This article is being written to conclude and recap our series on the handling of civil cases stemming from sexual abuse in the state of Texas. We felt it necessary to write on this topic as, for obvious reasons, many individuals may believe that they are without recourse after such an act. This can lead to one never taking action to enforce their rights. Coming forward takes real courage, and many survivors do not do so for years, sometimes for decades. That delay is common, and it does not necessarily mean that a claim is gone. It is one of the reasons Texas allows a far longer filing period in these matters than in an ordinary injury case. We wrote this series of articles, therefore with the goal of providing information which one may be able to use to better understand their situation. It has also been our goal to provide information which can be used to select a personal injury attorney. If you or a loved one requires assistance, then contact our office today to speak with a Fort Worth lawyer.
We addressed a number of topics over our recent articles. Subjects which we analyzed included the following:
- Texas’ statute of limitations for a sexual abuse lawsuit
- Proving civil liability for sexual assault
- How damages are calculated in a sex abuse case
- Collecting a judgment after it has been issued
- Retaining an attorney to handle sex abuse litigation
We chose to write on these particular topics for a number of reasons. First, the statute of limitations is different in these types of matters than what is seen in a typical personal injury case. While one often only has two years to bring a claim, after being in a car accident for example, in a sexual assault case that limitation may be as long as thirty years. Second, while proving liability can be more straightforward in cases involving a criminal conviction, the discovery process allows for the building of a case even when no criminal charges were filed. Third, these types of matters will often involve punitive damages. Fourth, an issue which often complicates these types of cases is actually being able to collect on the judgment. Counsel will be able to assist a victim in finding available assets which may be collected upon. Finally, retaining an attorney with experience in such matters can be an important step towards ensuring that your case is handled correctly.
A key point that we made throughout this series is that one should hire an attorney with the resources and experience necessary to handle such a case. These types of matters often require expert testimony in regard to psychological damage, medical harm, and the determination of lost wages. Moreover, if the defendant is part of a larger corporate or organizational structure, then it will be important to ensure that all possible entities are named. Our firm has the ability to handle such cases and has been doing so for decades. We speak with every person who contacts us about a matter of this kind, we run an asset check before advising anyone about the likely value of a claim, and we report honestly what that check shows. We have multiple attorneys who are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and we employ an on-staff investigator. We believe in standing up for the rights of victims over those of perpetrators or large companies. Contact us online or by telephone to speak with a Fort Worth sex abuse victim’s lawyer.
Further reading for survivors and their families can be helpful and help them feel less alone: The Truth About Rape and Hours of Torture : Years of Silence both by Teresa Lauer, a licensed counselor and survivor, are two we recommend. For those interested in an in-depth clinical analysis, we recommend The Trauma of Sexual Assault: Treatment, Prevention, and Practice by Jenny Petrak and Barbara Hedge. Noteboom – The Law Firm has no affiliation with the authors or publishers of these recommendations.
In addition to Texas’ greater DFW area, we also handle matters in Arlington, Austin, Denton, Frisco, Irving, Lufkin, Garland, Houston, McKinney, Richardson, San Antonio, and the rest of the state.