If you or a loved one were a victim of sexual assault in Harrisburg, PA, you deserve to understand your legal rights. You may have the right to recover compensation from your attacker and anyone else who could have prevented the attack from occurring. Contact a Harrisburg sexual assault lawyer at Marzzacco Niven & Associates to learn more about your legal options.
Our lawyers have over 120 years of experience handling complex personal injury claims. We’ve successfully recovered tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.
We know that it can be incredibly difficult to stand up and fight for what’s fair. That’s even more true after a trauma like the one you’ve experienced. Let our lawyers take the lead. Contact our law offices in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, (717) 231-1640 to schedule a free consultation today.
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Why Should I Trust Marzzacco Niven & Associates to Fight for Compensation After a Sexual Assault in Harrisburg?
If you were sexually attacked, you deserve every ounce of justice the law has to offer. State prosecutors can handle the criminal aspects. It’s important to understand that an experienced Harrisburg personal injury attorney can also help you fight to recover money for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, our lawyers have been included among the “Top 40 Under 40” by the National Trial Lawyers. We’ve also been highly rated by Super Lawyers.
When you choose us, you’ll have a legal team to:
- Provide personal support and attention during this difficult time
- Identify all parties who can be held responsible for your damages
- Conduct a full investigation
- Hire experts who can strengthen your case
- Negotiate with the defense attorneys and insurance companies for a full settlement
Our Harrisburg personal injury attorneys are always available to discuss your case. Just contact us today to learn more.
Statistics on Sexual Assault
According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, about one in every five women has been a victim of rape or attempted rape. Nearly 25% of men will experience some type of unwanted sexual contact.
In Pennsylvania, 29.5 rapes were reported for every 100,000 Pennsylvania residents in 2022. With nearly 13 million residents, that’s approximately 3,835 reported rapes in a single year.
That number doesn’t account for the vast number of unreported sexual assaults. Unfortunately, the vast majority of sexual attacks are never reported. Studies show that more than two out of every three sex crimes are never reported.
Your Legal Options After a Sexual Assault in Harrisburg, PA
Sexual assault, rape, and other types of unwanted sexual contact are criminal offenses in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Rape and sexual assault are serious felonies. Attackers who are convicted are punished with lengthy prison sentences and listed in the sex offender registry, which is an online database.
Criminal prosecution can give you a sense of justice. It doesn’t do anything to cover your expenses.
Victims of sexual assault also have legal options for recovering financial compensation. Even if your attacker is facing criminal charges, you can file a lawsuit in civil court. You may also be able to file a lawsuit if your attacker is never caught.
How Do I Recover Compensation if I Was Sexual Assaulted in Harrisburg?
Sexual assault is both a crime and an intentional tort. Your attacker can be held financially responsible for intentional torts in court if they’re caught, regardless of whether their sex crime lawyers secure an acquittal.
Further, it’s also possible that a third party could be financially liable for your attack. Businesses and other property owners have a legal duty to maintain safe property conditions. That includes providing adequate security for people who are legally on the property.
Negligent security can allow a sexual assault to happen. If the property owner ignores their legal duty to provide adequate security, they can be held liable under Pennsylvania premises liability laws.
Property owners have the power to install adequate security to prevent crimes. Depending on the facts, adequate security measures may include:
- Installing working locks and deadbolts
- Installing security cameras
- Hiring security guards
- Responding to security alerts
- Providing adequate lighting
What constitutes adequate security will depend on the facts. Property owners only have a duty to install reasonable security. If the attack was reasonably foreseeable, the owner must take reasonable steps to prevent it from happening.
Our lawyers will search for the evidence you need to prove your case, including:
- Reports of past crimes in the area
- Statements from employees
- Evidence from the site where the attack occurred
- Evidence that the owner knew about the risk of violence
- Details about the types of security measures that were taken
You have enough on your plate right now. Our lawyers are here to handle the investigation and legal issues. Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation to get started.
Who Can Be Held Liable for My Injuries?
Examples of parties who may share financial responsibility for your losses, in addition to your attack themselves, include:
- Colleges and universities
- Hotels
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Bars, restaurants, and nightclubs
- Parking garage operators
- Landlords in rental apartment complexes
- Sports complexes
- Entertainment venues
- The city of Harrisburg and other government agencies
- The sex offender’s employer, if they were working at the time of the attack
Remember that it may be possible to recover compensation if your attacker is never convicted. Harrisburg sex crime defense lawyers can get an acquittal if prosecutors fail to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. In civil court, we need only establish negligence to recover compensation.
How Much Compensation Can I Recover if My Harrisburg Sexual Assault Claim is Successful?
Before taking legal action, most people want to know how much their case is worth.
Our lawyers will carefully examine the unique facts of your case, including:
- The nature of your injuries
- How the trauma of the attack has impacted your life
- The cost of your medical treatment, psychological counseling, and other expenses
- Whether your injuries will cause any long-term disability
- How the ordeal has impacted your ability to work
- The identity of the at-fault party and the available evidence.
You only have one chance to recover full compensation for your injuries. That’s why it’s particularly important to have a skilled attorney in your corner.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Sexual Assault in Pennsylvania?
Like any car accident victim, you can seek compensation for your economic damages and non-economic damages.
The specific types of damages you can recover will depend on your unique losses, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Counseling
- Rehabilitation
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD and fear
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Damage to personal relationships
- Loss of consortium
It’s important to account for all of the losses you have suffered because of the attack. That includes financial costs, emotional trauma, and future impacts.
Sexual Assault Can Leave a Victim Struggling with Severe Injuries
A sexual attack can result in severe physical injuries.
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, we represent clients who have suffered:
- Facial injuries
- Dental injuries
- Broken bones
- Nerve injuries
- Severe bruising
- Genital injuries
- Unwanted pregnancy
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Our lawyers will also work to reach a settlement that fairly accounts for the severe emotional trauma you’ve suffered. Victims of sexual abuse often suffer from severe depression, PTSD, and fear. The damage to your emotional well-being can impact your life in dramatic ways.
Our Lawyers in Harrisburg Handle All Types of Sexual Assault Claims in Harrisburg
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, we have the skills to handle all types of sexual abuse cases, including those involving:
- Date rape
- Domestic violence
- Rape on college campuses and universities
- Muggings
- Statutory rape
- Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse
- Sexual abuse of children
- Sexual assault of teenagers
- Sexual harassment
- Unwanted sexual contact
- Clergy member abuse
- Nursing home abuse
Sexual assault is never acceptable. Regardless of the circumstances, we’re here to fight for you. Call our law firm or use our online contact form today to start fighting for justice.
How Long Do I Have To File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Sexual Assault in Pennsylvania?
The statute of limitations under Pennsylvania state law is two years. You have two years from the date of your attack to file a lawsuit for damages. After two years pass, you generally lose your right to compensation.
An exception exists if your attacker is charged with a sex crime. While their criminal defense lawyers handle their criminal defense, the statute of limitations is “tolled”–meaning that it’s paused.
There are other exceptions as well. To best protect your legal rights, contact as soon as you can to confirm the time limit for your case.
Contact an Experienced Harrisburg Sexual Assault Lawyer for a Free Consultation
A sexual assault can change your life forever. You can count on our lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates to do everything possible to help you get justice. To learn more about your right to compensation, contact us at (717) 231-1640 for a free consultation with a Harrisburg sexual assault lawyer today.