As the victim of a crime, you might be experiencing physical injuries and emotional pain. When your injuries interfere with your ability to go to work or perform your job, you might also be struggling financially. Although seeing the perpetrator of the crime receive punishment for their actions through the criminal justice system could help bring you a sense of closure, a criminal conviction probably cannot solve your financial troubles. However, you might be able to bring a civil suit against the wrongdoer or a third party whose actions allowed the crime to take place.
A Lancaster victim representation lawyer could help you determine if pursuing a civil claim is a viable option for you and your family. Our personal injury attorneys are ready to support your claim.
Crime victims might choose to bring a civil lawsuit for many different reasons.
The purpose of a criminal prosecution is to punish a perpetrator. The goal of a guilty verdict is to send the perpetrator to jail or require them to pay criminal fines. While some criminal convictions also require a defendant to pay restitution to their victims, most victims are not able to receive financial compensation through the criminal justice system.
A civil suit gives a person the chance to pursue recovery of their damages, which could include past, current, and future medical bills, rehabilitation expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In addition, an injured person might also be able to seek punitive damages if they show the defendant acted maliciously and purposefully.
In a criminal case, the prosecution gets to make the important decisions. They decide whether to move the case forward, dismiss the charges, or agree to a plea bargain. In a civil claim, the victim gets to decide because they are a party to the case and not just a witness. With guidance from a seasoned legal team, the victim gets to decide whether to accept a settlement or take the case to trial.
Even if a prosecutor decides not to pursue criminal charges or a defendant is found not guilty at trial, a victim can still pursue justice through the civil law system. Unlike in a criminal prosecution, where the state must prove the defendant committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt, in a civil lawsuit, the victim must only prove it is more likely than not that the defendant committed the crime or caused the action that led to the crime.
Our experienced attorneys have a proven track record of helping crime victims obtain justice through civil claims.
The victim of a criminal attack or the surviving family members of a person who died from their injuries might be able to sue more than one party.
A victim could directly sue the perpetrator of their attack. However, that wrongdoer might not have sufficient assets or insurance coverage. An injured person might also be able to look to a third party whose actions allowed the crime to happen, such as the following:
A victim representation lawyer in Lancaster could help a person investigate their legal options.
Recovering from a criminal assault takes time. Our attorneys understand the challenges you face. A Lancaster victim representation lawyer could help you pursue compensation for your emotional, financial, and physical losses. Work with our dedicated legal team, who will put your interests first and help you through this difficult time. Call now to discuss your case.