Were you the victim of sexual assault in Navarre, Florida? Reach out to Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers for a free consultation at (850) 757-2898. Our Navarre sexual assault attorneys can help you demand compensation and justice from everyone who shares responsibility for what happened.
Our award-winning personal injury law firm has more than 75 years of combined legal experience and has recovered over $200 million for our clients to date. We understand that sexual assault cases are deeply personal and emotionally difficult. Contact our law offices today for a free case review to get started.
Why Choose Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers After a Sexual Assault in Navarre, FL?
Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers is one of the most successful law firms in the Florida Panhandle and will work tirelessly to help you maximize the value of your claim. If you hire us, the insurance companies and other at-fault parties will be forced to take your case seriously throughout the entire legal process, including in court if needed.
Here’s why survivors turn to our Navarre personal injury lawyers for help:
- We’ve received awards both locally and nationally for our legal work
- We have won hundreds of millions for our deserving clients and have decades of experience altogether
- We have established relationships with top-rated experts who can help make your case stronger
- If necessary, we will not hesitate to take your case all the way to the trial stage
We take a trauma-informed approach to every sexual assault case, which means we will never rush your decisions or make you relive painful memories unnecessarily. Instead, we will focus on protecting your privacy and securing the financial compensation you need to move forward. Contact our sexual assault lawyers in Navarre, FL, today for a free consultation.
Civil Sexual Assault Claims in Florida
Sexual assault is not only a violent crime but also a civil wrong that can form the basis of a personal injury lawsuit. Regardless of whether the attacker is facing criminal charges (or even if they were never prosecuted in the first place), you may have the right to pursue a civil claim for compensation. This is because the burden of proof is lower in a civil case.
Civil sexual assault cases in Florida often fall under Florida Statutes § 794.011, which broadly defines sexual battery as any nonconsensual sexual contact or penetration. In civil court, however, the focus shifts from criminal guilt to financial liability. You can hold individuals and entities responsible if their negligence contributed to your assault.
Potentially liable parties might include:
- The perpetrator of the assault
- Property owners who failed to provide adequate security
- Employers who failed to properly vet or supervise employees
- Schools, hospitals, and other institutions that ignored complaints and/or warning signs
Civil sexual assault claims are some of the most delicate in the field, requiring a legal advocate who thoroughly understands both sides of the law.
How Much Is My Navarre Sexual Assault Case Worth?
Each sexual assault case will ultimately have a unique value based on the facts and circumstances involved in the situation. Some survivors require lifelong therapy and treatment, while others experience career disruptions or the loss of important relationships.
The value of your claim depends on several factors, such as:
- The extent of your physical injuries
- The cost of medical treatment, counseling, and rehabilitation
- The emotional and psychological effects of the assault
- Lost wages and reduced future earning capacity
- Whether you were assaulted on someone else’s property or under an employer’s supervision
- The availability of insurance and assets from the responsible parties
Cases involving serious, ongoing trauma and institutional negligence often result in higher awards. However, the primary goal is not just financial compensation; it’s justice and acknowledgment of what you’ve endured.
What Kinds of Damages Can I Recover in a Florida Sexual Assault Case?
The damages in a civil sexual assault case are meant to acknowledge both the financial and emotional impact of what you’ve endured. Depending on the facts of your case, you may be entitled to recover both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include:
- Medical expenses
- Therapy and counseling
- Lost wages/diminished earning capacity
- Prescription and rehabilitation costs
- Property damage
- Relocation expenses
- Miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Anxiety and depression
In rare cases, punitive damages may also be available. These damages are designed to punish especially egregious or intentional conduct and deter similar behavior in the future.
How Do I Prove a Sexual Assault Claim in Navarre, Florida?
Proving a sexual assault claim requires both strong evidence and a careful legal strategy. Many cases rely on more than just physical proof, meaning credible testimony and documentation can also play a vital role in showing what happened and who is responsible.
Useful evidence might include:
- Medical and hospital records
- Photos, videos, and text messages related to the incident
- Police reports
- Protective orders
- Statements from witnesses
- Therapy or counseling records that show the emotional impact
Our sexual assault lawyers can also work with investigators and experts to strengthen your case further. It also bears repeating that you can still file and win your civil sexual assault claim regardless of how the related criminal case plays out (if any). The burden of proof in a criminal case is “beyond a reasonable doubt,” whereas it is usually “by a preponderance of the evidence” in a civil case.
We Handle All Types of Sexual Assault Cases in Navarre, FL
Sexual assault can occur virtually anywhere, whether on public or private property.
At Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers, we can pursue justice for survivors in a wide range of situations, including:
- Assaults in hotels and motels
- Incidents in apartment complexes or parking garages
- Rideshare and taxi-related assaults
- Attacks at bars, nightclubs, and entertainment venues
- Sexual abuse in schools and universities
- Assaults involving coworkers, supervisors, and employees
- Sexual misconduct in hospitals and other healthcare facilities
- Child sexual abuse and institutional neglect
If you select us to represent you, we’ll work to identify all of the responsible parties and pursue claims against each of them where possible.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Sexual Assault Lawyer in Navarre, FL?
At Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers, we believe that cost should never stand between you and justice. That’s why our sexual assault lawyers in Navarre work on a contingency fee basis.
This means that you will pay nothing up front to hire us for your case. From there, we only receive attorney’s fees if we win compensation for you (whether through a jury verdict or settlement agreement).
If we recover money for you, our fee will be a percentage of that amount, which we’ll clearly explain in your agreement before we begin. Otherwise, we essentially do not get paid for our work whatsoever.
How Long Do I Have to File a Sexual Assault Lawsuit in Florida?
The statute of limitations for sexual assault in Florida is relatively complicated to determine.
Generally speaking, the time limits are as follows, but there are various exceptions that can adjust these in some cases:
- 4 years from the date the victim leaves the dependency of the assailant
- 4 years from the date the injury was discovered and/or when the causal relationship was discovered between the assailant and the abuse
- 7 years from when the victim turns 18 if they were a minor at the time of the abuse
- No time limit if the victim is a minor under the age of 16
It is strongly recommended that you contact our personal injury lawyers for help as soon as possible if you intend to file a claim. These deadlines are strict, meaning you could lose your right to compensation altogether if you do not take legal action on time.
Contact Our Navarre Sexual Assault Attorneys for a Free Consultation
Surviving sexual assault changes your life, but it does not define it. You deserve the chance to move forward with dignity, safety, and the resources needed for healing. At Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers, we’re here to help you demand justice and financial accountability.
With over 75 years of combined legal experience and more than $200 million recovered for Florida injury victims, our firm has the skill and determination to take on even the toughest cases. We’ll fight for you with strength from the moment you contact us until your case is resolved.
Call Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers today to schedule your free consultation with a Navarre sexual assault lawyer. We’re ready to listen and pursue justice as well as maximum compensation on your behalf.