Are you or a loved one a victim of sexual assault in Chicago, IL? Our team at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys is prepared to help you fight for justice. If you were attacked, you might be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost income, and the pain, suffering, and trauma you have endured. An experienced Chicago sexual assault lawyer can help you fight for every available dollar.
Our lawyers have decades of experience in personal injury law. We’ve used our experience and resources to recover over $100 million in settlements and verdicts to date.
Your initial consultation is always completely free of charge. Contact our law firm in Chicago, Illinois, at (312) 726-1616 to learn more about how our team can help you fight for justice.
How Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help You Recover Compensation After a Sexual Assault in Chicago, IL
If you were sexually assaulted, you deserve the full justice available under the law. That includes criminal prosecution. Unfortunately, the criminal justice system is far from perfect. It’s entirely possible that your attacker could go free.
Our Chicago personal injury lawyers at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys are here to help you pursue another form of justice: financial compensation. Money can’t take back your pain. However, it can make a world of difference to your future.
Our team has been rated by Super Lawyers and earned a place on the Million-Dollar Advocates Forum.
You can count on us to:
- Identify every party who is legally responsible for the attack
- Compile and evaluate all available evidence
- Work with experts who can testify about complex matters
- Document your damages and assess your case value
- Negotiate fiercely for a full settlement
Even if your attacker was acquitted, you may still have a strong case for compensation. Call our Chicago personal injury attorneys to learn more.
How Common Are Sexual Attacks in Chicago?
According to the Chicago Police Department, 1,896 cases of criminal sexual assault were reported in Chicago during 2022. That’s up from 1,795 cases of sexual assault in 2021.
Unfortunately, only 577 sexual assault cases in Chicago were listed as “cleared” in 2022. When a case is “cleared,” it means that the police have identified the suspect, have evidence to make an arrest and file criminal charges, and know where the suspect is located.
In other words, about 70% of all rape cases in Chicago went unsolved in 2022.
What is the Legal Basis for My Chicago Sexual Assault Lawsuit?
Sexual assault and sexual abuse are criminal offenses in Illinois. If your attacker is convicted, they could face significant criminal penalties, including prison.
Holding your attacker responsible for a sex crime is up to law enforcement and state prosecutors. You might not know that you also have rights in civil court.
You probably know that when you’re injured due to someone else’s actions, you can hold them financially responsible for your losses. Most people associate the personal injury process with car accidents and slips and falls. In reality, you can seek financial compensation any time you’re injured due to another party’s careless, reckless, or wrongful acts.
There are two legal concepts that typically form the legal basis for a sexual assault claim:
- Intentional torts
- Negligent security
Sexual assault is both a crime and an intentional tort. An intentional tort is an action taken to intentionally harm someone. Your attacker can be punished in criminal court and be held liable for compensation in civil court based on intentional torts theories. You can also seek to recover compensation if your attacker is never convicted.
Additionally, under Illinois premises liability laws, all property owners have a duty to keep their property reasonably safe for invited guests and visitors. If the attack occurred on someone else’s property, the owner may be financially responsible for failing to provide adequate security.
How Much is My Chicago Sexual Assault Case Worth?
Again, money is the remedy you will seek when you file a lawsuit based on sexual assault in civil court. As such, it’s important to understand your case value before starting the legal process.
Many factors can ultimately impact your case value. Every personal case is different, but some factors are relevant in nearly every case.
Key factors to consider include:
- The nature of your injuries
- The level of physical pain and emotional trauma you have endured
- Your financial costs, including medical treatment, counseling, in-home assistance, transportation costs, and any other expenses you incur because of the attack
- How your ability to earn a living has been impacted
- Whether you will suffer any impairment that will affect your future earnings
- Damage to your quality of life, mental health, and lifestyle
- The identity of the defendant and the nature of their actions
All cases are different. However, you should never expect the at-fault party to simply hand over fair compensation. You’ll have to prove the level of compensation that you deserve.
Our lawyers in Chicago have the tools to help you maximize your financial recovery. Contact us today to learn more about your legal right to compensation.
Who Can Be Held Liable for My Damages if I Was Sexually Assaulted in Chicago?
If your attack occurred while you were on someone else’s premises, the property owner may be legally responsible.
Examples of responsible parties may include:
- Colleges and universities
- Bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and other business owners
- Shopping malls
- Schools
- Hotels
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Apartment complexes
- Parking garage operators
- Sports complexes
- Entertainment venues
- The sex offender’s employer, if the defendant was working when the attack occurred
- The city of Chicago and other government agencies
To hold these third parties liable for damages, you’ll have to prove they were negligent because they failed to install adequate security.
Proof in negligent security cases often involves evidence about:
- A history of violent criminal activity in the neighborhood
- The type of business involved
- Complaints about suspicious activity from neighbors
- Statements from employees
In short, if the attack was reasonably foreseeable, the property owner had a duty to install reasonable security to prevent it. They can be held financially accountable if they failed to take action.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Sexual Assault in Chicago, Illinois?
Under Illinois personal injury laws, you can seek compensation for your economic damages and your non-economic damages, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Counseling and mental health treatments
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Shame and humiliation
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of fertility
- Physical disfigurement or scarring
- Damage to personal relationships
If your attacker is caught and found responsible, the court may also award punitive damages as punishment for their intentional wrongdoing.
Sexual Assault Leaves Victims Struggling With Serious and Potentially Life-Changing Injuries
A sexual attack can cause significant physical injuries.
At Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, we often represent injured clients who have suffered:
- Severe bruising
- Genital injuries
- Unwanted pregnancy
- Broken bones
- Facial and dental injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Nerve damage
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Sexual assault is a violent crime that can cause multiple physical injuries. Of course, a sexual attack is also likely to cause emotional scarring that will last much longer than your physical injuries. Those scars, while invisible, have the potential to impact your entire future.
Our Chicago sexual assault attorneys understand that – and you can count on us to fight for fair compensation for your emotional trauma in addition to your physical losses.
We Handle All Types of Sexual Assault Cases in Chicago
At Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, we handle all types of sexual assault claims, including those that involve:
- Rape
- Unwanted sexual contact
- Date rape
- Statutory rape
- Domestic violence
- Muggings and robberies
- Human trafficking
- Child abuse
- Clergy member abuse
- Rape on college campuses
- Sexual abuse in nursing homes
- Sexual abuse in workplace settings
Don’t hesitate to reach out for the legal advice you deserve today. Our lawyers offer a free case review, so there’s never any risk to learning about your legal rights.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After an Attack in Illinois?
Most injury victims have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit in Illinois. The two-year statute of limitations starts to run on the date the injury occurs.
As a victim of sexual assault, you may have more time to take legal action. If criminal charges are pending, the statute of limitations can be paused while the defendant handles their criminal defense.
Contact a Trusted Chicago Sexual Assault Lawyer for a Free Consultation
You’re already struggling with unimaginable trauma if you or a loved one are a victim of sexual assault. A Chicago sexual assault lawyer can help you get the money you need to move forward. Your consultation is always free, so call our team at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys to schedule a free consultation today.
