Sexual Assault Victim Lawyer

At Konta Georges & Buza P.C., we understand that surviving sexual assault can be one of life’s most challenging experiences. Our Manhattan-based sexual assault victim lawyer team provides steadfast support and dedicated representation to survivors throughout New York City’s five boroughs. Contact us for a free, confidential consultation with a sexual assault attorney who will stand by your side throughout your journey toward healing and justice.

How a Sexual Assault Victim Lawyer Can Help

At Konta Georges & Buza P.C., we understand that seeking legal representation after experiencing sexual assault can feel overwhelming. Our Manhattan-based sexual assault victim lawyer will provide comprehensive support to survivors throughout New York City. Here’s how our legal team can assist you during this challenging time:

• Immediate Legal Protection: Our sexual assault victim attorneys can help secure emergency protective orders through Manhattan courts and coordinate with local law enforcement to ensure your immediate safety.
• Evidence Preservation: A sexual assault victim lawyer works quickly to gather and preserve crucial evidence, including surveillance footage from NYC establishments, medical records from local hospitals, and witness statements from the community.
• Medical Care Coordination: Your sexual assault attorney can coordinate with trusted healthcare providers across Manhattan, from Mount Sinai to NYU Langone, ensuring you receive proper care while documenting injuries for legal purposes.
• Criminal Case Support: Our sexual assault victim lawyers work alongside the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, attending court proceedings at 100 Centre Street and providing guidance throughout the criminal justice process.
• Civil Lawsuit Navigation: A dedicated sexual assault victim attorney evaluates all potential civil claims, from premises liability cases against negligent property owners to institutional liability claims against employers or organizations.
• Insurance Claims Management: Your sexual assault victim lawyer handles all communication with insurance companies, preventing them from taking advantage of you during this vulnerable time.
• Compensation Recovery: We pursue maximum compensation for medical expenses, therapy costs, lost wages from Manhattan employers, and emotional trauma through carefully structured settlement negotiations or court proceedings.
• Statute of Limitations Guidance: Our sexual assault victim attorneys ensure compliance with New York’s legal deadlines, including recent changes under the Adult Survivors Act, protecting your right to seek justice.
• Victim Services Connection: Our sexual assault victim lawyers maintain strong relationships with survivor support organizations throughout NYC, connecting clients with counseling services, support groups, and advocacy resources.
• Confidentiality Protection: Your sexual assault victim lawyer safeguards your privacy throughout the legal process, utilizing protective orders when necessary and ensuring sensitive information remains confidential.
• Employment Protection: Our sexual assault attorneys help protect your job rights if the incident affects your work, coordinating with Manhattan employers and handling workplace accommodations.
• Housing Security: Our sexual assault victim lawyers assist with housing-related legal issues that may arise, working with New York City Housing Authority or private landlords to ensure your living situation remains secure.
• Financial Support Access: Your sexual assault victim lawyer helps identify and apply for victim compensation funds and other financial assistance programs available through New York State.
• Documentation Management: Our sexual assault victim lawyers handle all case-related paperwork, from court filings at 60 Centre Street to correspondence with insurance companies, allowing you to focus on healing.

Financial Compensation Sexual Assault Survivors May Be Entitled To in NYC

As your sexual assault attorney, we work diligently to identify every potential avenue for recovery across Manhattan’s legal landscape. Here are the types of compensation you may be entitled to receive:

• Medical Expenses: Coverage for emergency care at Manhattan hospitals, ongoing treatment, prescription medications, and mental health services including therapy sessions and psychiatric care.
• Lost Income: Compensation for wages lost while recovering, attending court proceedings at 100 Centre Street, or receiving treatment, plus potential future earnings if the assault impacts your career trajectory in NYC’s competitive job market.
• Pain and Suffering: Monetary recognition of physical pain and emotional trauma, calculated based on factors specific to New York State court precedents and Manhattan jury awards.
• Therapy and Counseling: Coverage for long-term psychological support, including services from Manhattan’s numerous mental health providers and trauma specialists.
• Security Upgrades: Compensation for necessary security improvements to your Manhattan residence or workplace, including surveillance systems and improved locks.
• Relocation Expenses: Funding to cover the costs of moving to a safer location within NYC’s five boroughs if necessary for your wellbeing and security.
• Property Damage: Reimbursement for any personal property damaged during the assault or subsequent evidence collection process.
• Transportation Costs: Coverage for travel expenses to medical appointments, court appearances, and therapy sessions throughout Manhattan and greater NYC.
• Punitive Damages: Additional compensation designed to punish particularly egregious conduct, available in certain civil cases under New York State law.
• Victim Compensation Fund: Access to New York State’s Office of Victim Services compensation program, which provides financial assistance to qualifying survivors.
• Civil Lawsuit Damages: Compensation from civil suits against perpetrators, negligent property owners, employers, or institutions across Manhattan that failed to prevent the assault.
• Loss of Consortium: Damages acknowledging the impact on your relationships and family life, recognized by New York State courts.
• Future Care Costs: Coverage for anticipated long-term medical treatment, ongoing therapy, and future support services in the New York metropolitan area.
• Workplace Accommodations: Compensation for necessary job modifications or career transition support if the assault affects your ability to continue in your current Manhattan workplace.

NYC Sexual Assault Cases We Take

At Konta Georges & Buza P.C., our sexual assault lawyers represent survivors across Manhattan and the five boroughs in various types of cases. Our sexual assault attorneys understand the unique challenges and sensitivities of each case type, providing trauma-informed representation tailored to your specific situation. Here are the types of cases we handle:

• Clergy Abuse Cases: Our clergy sexual abuse lawyers represent survivors of abuse by religious leaders across Manhattan’s diverse faith communities, including cases involving historical abuse and claims under the Adult Survivors Act. We handle cases against individual perpetrators and religious institutions that enabled or concealed abuse.
• School Sexual Abuse: A dedicated personal injury lawyer from our firm handles cases involving abuse in Manhattan’s public and private schools, universities, and educational institutions. We pursue claims against abusive educators, staff members, and negligent school administrators who failed to protect students.
• Child Sexual Abuse: Our sexual assault lawyers work sensitively with survivors of childhood abuse, utilizing New York’s Child Victims Act and related legislation to pursue justice. We coordinate with child advocacy centers across Manhattan and maintain relationships with trauma-informed counselors near our Bryant Park office.
• Boy Scouts Abuse: Your sexual assault attorney will guide you through claims related to Boy Scouts of America abuse, including cases eligible for the bankruptcy trust compensation program. We help survivors navigate complex filing requirements while maintaining strict confidentiality throughout the process.
• Rideshare Sexual Assault: Our sexual assault lawyers represent survivors of assaults involving Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare services operating throughout NYC. We pursue claims against both individual perpetrators and companies that failed to properly screen drivers or respond to safety concerns.
• Healthcare Provider Abuse: A sexual assault attorney from our firm handles cases involving abuse by medical professionals across Manhattan’s healthcare facilities, from private practices to major hospital systems like Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian.
• Workplace Sexual Assault: Our NYC personal injury lawyers represent survivors of workplace assault across Manhattan’s diverse industries, from Financial District offices to service industry locations. We handle claims against perpetrators and employers who failed to maintain safe work environments.
• Residential Building Assault: Your sexual assault attorney pursues cases involving assaults in Manhattan apartment buildings, condominiums, and co-ops, holding property owners and management companies accountable for inadequate security measures.
• College Campus Assault: Our school sexual assault lawyers work with survivors from NYC’s numerous colleges and universities, handling both Title IX proceedings and civil claims while protecting students’ educational rights.
• Institutional Abuse: A dedicated sexual assault attorney represents survivors of abuse in institutional settings like foster care facilities, juvenile detention centers, and residential treatment programs across the five boroughs.

What is Sexual Assault in NYC?

Under New York State law, sexual assault encompasses several serious criminal offenses defined in Article 130 of the New York Penal Code. As sexual assault victim lawyers serving Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs, Konta Georges & Buza P.C. wants you to understand these crucial legal definitions.

The law defines sexual assault as non-consensual sexual contact. According to NY Penal Law § 130.05(2)(c), consent cannot be given when “a person is incapable of consent by reason of being mentally disabled, mentally incapacitated or physically helpless.”

Sexual assault includes various degrees of criminal sexual acts

• Under NY Penal Law § 130.35, First Degree Rape occurs when a person “engages in sexual intercourse with another person by forcible compulsion.” The law specifically states that force may involve physical force or threats that create fear of immediate death, physical injury, or kidnapping.
• NY Penal Law § 130.52 defines Forcible Touching as when someone “intentionally, and for no legitimate purpose, forcibly touches the sexual or other intimate parts of another person for the purpose of degrading or abusing such person; or for the purpose of gratifying the actor’s sexual desire.”
• Additionally, NY Penal Law § 130.20 establishes that Sexual Misconduct occurs when someone “engages in sexual intercourse with another person without such person’s consent” or “engages in oral sexual conduct or anal sexual conduct with another person without such person’s consent.”

As your sexual assault attorney, we emphasize that New York law is clear: any sexual contact without explicit consent constitutes assault. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office prosecutes these cases criminally, while our sexual assault victim lawyers help survivors pursue civil remedies through the courts at 60 Centre Street.

Who Might Be Liable in Your Sexual Assault Case?

At Konta Georges & Buza P.C., our sexual assault victim lawyers understand that responsibility for sexual assault often extends beyond the direct perpetrator. As your sexual assault attorney in Manhattan, we thoroughly investigate all potentially liable parties under New York law. Here are the parties who may bear legal responsibility in your case:

• Direct Perpetrator: The individual who committed the assault bears primary liability under both criminal and civil law. Your sexual assault victim lawyer can pursue civil damages regardless of whether criminal charges are filed in Manhattan courts.
• Property Owners: Manhattan landlords, building managers, and property owners may be liable if inadequate security measures or negligent maintenance contributed to unsafe conditions that enabled the assault.
• Educational Institutions: Schools, colleges, and universities across NYC may bear responsibility if they failed to protect students, ignored previous complaints, or inadequately screened employees. Your sexual assault attorney can pursue claims against both public and private institutions.
• Religious Organizations: Churches, synagogues, mosques, and other religious institutions may be liable if they enabled abuse, concealed previous incidents, or failed to properly screen clergy members working in Manhattan communities.
• Healthcare Facilities: Hospitals, medical practices, and healthcare organizations throughout NYC may bear responsibility if they failed to properly screen employees or ignored reports of misconduct by medical professionals.
• Employers: Manhattan businesses and organizations may be liable if workplace sexual assault occurred due to inadequate security, improper screening, or failure to address known risks. A sexual assault victim lawyer can help pursue claims against negligent employers.
• Security Companies: Private security firms contracted by Manhattan properties may bear liability if their negligence or inadequate staffing contributed to unsafe conditions.
• Rideshare Companies: Transportation services operating in NYC may be responsible if they failed to properly screen drivers or respond to safety concerns about their platforms.
• Building Management: Property management companies overseeing Manhattan residential and commercial buildings may be liable for security failures or negligent hiring practices.
• Negligent Supervisors: Individual managers or supervisors in NYC workplaces may bear personal liability if they ignored complaints or enabled harmful conduct.
• Government Entities: Public institutions and agencies in Manhattan may bear responsibility in cases involving government employees or facilities, though special legal procedures apply.
• Institutional Care Facilities: Nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and residential treatment facilities across NYC may be liable for failing to protect vulnerable residents.
• Third-Party Contractors: Companies providing services in Manhattan buildings or institutions may bear liability if their employees commit assault or their negligence creates unsafe conditions.
• Entertainment Venues: Bars, clubs, and entertainment facilities throughout NYC may be responsible if their negligence in security or service practices contributed to an assault.

Steps to Take as a Victim of Sexual Assault in NYC

As sexual assault victim lawyers serving Manhattan and the greater NYC area, Konta Georges & Buza P.C. understands that the hours and days following a sexual assault can be overwhelming. Your safety and wellbeing are the top priority. Our sexual assault attorneys have compiled these essential steps to help protect both your health and your legal rights:

• Ensure Immediate Safety: Get to a secure location immediately. If you’re in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest NYPD precinct. Manhattan’s 13th Precinct near Gramercy Park and the Midtown North Precinct both have dedicated Special Victims Division officers.
• Seek Medical Care: Visit a nearby hospital emergency room such as Mount Sinai, NewYork-Presbyterian, or Bellevue Hospital, where Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFE) can provide care and collect crucial evidence using a rape kit.
• Report to Law Enforcement: File a police report with the NYPD Special Victims Division. Your sexual assault victim lawyers can accompany you to ensure your rights are protected during this process.
• Preserve Evidence: If possible, avoid showering, changing clothes, or cleaning the area where the assault occurred. Place any clothing or items that might contain evidence in paper bags, not plastic, to preserve DNA evidence.
• Document Everything: Write down every detail you can remember about the assault while it’s fresh in your memory, including times, locations, and descriptions. Take photos of any visible injuries or damage to clothing.
• Contact Confidential Support: Call NYC’s 24-hour Sexual Assault Hotline or reach out to Safe Horizon’s Manhattan office for immediate emotional support and guidance from trained advocates.
• Medical Follow-up: Schedule follow-up care with your healthcare provider for STI testing, pregnancy testing if applicable, and ongoing physical and mental health support.
• Inform Trusted People: Tell family members or close friends who can provide support and potentially serve as witnesses to your emotional state following the assault.
• Contact a Sexual Assault Attorney: Reach out to our Manhattan office near Bryant Park for a confidential consultation to understand your legal options and protect your rights.
• Maintain a Recovery Journal: Document your physical and emotional healing process, including any flashbacks, nightmares, or anxiety. This information helps your sexual assault attorney demonstrate the assault’s impact.

Take the First Step Toward Justice

Our sexual assault victim lawyers at Konta Georges & Buza P.C. are ready to listen to your story with compassion and respect. Contact us for a free, confidential consultation with a sexual assault attorney who will stand by your side throughout your journey toward healing and justice. Your path to recovery begins with a single step – we’re here to walk it with you.

Sexual Assault Victim Lawyer FAQs

How long do I have to file a sexual assault case in New York?

Under New York law, adult survivors generally have three years from the date of the assault to file a civil claim. However, the Adult Survivors Act provides a temporary lookback window for older cases, and different timeframes may apply depending on when the assault occurred and your age at the time. A sexual assault attorney from our Manhattan office can evaluate your specific situation and explain the applicable deadlines.

Will my identity be protected during legal proceedings?

Your sexual assault victim lawyer can file court documents under a pseudonym like “Jane Doe” or “John Doe” to protect your privacy. The Manhattan courts routinely grant confidentiality protections in sexual assault cases, and our sexual assault attorneys work diligently to safeguard your identity throughout the legal process.

What if I don’t remember all the details of the assault?

Memory gaps are common and normal after trauma. Our sexual assault victim lawyer work with trusted trauma counselors near our Bryant Park office who can help you process memories safely. Your sexual assault attorney will gather additional evidence like security footage, witness statements, and medical records to support your case.

Do I need to testify in court?

While many sexual assault cases settle before trial, you should be prepared for the possibility of testifying. Your sexual assault victim lawyer will thoroughly prepare you for any court appearances at 60 Centre Street and can request special accommodations to make testimony less stressful.

What if the perpetrator doesn’t have money to pay damages?

Your sexual assault attorney will identify all potential sources of compensation, including insurance policies, institutional liability, and victim compensation funds. Our sexual assault victim lawyers often pursue claims against third parties whose negligence enabled the assault, as they typically have greater financial resources.

Can I file a civil case if criminal charges were dropped?

Yes. Civil cases have a lower burden of proof than criminal cases, and the Manhattan District Attorney’s decision about criminal charges doesn’t prevent you from pursuing civil remedies. Your sexual assault victim lawyer can file a civil lawsuit regardless of the criminal case outcome.

What if the assault happened at work but I’ve since left the job?

You can still pursue a claim against a former employer. Our sexual assault attorneys regularly handle workplace cases throughout Manhattan, helping survivors seek compensation even after leaving the position where the assault occurred.

Will I have to pay legal fees upfront?

Our sexual assault victim lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only get paid if we secure compensation for you. Your initial consultation at our Manhattan office is free and confidential.

What support services are available during the legal process?

Your sexual assault attorney can connect you with trusted counselors, support groups, and victim advocacy organizations throughout NYC. Our network includes providers near our Bryant Park office who understand the intersection of legal proceedings and trauma recovery.

How do I know if my case is strong enough to pursue?

Our sexual assault victim lawyer will provide honest, thorough case evaluations during your confidential consultation. We’ll explain how New York law applies to your situation and help you understand the available legal options, allowing you to make an informed decision about moving forward.