Fredericton Sexual Assault Lawyer
Victims of sexual assault are entitled to pursue legal action against their assaulter. No matter how far in the past your assault took place, if you are a survivor of sexual assault, you may be able to file a civil claim against your abuser. By working with our sexual assault lawyers serving Fredericton, you may be able to recover financial compensation for the damages you incurred because of your assault.
Any form of non-consensual sexual activity is sexual assault or, in the civil context, sexual battery. Through a number of different non-consensual actions, perpetrators of sexual assault take away their victims’ power to control what happens to their bodies. These non-consensual actions may take on the form of attempted or completed rape, forced kissing, grabbing, unwanted touching, sexual harassment, and other criminal actions. Assaulters may employ physical violence, threats, or intimidation to force their victims to engage in unwanted sexual activity
In Fredericton, there is no statute of limitations on sexual assault claims. That means, even if your assault took place years in the past, you still have the right to pursue justice. There is no time limit on sexual assault cases.
Pursuing a civil claim is a different process than engaging in criminal proceedings. In a civil claim, the plaintiff (ie., the person who has been assaulted) must prove their claim based on a balance of probabilities. This is a much lower burden of proof than what is required to prove criminal charges. During criminal proceedings for sexual assault claims, the plaintiff must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the assault occurred. Additionally, while criminal proceedings may result in the incarceration of the defendant (i.e., the perpetrator of sexual assault), the victim will not have the opportunity to recover compensation for financial losses they sustained because of their assault. However, by filing a civil claim, a plaintiff working with Fredericton sexual assault lawyers may be able to receive restitution for damages arising from their assault.
In a civil claim, our Fredericton sexual assault lawyers may be able to compile and present various forms of evidence proving that your abuser committed sexual assault and that, as a result of their wrongful conduct, you suffered financial losses. If you are eligible to pursue a civil claim, our sexual assault lawyers serving Fredericton may be able to help you recover economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages refer to the quantifiable financial losses you incurred, or will incur in the future because of your assault. Example of economic damages you may be able to recover in a civil sexual assault claim include:
- Psychiatric treatment
- Psychological counselling
- Prescription medication
- Mileage for medical appointments
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capability
- And possibly more
Fredericton sexual assault survivors may also be able to recover non-economic damages through civil litigation. Non-economic damages refer to costs associated with damages that cannot be easily calculated by tallying up invoices or doctors’ bills. Instead, they seek to put a price on the emotional impact this reprehensible action has had on an assault survivor’s overall quality of life. By working with our sexual assault lawyers serving Fredericton, assault survivors may be able to recover the following non-economic damages:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Punitive damages, depending on the circumstances of the case
- And possibly more
To learn more about how our sexual assault lawyers serving Fredericton may be able to help, book a free, initial consultation with Preszler Injury Lawyers today.
Free Consultation for Fredericton Residents – We Don’t Get Paid Unless We Win
Preszler Injury Lawyers realize how difficult it can be to talk about sexual assault. We are passionate about fighting on behalf of survivors, and have a history of helping them pursue the compensation to which they are entitled. Our compassionate, sensitive sexual assault lawyers serving Fredericton offer a free, initial consultation to all prospective clients.
To learn about options that may be available to you, schedule your free, no-obligation first meeting with our Fredericton sexual assault lawyers today.
