When you are the victim of a crime, not only do you have to deal with the emotional trauma of the incident, but you likely have medical bills to pay and need time off from work to focus on your recovery. Many crime victims do not realize they have the right to pursue financial compensation from the perpetrator and other responsible third parties. When you are injured as a victim of a crime, you have legal rights. With the help of an Allentown victim representation lawyer, you could hold the offender responsible for your losses related to the crime.
When someone commits a crime, they will face criminal charges, but victims can recover their losses related to the incident through a civil claim. We understand that the aftermath of a crime can be devastating for victims and their families. You are facing financial hardships related to the incident through no fault of your own. Speak to a personal injury attorney about your legal rights and remedies.
Survivors of crimes have rights during criminal proceedings. An experienced attorney can help a survivor by enforcing their rights. While the prosecutor handling the criminal proceedings is there to help implement a victim’s rights, they do not represent the victim. It is always a good idea for a survivor to seek outside counsel to advise them of their rights and voice their opinions to the prosecutor and defendant’s attorney.
A survivor is entitled to certain information about the criminal case against the perpetrator, such as updates about the proceedings. A person may also wish to share an impact statement at sentencing, which their attorney can help with. Moreover, the court could order the defendant to pay restitution to the victim or their family, and a legal representative could help enforce this order. While balancing the victim’s rights against the defendant’s is a delicate balance, hearing a survivor is crucial. A trusted victim’s rights attorney in Allentown could answer any questions and ensure a person’s voice is heard during every stage of the case proceedings.
Crimes inflict significant harm on a victim and their family. A survivor can experience lifelong complications due to the trauma they suffered. Not only does a victim face physical injuries and emotional trauma due to the incident, but there are also financial losses and property damage to deal with.
A civil case can hold the perpetrator of a crime responsible in addition to any criminal charges. When a crime victim is injured or suffers property damage or emotional trauma, their related losses are compensable. Some common types of victim representation claims include:
Damages in a civil lawsuit depend on the specific facts of the case. Crime victims considering bringing a civil lawsuit to recover compensation for their injuries should retain a victim representation lawyer in Allentown.
According to Pennsylvania law, as outlined in 42 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Section 5524, in most situations, you only have two years from the date of the incident that led to your injuries to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, if your claim is against a governmental or municipal agency or authority, such as if you decide to sue the public school where you were the victim of an attack, you need to be even quicker because you need to file a written notice within six months of the incident.
In addition to statutory time limitations that force you to take prompt action to file suit, there are also evidentiary concerns that should influence the timing of your lawsuit. If you wait too long to bring a claim, it could be harder to prove your case. People tend to forget critical details, even about violent crimes, because their memories become less reliable as time passes. Evidence can also disappear either by simply getting misplaced or by someone taking action to hide it.
Our experienced Allentown lawyers could ensure you stay in compliance with all procedural limitations. By meeting with us as soon as possible after the crime, we could begin gathering information to build a robust claim for compensation.
You could potentially have several causes of action for filing a lawsuit if you were the victim of a serious crime.
With our dedicated legal assistance, you could pursue full and fair damages from the person who committed the crime against you. You would have the right to pursue a civil lawsuit regardless of what happens in the criminal justice system. Even if a jury concludes that the perpetrator is not guilty in a criminal court or if a prosecutor determines they do not have enough evidence to proceed with a criminal trial, our determined local lawyers could still help you file a civil suit.
To be successful in your civil lawsuit, you do not need to prove the perpetrator’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Civil cases have lower burdens of proof even when they involve the same perpetrator and victim as a criminal trial. You only need to establish that it is more likely than not that the perpetrator committed the crime that led to your injuries. Although a successful resolution of your civil lawsuit would not send the perpetrator to prison, it could give you a sense of justice by knowing that you are holding the person who harmed you legally accountable for their wrongful actions.
You might also be able to bring a legal claim against a third party who bears some responsibility for the crime. For instance, if someone sexually assaulted you while you were in your apartment building, you might be able to sue the landlord or the property manager of the building for having inadequate security. Similarly, if you were the victim of a mass shooting in a shopping mall, you might be able to sue the property owner of the mall where the shooting occurred for not having enough security. If you were the victim of an attack by a school employee, you might be able to sue the school for failing to perform an adequate background check before hiring the employee who hurt you.
Our dedicated crime victim representation lawyers in Allentown could carefully comb through the evidence to search for all potentially liable parties.
Our trusted Allentown victim representation lawyers work with people to pursue compensation for their injuries and other related losses. Sometimes a victim obtains compensation directly from the defendant, but a third party could also be liable for the crime, depending on the circumstances. Under state law, a person can seek reimbursement for their financial losses due to someone else’s criminal acts.
When you are the victim of a serious crime, speak to an experienced attorney. While no amount of money can reverse the physical and emotional damage you experienced, a successful settlement or lawsuit could help you move past the incident and mitigate the financial harm to you and your family. Call our firm today to discuss your legal options.
