Boston Sexual and Physical Assault Attorney

Get Help From a Sexual and Physical Assault Injury Lawyer in Boston, Massachusetts

Sexual assault and physical assault are serious criminal offenses. The perpetrator must be held accountable. At the same time, these attacks are sometimes allowed to happen because of the negligence of businesses, organizations, institutions, or property owners. Sexual and physical assaults can affect a survivor’s life for years after the physical wounds have healed. These cases run the gamut. It is often the case that a corporate entity such as an employer is aware that their employee has a history of physical and/or sexual violence, is aware of prior complaints about the perpetrator, and yet takes no action. In other types of cases, property owners such as hotels may have inadequate security which allows perpetrators not staying at the hotel to commit assaults. What is important to remember is that often it is not just the abuser conducting the assault who is legally liable, but a corporate entity that employs or controls that individual, or is responsible for the safety of the premises where the assault took place.

As an experienced Massachusetts civil sexual and physical assault lawyer, I help victims fight for justice. If you or your loved one was the victim of assault, you need professional representation. Call my Boston law office today for a free, strictly confidential initial consultation.

What to Do After Suffering an Assault in Massachusetts

If you or your loved one was the victim of sexual assault and/or physical assault in Massachusetts, it is crucial that you know how to take action to protect your health, well-being, and legal rights. Here are three steps to take after an assault:

1. Get Medical Help: Nothing is more important than your health and safety. Make sure you seek immediate medical attention for any injuries or medical complications sustained as a result of a sexual assault or physical assault.
2. Report the Attack: Assault is a serious criminal offense in Massachusetts—it may be charged as a felony. The attack should be reported to law enforcement and other parties.
3. Consult With a Civil Assault Lawyer: A third party (and the perpetrator) may be liable for your injuries. Get in touch with a civil sexual and physical assault attorney in Massachusetts as soon as possible after an attack.

An Overview of Civil Sexual/Physical Assault Laws in Massachusetts

While sexual and physical assaults are criminal matters in Massachusetts, there may also be a civil aspect to these cases. You can file a civil assault claim directly against the perpetrator. However, often the criminal offender lacks the resources to pay for your damages. As frustrating as this can be, there may be other paths to justice available. Here are four key things to know about the civil sexual assault and civil physical assault laws in Massachusetts:

1. You Can Hold a Negligent Third Party Liable for an Attack: A negligent third party may be held liable for a civil sexual assault or physical assault claim in Massachusetts. As an example, you could file a premises liability against a hotel whose inadequate security precautions (negligent security) allowed an attack to occur.
2. Civil Sexual/Physical Assault Claims are Based on Fault: Civil assault claims are fault-based legal cases. To hold a third-party liability for a criminal attack, you must prove that their carelessness, recklessness, or inability to take adequate safety precautions contributed to the incident. All sexual assault and physical assault cases should be comprehensively investigated by an experienced attorney.
3. A Three-Year Statute of Limitations for Most Civil Assault Cases: In general, personal injury claims, including civil assault claims, are subject to a three-year statute of limitations in Massachusetts. With a few relatively narrow exceptions, you must file any lawsuit within three years of the date of the attack.
4. Specialized Rules are in Place for Civil Child Sex Abuse Claims: In June 2014 Massachusetts passed a new law to provide additional paths to justice to victims of child sex abuse. This law allows a child who suffered sexual abuse while under the age of 18 to bring a claim against the alleged abuser within 35 years of reaching his or her 18th birthday – or until age 53. In addition, the law extends the “discovery rule” from 3 to 7 years. The discovery rule is a legal principle which prevents the clock ticking on the statute of limitation until the injured party knew or reasonably should know that they have suffered an injury from the abuse.

Assault Victims Can Recover Financial Compensation

Through a civil assault claim, a victim has the right to seek compensation for monetary and non-monetary losses. Sadly, defendants and insurers do not make the legal claims process easy for people who have already endured a horrific experience. As a top-rated Massachusetts civil assault attorney, I am focused on helping victims maximize their financial recovery—so that they have the resources that they need to pay their bills and care for their well-being. You may be entitled to compensation for:

• Emergency medical care;
• Other medical bills and expenses;
• Physical therapy;
• Psychological support;
• Emotional support;
• Lost wages;
• Future earnings impairment;
• Pain and suffering;
• Mental & emotional distress;
• Scarring;
• Disability;
• Loss of life enjoyment; and
• Wrongful death of a family member.

Contact Our Massachusetts Civil Sexual and Physical Assault Lawyer Today

At Michaud Law LLC, we are committed to get justice and financial support for our clients. As a skilled victims’ rights advocate, I have the legal knowledge and professional experience to handle civil sexual assault claims and civil physical assault claims. If you or your loved one was the victim of a criminal attack, contact us today for a free, strictly confidential review of your case. From our office in Boston, we serve communities throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.