Sexual assault can happen at any time and practically anywhere. Unfortunately, sexual assault incidents are very common. They are among the most devastating types of incidents as survivors can suffer physical injuries in addition to extensive psychological harm. If you or a member of your family suffered sexual assault, it is important that you explore the legal options available to you. You could have the right to file a lawsuit and even recover compensation.

Here at the Downtown L.A. Law Group, our sexual assault lawyers have decades of experience and are fully committed to helping survivors of sexual assault reach justice. Whether the abuse happened at work, at an office, at a store, at a school, at a restaurant, or any other place, it is important that you explore the legal options available to you.

Without a doubt, seeking justice after a sexual assault can be one of the most difficult things that a survivor can do. It can take months or even years after a sexual assault incident for survivors to find the strength to seek help. Here at our law firm, we are not afraid to take on any party or entity to protect your right to justice.

What is Sexual Assault?

Sexual assault refers to any unwanted sexual act or contact. Some examples of sexual assault or sexual abuse include the following:

• Rape and attempted rape

• Sodomy

• Kissing on the lips, mouth, or elsewhere on the body

• Any groping, fondling, or touching

• Oral sex (performing oral sex on the victim or forcing the victim to perform oral sex)

• Taking any explicit photos or videos of the victim

• Requesting that the victim send any explicit photos or videos

• Making any sexual jokes/comments about the victim

• Coercing the victim to participate in any sexual activity

• And more

Child Sexual Abuse: when the sexual assault is directed towards a minor, the assault is considered child sexual abuse. This is because a minor can never consent to any sort of sexual contact or activity. Child sexual abuse often occurs at the hands of trusted adults, which can include teachers, coaches, family members, and others.

Understanding the Harm Resulting from Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse can lead to extensive physical harm as well as psychological harm. This harm can be long-lasting. Examples of the harm that could occur due to sexual assault can include the following:

• Sexually transmitted infections

• Pregnancy and related complications

• Injuries to reproductive organs

• Injuries to genitals

• Fractures, sprains, lacerations, scrapes, and bruises specifically from the use of force during the assault

• Increased risk of substance abuse

• Increased risk of self-harm

• Psychological harm, including PTSD, depression, panic, anxiety, fear, and more

Who is Liable for Sexual Abuse?

This is a very important question. Ultimately, liability for sexual abuse incidents is case-specific and depends heavily on the details surrounding the incident. Below, we will review a few sample scenarios as well as possible liability.

• Sexual abuse of a college student on a campus parking lot: in this scenario, the college/university may have liability based on the failure to prevent the incident from happening. For example, if the college failed to have enough security on campus, failed to have appropriate lighting in parking lots, etc., then the college could be found liable.

• Sexual abuse of a college student by an employee: in this situation, the college/university may be found liable based on failing to properly background check employees (especially when the employee had a history of sexual attacks), failing to have the necessary policies and procedures in place, or for failing to take action if there were previous reports of misconduct before the incident occurred.

• Sexual abuse of a worker at the hands of a coworker: the specific employer could be liable based on negligence in hiring, failure to subject workers to background checks, failure to have enough security/surveillance, failure to properly handle reports of misconduct, etc.

• Sexual abuse of an employee at the hands of a guest at a store, restaurant, or office: employers have a duty to keep their employees safe from any harm, including attacks from guests that enter the premises. When these employers fail to address the risk presented by guests and fail to take action to prevent incidents, then they can be held liable.

No matter the place where your sexual abuse occurred and the details surrounding the abuse, it is important that you understand that you could have the right to file a lawsuit. You could also be entitled to receive compensation,