how much does a sexual assault lawyer cost

by Alfreda Marquardt 9 min read

If you look at costs from around the United States, sex assault cases defended can cost anywhere from tens of thousands of dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars if not more. While those costs may seem ridiculous, there is quite a bit at stake.

Full Answer

What are the costs of sexual assault?

Aug 14, 2017 · Depending on the attorney's hourly fee that can come to plenty of money. Plus an attorney does not stop at the court break but normally puts in 3 or more hours after court each court day. Plus this does not count expenses, experts, etc. Hourly fees range from $150 to $1000 per hour depending on the factors Mr. Aalsberg lists.

How much does sexual violence cost the US?

If you look at costs from around the United States, sex assault cases defended can cost anywhere from tens of thousands of dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars if not more. While those costs may seem ridiculous, there is quite a bit at stake.

How many people are sexually assaulted each year?

Dec 17, 2013 · Selected as best answer It can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000, depending on the attorney and their experience. If a defendant cannot afford to retain an attorney for a trial, he should apply for a court-appointed attorney. The ones who handle cases that high up are usually hard workers and very qualified, court-appointed or not.

Who pays for the costs of rape?

Dec 04, 2018 · Sexual violence is a serious and costly public health problem in the US. Rape results in more than $122,000 in costs per victim and nearly $3.1 trillion to the economy over the lifetimes of all 25 million victims in the US population. With about 25 million rape survivors in the US right now, we can expect to spend more than $3 trillion over ...

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Sexual Assault Facts and Figures

According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), one American is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds, with only 25 perpetrators out of 1000 ending up in jail for the offense. Most sexual assault victims are female. However, approximately ten percent of victims are male.

What Counts as Sexual Assault?

Sexual assault can include any non-consensual sexual act as defined by state, federal, or tribal laws. This generally includes instances where a victim cannot consent, for example, a cognitively impaired senior.

Victims Should Come Forward

Sexual assault is never a victim’s fault. However, attackers often use tactics to try and make victims believe that they are to blame, with the result that many victims are afraid to report the crime. Victims of sexual attacks and abuse are never to blame for what happened to them and must remember that the attacker is in the wrong.

Sexual Assault Injuries

Sexual assaults can have devastating long-term consequences on the physical and psychological health of victims. Physical injuries can include but are not limited to:

Who Is Responsible for Your Damages?

Individuals may think that they can only hold the perpetrator of the sexual assault to account. However, in some cases, the perpetrator may lack the financial resources to compensate a victim adequately. A sexual assault lawyer from our firm could help you discover additional avenues for pursuing compensation.

FAQs

If you or a loved one became a victim of a sexual crime, you should try to protect your legal rights immediately. The best first step is generally to contact local law enforcement. Police forces tend to have special officers or units dealing with sexual assaults.

Morgan & Morgan Can Fight for Sexual Assault Survivors

Individuals may end up suffering from the consequences of a sexual assault for years to come. Meanwhile, many perpetrators get away scot-free. Do not let this happen. You deserve justice and compensation for your ordeal. Consider also that holding an abuser to account can prevent further sexual assaults on innocent victims.

Why do attorneys charge hourly?

In criminal cases hourly rates are not as prominent because once a criminal defense attorney enters the case, he needs the judge’s permission to exit the case. Therefore, an attorney who takes a case on an hourly basis may be taking a risk ...

What is a private investigator?

A private investigator will approach the investigation from a completely different angle and may uncover evidence that could be favorable to a defendant that law enforcement normally would not pursue.

Do all cases go to trial?

The logic is that not all cases go to trial and the client will pay extra if he or she wants to go to trial. The downside is that sometimes this type of fee agreement will discourage a client to go to trial when trial is the only option to get the outcome the client desires.

Do criminal defense attorneys take flat fees?

Some criminal defense attorneys will take cases on flat fees. This is similar to a contract or bidding a job. The attorney says I will work for a specific amount and my fees will not go over that amount. For some clients this is advantageous because at a time when they are charged with a serious crime they want some type of certainty. A certainty in fees can be a great relief. The person who is charged with a serious crime often wants to ask to borrow money once and knowing there is only one flat fee up front can be very advantageous to the client.

How does sexual violence affect survivors?

Sexual violence exacts a high toll on survivors, their loved ones—and, ultimately, on all of us. Although decades of research demonstrate the harmful, and costly, impacts of sexual violence on the physical, psychological, social, and economic well-being of survivors, few studies have attempted to quantify the total lifetime economic burden ...

Why is cost analysis important?

Cost analyses can help communities make the best decisions about allocating resources to programs that work and are cost-effective. Cost-effectiveness here refers to the cost of an intervention for preventing rape compared to the cost of consequences of rape. Knowing the cost-effectiveness of an intervention can help communities advocate ...

Is prevention cost saving?

Prevention is not always cost-saving; as a society, we can expect to pay for interventions that keep us healthier, safer, and happier. Understanding the cost of rape is one more way we can understand what those costs are and ensure they are invested in prevention strategies that work. Peterson, C., DeGue, S., Florence, C., & Lokey, C. N. (2017).

Is sexual violence a public health problem?

The public and other stakeholders may not always recognize the scope and impact of sexual violence as a public health problem. Communicating the high economic burden of rape may provide another avenue for expressing these impacts in ways that resonate with different audiences.

What is sexual assault?

First, sexual assault means any nonconsensual act that is defined by federal, state, or tribal law, even if the victim cannot consent to the sexual activity. Rape and sexual assault are rarely crimes of passion. They are about gaining control over the victim.

Why don't people report sexual assaults?

Many people may not report a sexual assault because they don’t believe that what happened to them is an assault in the eyes of the law or they think the authorities won’t believe them. Others may not report a sexual assault because they are afraid of public scrutiny.

Is sexual assault a civil or criminal charge?

Criminal and Civil Claims. While sexual assault is a crime, the burden of proof in criminal court is high. The assault must be proved without a reasonable doubt. However, this crime may also be prosecuted in civil court.

Can you sue your spouse for sexual assault?

Additionally, if you were sexually assaulted, this may have an effect on your spouse. You may be able to sue on behalf of a spouse who suffers from anger, loss of sexual intimacy, fear, and resentment. These feelings cause a rift in your marriage and could even destroy the relationship.

Is it the victim's fault that they were raped?

The most important thing you should know is that it is never the victim’s fault that they were sexually assaulted or raped. Our sexual assault lawyers understand that keeping your case as confidential as possible is necessary.

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Sexual Assault Facts and Figures

  • According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network(RAINN), one American is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds, with only 25 perpetrators out of 1000 ending up in jail for the offense. Most sexual assault victims are female. However, approximately ten percent of victims are male. According to RAINN, some 60,000 children become victims of sexual assault each year.
See more on forthepeople.com

What Counts as Sexual Assault?

  • Sexual assault can include any non-consensual sexual act as defined by state, federal, or tribal laws. This generally includes instances where a victim cannot consent, for example, a cognitively impaired senior. While we may immediately think of rape when the subject turns to sexual assault, any coerced or unwanted sexual contact can potentially count as sexual assault, including but n…
See more on forthepeople.com

Victims Should Come Forward

  • Sexual assault is never a victim’s fault. However, attackers often use tactics to try and make victims believe that they are to blame, with the result that many victims are afraid to report the crime. Victims of sexual attacks and abuse are never to blame for what happened to them and must remember that the attacker is in the wrong. Our sexual assault lawyers understand how dif…
See more on forthepeople.com

Sexual Assault Injuries

  • Sexual assaults can have devastating long-term consequences on the physical and psychological health of victims. Physical injuries can include but are not limited to: 1. Internal organ injuries 2. Tears and bruising of the genitals 3. Sexually transmitted diseases 4. Unwanted pregnancy 5. Infertility 6. Anal and rectal injuries While generally, minor to moderate physical injuries from sex…
See more on forthepeople.com

Who Is Responsible For Your Damages?

  • Individuals may think that they can only hold the perpetrator of the sexual assault to account. However, in some cases, the perpetrator may lack the financial resources to compensate a victim adequately. A sexual assault lawyer from our firm could help you discover additional avenues for pursuing compensation.
See more on forthepeople.com