Hartford Sexual Abuse Attorneys
Sexual abuse is one of the most heinous, painful experiences a person can suffer. People who have been victimized sexually suffer physical and psychological trauma that will color their lives permanently. If you are a sexual abuse survivor, you deserve to have your voice heard and demand compensation for what you experienced. And we will help.
At Brignole, Bush & Lewis, LLC, we are personal injury attorneys who fight for people all over Hartford. Sexual abuse survivors have so many real, challenging problems arrayed against them, from a legal and recovery standpoint. We are here for you, providing sensitive, knowledgeable representation and advocacy to help you pursue compensation and hold the person and/or third-party institution who hurt you accountable.
What You Need To Know About Connecticut Sexual Assault Law
Sexual assault is a crime, and anyone accused of sexual assault will be the subject of a police investigation. Unfortunately, the burden of proof in a sexual assault criminal case is relatively high, and police and prosecutors will only pursue a case if they see it as a “winner.” That means your opportunity for justice may be outside of your control, as long as you rely on the state.
But you do not have to rely on the state to pursue justice. We can help you hold the person who hurt you civilly liable. In many ways, seeking civil damages for a sexual assault is the only way to recover what small justice you can. We’ve represented clients of sexual assault, including victims and parents of minor victims and former child victims, finally pursuing justice.
One of the reasons for pursuing a civil claim for sexual assault is that the burden of proof is considerably lower. In criminal cases, the standard is beyond a reasonable doubt, but for a civil case, the burden is “a preponderance of evidence” or “more likely than not.”
If you pursue a civil case against your abuser, you can recover damages for your medical bills and therapy bills. You can also recover noneconomic, and punitive damages for the pain and suffering you’ve suffered as a result of the assault.
Understanding The Statute Of Limitations In Sexual Assault Cases
In Connecticut, the civil statute of limitations for claims against the perpetrator and responsible third-party institutions is complex. If the person who assaulted you is eventually convicted of a felony for 1st degree sexual assault, then there is no deadline to file charges against that person. Age of the victim is also a factor, and the date of the incident (pre- or post-October 1, 2019):
- For incidents that occurred before October 1, 2019, victims under 18 can file until their 48th birthday; (30 years after turning 18)
- For incidents that occurred on or after October 1, 2019, victims under 21 can file until their 51st birthday.
The current rule, for incidents since 2019, is that if the victim was under 21 at the time, they have until age 51 to file a claim. These age-specific legal deadlines may seem confusing, but are essential since very young victims often take decades to process their trauma and realize their need for closure and justice.
However, if the person who assaulted you was not convicted of the 1st degree felony, and you were not young at the time, you only have three years to file suit.
Sensitivity When You Need Us, Determination For Justice
We know how hard it is to stand up for yourself against an abuser, and when your agency and person have been violated so fundamentally. We are ready and willing to serve as your advocate to get the justice that you’ve missed. Call us today for a free consultation at 860-856-8361 or send an email using this online form.