Crime and Sexual Assault

At Robinson Mahoney, we understand the consequences of crime to the victims. Crime can cause physical injuries but can also cause emotional injuries that last a lifetime. As Fairfield Crime and Sexual Assault Lawyers, we work to get crime victims the justice they deserve.

In Connecticut there are two court systems – civil and criminal. The criminal courts punish the perpetrator for what they did to the victim. Frequently the punishment takes the form of incarceration. We are Fairfield County Crime and Sexual Assault Lawyers who achieve monetary compensation for the victim in the civil courts.

All that the civil courts can do for the victim is get them money. Obviously, the perpetrator is responsible for the harm that the crime caused. But is that money recoverable? Does the perpetrator have the financial resources to pay? Often the answer is no. Insurance is typically not available for acts which are intentional in nature. However, sometimes there is insurance. For example, if the perpetrator caused harm while driving while intoxicated, motor vehicle insurance may come into play. If the perpetrator did not appreciate his or her actions at the time of their crime, perhaps homeowners’ insurance can come in to play.

More frequently, the best opportunity for crime victims to recover financially is from a third party that may be responsible for the crime. For example, when children are sexually abused the question becomes – should someone have stopped the perpetrator? Was there a person that knew or should have known that the perpetrator was a risk to children? Was there an employer who was supposed to be supervising the perpetrator but failed to do so? Did someone fail to do an adequate background check?

When a person is assaulted physically or sexually, Fairfield Crime and Sexual Assault Lawyers look to see if there is a property owner who should have done more. Under Connecticut Law, business owners who invite people to their premises must take reasonable steps to protect them from assaults. Where there is a higher risk of attack, there is a higher responsibility for the business owner to protect visitors. So, steps that may be sufficient in a low crime area may be inadequate in a high crime area.

What are reasonable steps a property owner may take to protect customers from assaults? Perhaps if there are dark areas at the property there should be better lighting. Perhaps security cameras should be installed to deter crime. Maybe security guards need to be hired. The property owner must take reasonable steps to protect customers from foreseeable crime.

At Robinson Mahoney we know that the physical injuries can be painful and require medical treatment. We work with your doctors to prove the extent of the physical injuries. But, for crime victims the emotional injuries often are far worse than the physical. The trauma of the crime can stay with a person for a lifetime. Many of our clients suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder which is a physical and emotional reaction to the memory of the crime. We are Fairfield County Crime and Sexual Assault Lawyers who work with your treaters to establish the extent of the emotional trauma. If you do not have a treater, we can ask you to see an independent expert to evaluate your injury.

Our commitment to crime victims goes beyond the representation of our clients. At Robinson Mahoney, we have collaborated over the years with various victim advocacy groups to effect legislative changes to increase access to the courts. For example, most victims of childhood sexual abuse have until they reach 48 years of age to file a claim. We have seen states around the country passing what is called “window legislation” to give victims of sexual abuse whose claims are time barred a limited chance to file their claims. We are actively working in favor of that legislation.

At Robinson Mahoney we are Fairfield Crime and Sexual Assault Lawyers who know how to prove your case and get you a financial recovery. Call us for more information.