Stopping by at a gas station is something most of us do throughout the week, whether we need to fill up our car or pick up a drink or snack from the convenience store. You may also need to use the bathroom, and it’s pretty much a safe bet that your local gas station has facilities that are available to the public. What may not be safe, however, is the conditions at these places that can lead to incidents of sexual assault.
Sexual assaults are disturbingly common at gas stations throughout the state of California. Acts of sexual harassment, molestation, rape, and attempted rape often take place in gas stations bathrooms and other areas of the property. The gas station parking lot is another place where people are vulnerable to sexual abuse, along with muggings, beatings, and kidnappings.
If you were sexually assaulted at a gas station, please consider a free consultation with one of our attorneys. As a sexual abuse victim, it’s essential to learn about the legal actions that are available to you. Your options may include a lawsuit for monetary compensation, which we can discuss with you during a free consultation.
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Why Do Sexual Assaults Happen at Gas Stations?
Lack of security measures is the main cause of sexual assaults at gas stations. For example, a gas station bathroom should have secure locks that cannot be forced open by a sexual predator or someone else with bad intentions. Unfortunately, these facilities are often neglected by gas station owners, as one can usually tell from how dirty they are. Criminals are aware of this as well, which is why there are so many reports of sexual assault at gas stations by homeless vagrants and other people that should not be on the premises.
You may also be assaulted by another customer at the location of the incident, even in highly visible areas like the gas pumps and gas station convenience stores. In these situations, it’s not unusual to discover that there were multiple incidents of sexual abuse, which were reported by numerous victims. Yet, the gas station owners did nothing to improve security on the premises or ask for help from the authorities.
Sexual assault by employee is another common incident at a gas station parking lot, bathroom, or convenience store. In fact, employees have the advantage of knowing the layout of the premises, including where cameras are located. They also know when business is slow, and there are likely to be little to no witnesses that can identify them.
Can I Sue the Owner of the Gas Station?
Yes, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit against the owner of the gas station where you were sexually assaulted. Based on the law of premises liability, owners must ensure the safety of their premises for all guests and visitors. This includes taking reasonable measures to prevent dangerous incidents, like removing spills from the floor and posting warning signs that the property is under surveillance. Thus, if someone is harmed on the premises from a condition that could have been prevented, the owner is generally liable for the victim’s injuries.
Liability by a business owner includes injuries that are caused by their employees. This is based on a legal concept known as vicarious liability. Even if the owner did not directly cause the customer to be injured, they are indirectly responsible for the conduct of their employees while they are performing their job duties. Of course, it’s possible that the owner’s negligence directly contributed to the incident as well. For example, the owner may have hired someone without conducting the proper background checks. Or, they failed to fire the employee, contact the authorities, or take other actions to protect their customers from being sexually assaulted.
These concepts can be complicated to understand, but figuring out who is responsible for your injuries is critical to receiving payment from a sexual abuse lawsuit. To learn more about your rights and legal options, contact us to speak to a lawyer with experience in sexual assaults at gas stations.
Average Value of a Sexual Abuse at a Gas Station Lawsuit
Understandably, many victims that contact us want to have a sense of the average settlement value for a sexual assault case. However, “average” is not a word that we like to apply to cases in general, as there are so many factors that must be considered in order to derive an approximate settlement value. Our goal is to bring you a fair payment amount based on the harm you’ve suffered, and this is something that’s individual to you and your incident of sexual abuse. We must also consider the damages you are eligible to receive, which may include:
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Medical services, including cost of therapy and other rehabilitative services
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Lost wages and/or lost earning potential
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Non-economic damages: pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of consortium, etc.
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Damage to any personal property
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Legal fees
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Punitive damages / treble damages
When all is said and done, you may end up with an amount that falls between $450,000 and $5 million, based on our record of past verdicts and settlements. Clearly, this is a very wide range, and some victims may receive less or more than these amounts. That’s why you should speak to one of our attorneys right away if you would like to learn you can recover from a sexual abuse lawsuit.
What is the Estimated Timeline to Reach a Settlement?
Reaching a settlement in any case is a time-consuming process, but claims involving sexual assault are especially complex. Major businesses generally go out of their way to avoid allegations of negligence in these cases, and as a result, it can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years to negotiate a settlement award. If your case goes to trial, the entire process can take up to several years, though it should be noted that over 90% of cases do not get to this point. If you would like a detailed explanation on the process to settle a sexual assault lawsuit, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
I’m not Happy with my Current Lawyer – What are my Rights?
This is an unfortunate reality for many claimants, and it can seem like there’s no way out if you’ve already hired an attorney. Perhaps you’re in the middle of a lawsuit or just finished a mediation that did not go as planned. You may be wondering if switching lawyers is the right thing to do, or if there are other options you can explore. That’s where we can be of help, with a free second opinion on your sexual assault claim against a gas station. We never charge for a second opinion, so you have nothing to lose by contacting us and scheduling a consultation at your earliest convenience.
Statute of Limitations to File a Sexual Assault Lawsuit
If you are an adult at the time of the assault, you have 10 years to file a lawsuit against the liable entities and seek compensation for your physical and mental injuries. Or, you can file a lawsuit within 3 years of discovering the effects of sexual assault, such as a mental or physical injury that did not manifest until a later time. As your statute of limitations depends on the date that comes later, you should speak with a lawyer right away to determine how long you have to file a gas station sexual abuse lawsuit.
The deadline for a lawsuit is much longer if you were under 18 at the time of the incident. Under Assembly Bill 218, those who were sexually abused as minors have up until the age of 40, or 5 years after discovering a physical or psychological injury stemming from the abuse to file a lawsuit. Again, these are confusing, but essential differences that will allow you as much time as possible to seek justice as a victim of sexual assault. Our attorneys are here to guide you through the legal process from start to finish, so call us right away for a free case review.
Contact Normandie Law Firm
We know how hard it is to take that first step and reach out to an attorney when you are the victim of a sexual assault. Many victims are afraid that they will be pressured into something they are ready for, but we can promise you that taking legal action is completely up to you. Our goal is to empower you with knowledge and help you decide on the best course of action, which may be a lawsuit for sexual assault against your attacker, the gas station, and anyone else that caused you to be assaulted.
Your consultation with us is completely free, and so are the rest of our services if you choose our law firm to represent you. Our Zero Fee Guarantee protects your finances from day one, as we never ask for payment from our clients. All legal fees are paid by the defendant at the end of your case, and that’s only if we succeed in recovering your settlement. If not, you pay nothing out of pocket, and we eat the costs associated with your case.
For a free case evaluation with a gas station sexual assault lawyer, please contact our law firm.
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