In the United States, it's illegal to force someone to have sexual intercourse without their consent – this is referred to as rape, sexual violence, or sexual abuse. In many states, rape is referred to as "sexual assault," however, sexual assault is frequently an umbrella term that refers to various types of unwanted sexual contact.

Sexual assault is a widespread problem in the United States. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men will be a victim of rape at some point in their lifetime. Contrary to popular belief, most rapes are not committed by strangers, they are committed by someone the victim knows. What's more, 8 out of 10 victims knew the person who sexually assaulted them.

Sexual violence statistics in the U.S.

• 91% of the victims of sexual assault are female
• 8% of sexual assaults occur when the victim is at work
• 81% of female sexual assault victims report significant short or long-term effects, such as Post Traumatic stress Disorder (PTSD),
• 1 in 4 girls are sexually abused before they turn 18,
• 12.3% of female sexual assault victims were 10 or younger the first time they were assaulted, and
• 96% of the people who commit child sexual abuse are male.

(Source: National Sexual Violence Resource Center)

If a sexual abuser is turned in to the authorities, he can be arrested and prosecuted for sexual assault or aggravated sexual assault. But what about the victim? The victims of sexual abuse or violence are entitled to file a civil lawsuit, even if the offender is facing criminal prosecution.

Often, a sexual abuse victim will suffer physical and emotional damage. Sometimes, the effects of the sexual assault can be life-altering and lead to serious psychological trauma. Since sexual assault is deplorable in our society, victims can file a sexual abuse lawsuit.

If the abuser is not wealthy, the victim may be able to file a lawsuit against another party, such as a school, a hotel or motel, or their employer depending on the location and circumstances of the assault.

For further information about filing a sexual abuse lawsuit, we urge you to contact a personal injury attorney for legal advice and guidance.