If you or your family has been affected by criminal activity, then we understand that you have likely experienced considerable physical, emotional, and financial losses. Many crime victims in Philadelphia are unaware that they have various options when it comes to recovering compensation for what they have been through. However, understanding these options may require assistance from a skilled Philadelphia crime victims representation attorney.
Many crime victims do not realize that they have the right to file civil charges against offenders, even if the offender was not convicted in criminal court. With our help, you can hold the offender and liable third parties accountable for your personal and financial losses.
There Are Time Limits For Filing Civil Lawsuits
We encourage you to speak with one of our lawyers as soon as possible to learn how we may help you recover financial compensation and get justice. Until we hear your story, we won’t know whether we can help you.
Attorney Jeffrey Fritz is an experienced crime victims’ lawyer who is a charter member and past president of the National Crime Victim Bar Association, an affiliate of the National Center for Victims of Crime. He represents child and adult survivors of sexual abuse and assault, and other violent crimes, and those who have lost loved ones to wrongful death. He successfully represented multiple victims in cases against Penn State University for child sexual abuse by former coach Jerry Sandusky.
Mr. Fritz leads the firm’s crime victim representation practice, which includes:
- Child sexual abuse
- Rape/sexual assault
- Assault and battery
- Domestic violence
- Shootings and stabbings
- Wrongful death
In many cases, we can file lawsuits against negligent third parties for issues such as inadequate security, negligent hiring practices, and failure to supervise or screen employees and volunteers. We have filed third-party lawsuits against security companies, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, employers, hotels, apartment complexes, universities, daycare centers, and churches.
How Much Compensation Is Available The Victims In These Cases?
There is no set amount of money available to victims of crimes in and around our area. Rather, the total amount of compensation will vary depending on the route we take to recover compensation. Usually, there are various factors taken into consideration when it comes to determining the total amount of compensation you should receive. These factors can include the severity of your physical injuries as well as how the incident has affected you both emotionally and psychologically.
At Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., our attorneys are often able to help clients recover compensation for their:
- Medical expenses
- Physical therapy or rehabilitation
- Psychological and emotional counseling
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering damages
- Loss of quality of life damages
- Property damage expenses
- Restitution for stolen property
- …and more
You Can Count On Our Attorneys To Keep You Informed
One of the most important aspects of securing assistance from a skilled victim representation attorney in Pennsylvania, New York, or New Jersey is having someone who will be by your side throughout this entire process. Specifically, an attorney can help ensure that your rights are upheld throughout this entire process. Our goal is to help ensure that you understand the following rights, including the right to:
- Be present at all hearings and trials
- Be informed of any decisions made by prosecutors or law enforcement and have the ability to comment on these decisions
- Be told about significant developments in the offender’s status, such as detention, bail, facility transfer, probation or parole, or escape from detention
- Receive monetary compensation if you have suffered monetary or property loss as a result of the crime
- Provide a victim impact statement that can be presented in court or at a sentencing hearing
How to Prepare for a Consultation With a Philadelphia Crime Victim Representation Attorney
It’s very wise to seek representation from a lawyer when filing a lawsuit against someone who has committed a crime against you. An attorney’s understanding of the legal system will improve your odds of winning a case. Additionally, when your lawyer is handling the details of your lawsuit, you don’t have to be directly involved (unless you wish to). This can minimize your stress throughout the process.
Hiring a Philadelphia crime victim representation attorney begins with an initial consultation. This meeting allows a lawyer to assess your case and determine if you have grounds to take legal action. It also gives you an opportunity to ask questions and evaluate whether an attorney is qualified to serve your needs.
This consultation may be more productive and educational if you take certain steps to prepare for it ahead of time. They include the following:
Drafting a Narrative of the Incident
This can be a very emotionally draining experience. You need to be certain you’re prepared to revisit a traumatic incident in your memory to complete this step. If you’re seeing a therapist or counselor to help you cope with the struggles you might be facing in the aftermath of a crime, consider asking if they would help you with this task during one of your sessions.
That said, during a consultation at a Philadelphia crime victim representation law firm, you will be explaining the details of your experience to a lawyer. Your goal when doing so is to be as accurate and thorough as possible. You don’t want to accidentally omit any details that can help a lawyer decide how you should proceed.
Thus, it’s wise to write out a full account of your experience. Or, you could record yourself describing it. Once you’ve done so, read or listen to your account to confirm you haven’t left any valuable information out.
Bring your written or recorded narrative with you to your consultation. If you’re not certain you’ll be able to comfortably describe your experience to a lawyer, you can ask them to read the narrative or listen to your recorded account instead.
Gathering Supporting Evidence
Accumulating evidence to prove that you’ve been the victim of a crime may require conducting a thorough investigation. This is among the top reasons it’s smart to hire a lawyer in these circumstances. At our Philadelphia crime victim representation firm, we have the resources and expertise necessary to investigate a crime on your behalf.
However, it’s possible you’ve already gathered certain forms of evidence yourself before even meeting with a lawyer. This might include:
- The names and contact information of witnesses who can corroborate your story
- Copies of police reports
- Incriminating pictures or video footage
- Incriminating emails, text messages, etc.
Gather this evidence and bring it with you to your case evaluation. Again, while a lawyer can gather evidence for you, you’ll strengthen your case from the beginning if you can supply a lawyer with helpful evidence from the start.
Also, consider bringing documentation of your losses. Examples include:
- Medical bills
- Documentation of lost income
- Receipts for related expenses, such as receipts for the cost of travel to medical appointments
Contact Us For A Confidential Consultation
If you or somebody you love has been the victim of a crime, you need to know that you have rights. At Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., our victim’s rights attorneys in Philadelphia, Allentown, Lancaster, Reading, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and New York have extensive experience handling these claims, and we know what it takes to ensure that our clients receive the closure and compensation they are entitled to. We will stand by your side throughout this entire situation to ensure that your case reaches a successful conclusion.
Our attorneys know how to handle sensitive issues and how to protect clients’ privacy and dignity. You can rely on us for respectful, compassionate representation. For a free consultation, please call 215-929-7216 or contact us online.