When you or your family has been affected by criminal activity, we understand that you have likely experienced considerable physical, emotional, and financial losses. Many crime victims 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 victim representation lawyer.
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 the help of a personal injury attorney, you can hold the offender and liable third parties accountable for your personal and financial losses.
If you suffered bodily injuries and other psychological and financial damages as a result of a crime, such as assault, battery, sexual assault, or other violent acts, you have every right to seek payment from the responsible party. Civil law compensates victims for damages, including medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress, therapy costs, and pain and suffering.
While criminal actions, handled by the state prosecutor in the criminal justice system, punish the defendant, filing a personal injury claim requires them to pay you. Hiring hard-working and experienced representation provides many benefits, including the following:
Even if there was no criminal conviction in the case, civil laws allow you to file a claim against the person who caused you harm, with a lower preponderance of evidence. Our proficient attorneys build a strong case to recover damages by gathering crucial evidence, including police reports, documents from criminal proceedings, and your medical records, to demonstrate civil liability.
Even if the perpetrator lacks assets, they can identify enforceable judgments and other paths to pursue them effectively. That also includes a review to determine if there is potential to sue negligent third pirates, such as property owners, if the attack was the result of premises liability. Negligence may include failing to provide adequate security in high-crime areas to protect vulnerable customers who enter for commercial purposes.
The cases are complex and often involve overlapping criminal and civil statutes and guidelines, such as adherence to the statute of limitations. We have extensive experience with evidence preservation, negotiating with defendants and their insurance companies, and supporting victims following highly traumatic situations. That includes handling the paperwork, investigations, and litigation, allowing you to focus on overcoming your injuries and the traumatic situation.
Our seasoned crime victim representation lawyer in Philadelphia can assist you in contacting the appropriate programs, such as Pennsylvania’s Victims Compensation Assistance Program. We can help you determine whether you qualify and guide you through the application process for reimbursements, including medical care, lost earnings, and counseling.
Victim advocates with the organization are also available to help you through the process while we focus on the civil lawsuit and seek the maximum potential payout. Studies show that having a dependable lawyer to assist you throughout the process can substantially increase your chances of reaching a favorable outcome.
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 will not know whether we can help you.
Attorney Jeffrey Fritz is an experienced crime victim 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:
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. Our crime victim representation lawyers in Philadelphia have filed third-party lawsuits against security companies, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, employers, hotels, apartment complexes, universities, daycare centers, and churches.
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 Personal Injury Attorneys, our crime victim representation attorneys are often able to help clients in Philadelphia recover compensation for their:
Personal injury laws provide the potential for you to seek damages from specific third parties. The civil courts recognize that property owners, managers, or other entities may share part of the liability for your damages when they have a legal duty to take responsible steps and protect visitors from foreseeable criminal acts. That means, based on the specifics of the situation, another reasonable person in similar circumstances would have acted differently to prevent the crime against you from happening.
Examples include landlords, commercial owners, corporations, and other entities that own condos and apartment buildings. That also includes owners or managers of shopping centers, gas stations, malls, and banks or ATMs. They have a certain legal responsibility to act reasonably and maintain safe premises for customers and guests
One of the most important aspects of securing assistance from a skilled victim representation attorney in Philadelphia 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:
It is very wise to seek representation from a Philadelphia 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 do not have to be directly involved (unless you wish to). This can minimize your stress throughout the process.
Hiring an 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:
This can be a very emotionally draining experience. You need to be certain you are prepared to revisit a traumatic incident in your memory to complete this step. If you are 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 our 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 do not want to accidentally omit any details that can help a lawyer decide how you should proceed.
Thus, it is wise to write out a full account of your experience. Or, you could record yourself describing it. Once you have done so, read or listen to your account to confirm you have not left any valuable information out.
Bring your written or recorded narrative with you to your consultation. If you are not certain you will 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.
Accumulating evidence to prove that you have 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 firm, we have the resources and expertise necessary to investigate a crime on your behalf.
However, it is possible you have already gathered certain forms of evidence yourself before even meeting with a lawyer. This might include:
Gather this evidence and bring it with you to your case evaluation. Again, while a lawyer can gather evidence for you, you will 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:
When you or someone you love has been the victim of a crime, you need to know that you have rights. At Soloff & Zervanos Personal Injury Attorneys, our victim’s rights lawyers in Philadelphia 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.