.
What Compensation Can a Survivor Seek After an Assault Incident?
Every survivor’s damages are different. A civil claim seeks to address the personal and financial harm you endured due to sexual abuse. This may include:
- Healthcare costs and the treatment you will still need down the road
- Therapy and psychiatric support from mental health providers as you recover
- Income losses plus the earnings you can no longer make in the future
- The pain the assault caused and the pain that lingers
- The psychological distress you carry
- Lasting physical limits
- Punitive-style awards if a defendant acted with malice or gross negligence
Many survivors also face non-economic losses that never show up on a bill, such as time away from school, a change of job, or a move to feel safe again. We document those effects so they are part of your claim.
Injury compensation can pay for the care you need and hold the people responsible accountable. It also puts the decision about settling a case in your hands, not the defense’s.
Attorney Fees in Personal Injury Claims
Most personal injury lawyers ground fees in a contingency structure. Under this system, you do not pay any legal fees upfront, and your attorney receives payment only if you win a financial settlement or court judgment. Their payment is calculated as a specific percentage of your total award, usually ranging from 33% to 40%. This percentage typically increases if your claim moves beyond initial negotiations into a formal lawsuit or trial due to the additional time and legal resources required.
Case expenses are billed separately from attorney fees. These additional costs cover expenses such as court filing fees, retrieving medical records, expert witness fees, and formal depositions. Be sure to clarify whether these costs are deducted from your total award before or after the lawyer’s fee percentage is applied.
Trujillo Gonzalez, P.C operates on a contingency fee basis in all personal injury cases.
Contact a Dallas Sexual Assault Lawyer Today for Assistance
An experienced attorney can take over the fight for you. Your attorney can make sure your voice is heard and your experience is acknowledged by the legal system and the parties responsible for your abuse.
At Trujillo Gonzalez, P.C., we treat every survivor with respect. We’re ready to stand up for you. Contact our Dallas sexual assault lawyers today. Let us put our experience to work for you.
