Compassionate Manchester Sexual Assault Lawyers
Helping sexual assault victims obtain civil justice for horrible conduct
Sexual assault is a pervasive and devastating issue in the United States. Many victims want nothing more than to forget it ever happened. Sadly, more often than not, this tactic has resulted in the victim experiencing severe anxiety and depression, and even suicidal tendencies, from pushing down the feelings that often come with such a vicious personal violation. Holding your attacker accountable for their actions is an important first step in regaining your power and getting your life back. Our attorneys are here to help you do just that – fight for your right to feel safe again.
The compassionate Manchester sexual assault attorneys at Barry, Taylor & Levesque, LLC can work to hold your attacker and any other responsible parties accountable so that you can begin the path to healing and taking control of your life.
How can we help?
- What is the definition of sexual assault in Connecticut?
- Where does sexual assault occur?
- What are the signs that a sexual assault is about to take place?
- What steps should victims of sexual assaults take?
- Who is liable when sexual assault occurs in Manchester?
- What damages can I receive for a sexual assault?
- How much time do I have to file a sexual assault claim in Connecticut?
- Do you have a Manchester sexual assault lawyer near me?
What is the definition of sexual assault in Connecticut?
In Manchester, and across Connecticut, sexual assault is any unwanted sexually driven act or contact that a person does not willingly consent to, or cannot consent to due to age or a disability, including:
- Unwanted sexual contactis any intentional contact with another person’s intimate parts, or with the actor’s intimate parts, for sexual gratification or to degrade or humiliate the person.
- Child sexual abuseby family, friends, or strangers.
- Incestwhere a blood relation engages in sexual acts with another blood relation, such as a parent and child, or siblings.
- Rape or attempted rapewhere a person forces, coerces, or manipulates another person to have sexual intercourse by vaginal, oral, or anal penetration, or by manipulating objects into the genital or anal opening.
- Sexual harassmentgenerally refers to unlawful conduct addressed under civil or administrative law and is distinct from criminal sexual assault offenses.
Connecticut defines sexual assault in the first degree to include compelling sexual intercourse by force or threat of force, as well as other circumstances specified by statute, such as the victim’s age or inability to consent. Connecticut law also recognizes additional sexual assault offenses, including sexual assault in the second degree and sexual assault in the third degree.
Victims of sexual predators by age group
At Barry, Taylor & Levesque, LLC, we represent anyone who suffers from sexual misconduct. No one is safe from the risk of sexual assault. Men, women, and children are all eligible victims in the eyes of a sexual predator.
According to RAINN, the risk groups include:
Females between 16-19 are four times more likely to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault than the general population. College females between 18-24 are three times more likely to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault than the general population. Men can also be the subject of sexual assault.
Where does sexual assault occur?
Sexual assault can occur in many arenas, such as:
- College campuses
- Places of worship
- Healthcare settings
- Daycare settings
- Ridesharing services
- Hotels, restaurants, and bars
- Nursing homes
- Workplaces
- Youth organizations
- Athletic leagues
- Stranger sexual assault
- Date rape
What are the signs that a sexual assault is about to take place?
Sexual assault is always the responsibility of the person who commits it. No behavior, awareness, or precaution guarantees safety. That said, many assaults are preceded by recognizable patterns of behavior used by offenders. Understanding these patterns can help survivors describe what happened, identify grooming or coercion, or recognize concerning conduct toward others.
If certain behaviors raise concern, consider the following questions:
- Has the individual attempted to make you feel safe by using flattery or offering gifts to get you to lower your guard?
- Has the individual offered you alcohol or drugs to lower your resistance to assault? Have you felt out of control and unable to focus on your surroundings after being provided a drink, or after your beverage was out of your sight?
- Has the individual isolated you from friends, family, or work? Has the individual paid special attention to a child or taken that child on special trips or activities alone?
- Has the individual pressured you to engage in a sexual act or attempted to influence you into believing the act was consensual when you never gave consent?
What steps should victims of sexual assaults take?
Sexual assaults are crimes of control and opportunity that physically and psychologically devastate the victims. No person should feel that he or she has the right to exert dominion over any other person by force, manipulation, or intimidation, yet it happens frequently. Some perpetrators believe they can get away with it because of some position of authority and trust, while others simply don’t consider the consequences of their actions.
Consider these steps when sexual assault occurs:
- Get to a safe place.
- Get medical attention, which may include a forensic exam to preserve evidence. Rape victims have a right to request emergency contraception. Many hospitals have nursing staff who understand how to help sexual assault victims and collect evidence of the sexual assault.
- Locate a mental health counselor or support group for sexual assault victims.
- Save the clothes you were wearing. They can help provide evidence of the sexual assault.
- Report the sex crime to law enforcement and provide as much detail as possible that will allow them to make an arrest and prosecute the perpetrator. We understand how traumatic sexual assaults are. You feel violated. You’re upset and angry. If you feel able, you should report the offense to the local police. If you’re too scared, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline.
- Seek legal help from a skilled Manchester sexual assault attorney. Our lawyers have the experience and working relationship with sexual assault medical providers and counselors to help address your feelings of helplessness. We can fight to hold those responsible accountable.
Criminal cases are designed to punish the person accused of assault. You can go after your own justice against your attacker by having one of our attorneys file a civil suit to pursue financial compensation for damages you have sustained at the hands of your assailant.
Why do sexual assault victims choose Barry, Taylor & Levesque, LLC for help?
Someone is sexually assaulted in the United States nearly every minute. It is more important than ever to send a message to the perpetrators that this violent behavior will not be tolerated. In addition to your attacker potentially being sentenced to incarceration by the state, our attorneys can aggressively pursue all avenues of compensation for you through a personal injury lawsuit.
Our goal for our clients is to help them feel empowered and more secure in standing up for themselves while working to prevent their attacker from ever sexually assaulting anyone else. We are proud to be members of the Manchester community. Helping our clients take a stand against violence makes us proud to create a safer community for you, your families, and your neighbors.
Who is liable when sexual assault occurs in Manchester?
The starting point in any sexual assault case is to hold the person who commits the assault accountable – criminally (by a prosecutor) and civilly (through a personal injury lawsuit).
At Barry, Taylor & Levesque, LLC, we can also file personal injury claims against the people, organizations, and entities that had a duty to protect you or your child and failed to prevent the sexual assault. Our Manchester sexual assault lawyers file claims against:
- The person who commits the sexual assault
- Property owners
- Schools
- Religious organizations
- Teachers
- Coaches
- Youth Organizations
- Doctors
- An employer
- Any other person or organization in a position of trust and authority
When a sexual assault occurs on a property owned by someone else, the property owner may be held liable for the assault under premises liability law. For example, an owner may be liable for failing to limit or prevent access when they should have reasonably known of the possible danger of a sexual assault on their property.
Our attorneys can turn over every stone to make sure everyone who may be liable is held accountable.
What damages can I receive for a sexual assault?
Our promise to you is that we will do everything within our power to handle your case with the dignity and respect that you deserve as we attempt to secure compensation. Our Manchester sexual assault lawyers seek compensation for all your damages so far and all the damages you’ll have during your lifetime, including:
- Medical expenses. These include emergency care, immediate rape counseling, forensic exams, medical tests, hospitalizations, surgeries, rehabilitative therapy, and medications.
- Psychological expenses. These costs include psychological care, psychiatric care, and the cost of mental health counseling.
- Lost income and lost capacity to earn. We can demand compensation for all your lost wages, lost benefits, and lost business income for as long as you can’t work.
- Your physical pain and emotional suffering. This includes the trauma from the assault, every moment you experience any physical discomfort, the pain and stress from any sexually transmitted diseases, and every moment of sadness, anger, depression, and fear due to the sexual assault.
We can coordinate your civil case with any criminal charges with the police. Punitive damages may be available in limited circumstances.
How much time do I have to file a sexual assault claim in Connecticut?
We recommend that you contact us as soon as possible after any sexual assault. We want to ensure that you are receiving the medical, psychological, and emotional support you need. It’s best to seek legal help when the events of the sexual assault are fresh in your mind. Early claims also help send a message to those responsible that you intend to hold them accountable.
The statute of limitations for filing a sexual assault claim in Connecticut depends on a number of factors, including whether the claim is civil or criminal and the age of the victim at the time of the assault. For example, many sexual assault offenses in Connecticut, such as sexual assault in the first degree and certain aggravated forms and many sexual offenses involving minors, are not subject to a criminal statute of limitations. Some lower-degree or non-penetrative offenses may still have limitations, depending on the degree of offense and the victim’s age.
At Barry, Taylor & Levesque, LLC, our experienced sexual assault lawyer can advise you on all necessary deadlines to help you file a claim in accordance with Connecticut law.
Do you have a Manchester sexual assault lawyer near me?
Yes. We can meet with accident victims at our office, located at 989 Main Street in Manchester, Connecticut. We’re located right off I-84 or I-384 in Manchester. We can also conduct phone and online conversations. When necessary, we can arrange to see you away from our office.
We can answer your questions and guide you through each step of the claims process.
Get help from our Manchester sexual assault lawyers today
We are passionate about our commitment to our clients who have experienced sexual assault. If you or a loved one has been a victim of sexual assault in Manchester or Hartford, speak with one of our compassionate attorneys at Barry, Taylor & Levesque, LLC.
Contact us today to schedule your free case consultation.