Sexual Assault And Abuse

The following is a breakdown of the number of individuals who are sexually assaulted in the United States each year:

• 60,000 children are the victims of some form of sexual abuse
• 433,648 Americans are the victims of sexual assault or rape
• 80,600 Americans incarcerated are victims of rape or sexual assault
• 18,900 U.S. military are victims of unwanted or forced sexual contact

What Should I Do If I’ve Been Sexually Assaulted in Texas?

The first step after a sexual assault is to place your safety first. The most essential thing to accomplish is to get yourself out of danger. Once you’ve reached a secure location, the following are crucial actions to take:

• Get medical care from a doctor

  Like your safety, your health comes first. Most medical institutions have nurses, physicians, and other staff that are properly trained to collect evidence from sexual assault victims. While you may not know if you want to pursue charges following a sexual assault, it is critical to let medics gather any evidence before it is lost so that if you do choose to go after your attacker, you have the highest probability of obtaining justice.

• Report your attack

   It’s possible you’ll feel confused or in denial. You may still be in a state of shock or disbelief. It’s critical to realize that you did nothing wrong, and even if you’re embarrassed or ashamed, talking about your feelings might help. If you are uncomfortable talking to the police, you may always contact RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673). Your calls to them are completely anonymous, and they will not ask for your name or address, so you can obtain the assistance, counseling, and information you need.

• Keep the clothing you were wearing at the time of the assault

  This is critical evidence, even if you do not report the assault or seek medical treatment right away. In the event that you do wish to file a complaint, your clothes and any other potential evidence should be kept safe.

• Contact us When you’re ready to take your abuser accountable, contact our Sex Abuse Victims Lawyers at Texas Personal Injury Lawyers to get help with your civil case. In order to pursue a sexual assault lawsuit, you don’t need to file a police report against your attacker. Although this isn’t always the case, law enforcement involvement is frequently observed in successful cases. We have a lot of experience with these sorts of situations and want you to know that we are fully dedicated to assisting you in regaining your voice and strength.

What Are My Options If I Have Been Sexually Assaulted In Texas?

In the United States, there are two different types of justice: criminal and civil. The criminal justice system refers to a process in which a prosecutor decides whether or not to charge someone with a sex offense. If they are charged and convicted, they may be incarcerated or sent to prison, as well as suffer additional legal consequences. On the other hand, the civil justice system allows survivors of sex crimes to file claims against their attackers for financial compensation. If you can show that the individual who sexually assaulted you was convicted in a court of law, this may help your case; even if they were not, you may be able to hold your attacker responsible for certain things like medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and all other damages resulting from your assault.

Texas Personal Injury Lawyers is a law firm that specializes in Texas sexual assault cases. We can walk you through what to anticipate from your civil lawsuit against your attacker and ensure that you are fully informed about your legal rights. We will always be upfront and honest with you about the expectations of your case.

What Is The Statute Of Limitations On A Sexual Assault Claim In Texas?

In Texas, the criminal statute of limitations for rape and other sexual assault offenses involving a victim who is 18 or older is 10 years after the day the crime was committed. The civil statute of limitations for sex offenses against adults is 5 years after the date the crime was committed.

However, there are limits:

For example, in Texas, there is no criminal statute of limitation for rape or aggravated rape charges where no suspect has been identified, and there isn’t even a statute of limitations for cases involving a serial rapist.

• Statute of limitations on sex crimes against children

The Texas legislature has chosen to toughen its position on crimes against children by extending the statute of limitations in both criminal and civil cases.

If the victim of a sexual offense is a kid, Texas statutes of limitations for molestation and other sex offences are longer. When calculating the statute of limitations for sexual crimes against minors, the state legislature took into account the victim’s age.

The statute of limitations in Texas for civil claims involving a minor range from 10 to 20 years after the victim’s 18th birthday, according to the legal system. The following crimes have a statute of limitations of 20 years after the victim’s 18th birthday:

• Sexual performance by a child
• Aggravated kidnapping (if committed with the intent to violate or sexually abuse the victim)
• Burglary (if committed with the intent to sexually assault a child, commit the continuous assault of a child, or commit aggravated kidnapping)

Some sex crimes against children have no statute of limitations for state prosecution. These crimes include sexual assault against a child and indecency with a child.

For certain crimes, the civil court statute of limitations is ten years after the victim’s 18th birthday. In 2011, the Texas State Legislature established this category of sex offenses. Non-sexual crimes such as human trafficking for non-sexual labor and services and compelling prostitution of children are included in this group.