Helped Clients Recover Over $25 Billion. Since 1979.

FREE CASE EVALUATION
FREE CASE EVALUATION

Helped Clients Recover Over $25 Billion. Since 1979.

(858) 424 - 4444

Sexual Assault Lawyer

If you have survived sexual assault, understand that you are not alone—and it is highly probable that there are other survivors who have suffered at the hands of the same perpetrator or institution. At The Schenk Law Firm, we work with survivors to seek justice on their own terms. A civil lawsuit gives you a voice, the ability to demand accountability, and the opportunity to access compensation for the harm you’ve endured.

A sexual assault lawyer on our team can help you pursue a civil claim for financial compensation without requiring a police report or a criminal conviction.

Whether the assault happened in a rideshare, a workplace, a school, a hotel, or a medical setting, we hold perpetrators and the institutions that enabled them accountable. As a San Diego sexual assault lawyer serving all 50 states, we work on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

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What Is Sexual Assault? Your Rights as a Survivor

Sexual assault is any nonconsensual sexual contact, including unwanted touching, coercion, and rape, regardless of the relationship between the survivor and the perpetrator. Survivors have the legal right to pursue a civil sexual assault lawsuit for financial compensation whether or not they reported the incident to police or pressed criminal charges.

Types of Sexual Assault We Handle

  • Rape and attempted rape by strangers, acquaintances, partners, or spouses.
  • Unwanted sexual contact by medical professionals, coworkers, or caregivers.
  • Sexual harassment escalating to assault in workplaces, schools, or housing.
  • Child sexual abuse by clergy, teachers, coaches, or institutional staff.
  • Rideshare sexual assault by Uber and Lyft drivers and other service providers.
  • Institutional cover-up where an employer, school, or facility knew of abuse and failed to act.

Who Can File a Sexual Assault Civil Lawsuit?

Anyone who has experienced sexual assault anywhere in the United States can file a civil lawsuit, even if the perpetrator was never criminally charged. A sexual assault victim lawyer can file on your behalf against the individual perpetrator and, where applicable, against an employer, institution, or company whose negligence enabled the assault.

Civil vs. Criminal Sexual Assault Cases: What’s the Difference?

Criminal Case Civil Lawsuit
Prosecuted by the state Filed by you (the survivor)
Goal: punish the perpetrator Goal: compensate you
Higher burden of proof (“beyond a reasonable doubt”) Lower burden (“preponderance of the evidence”)
Limited financial recovery for the victim Can recover medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering
You do not control the process Your attorney fights for your interests

Cases Our Sexual Assault Attorneys Handle

Our sexual assault attorneys handle cases across five major categories, each with distinct defendants, legal theories, and evidence requirements.

Uber & Lyft Sexual Assault Lawyer

A dedicated uber sexual assault lawyer can help if you were assaulted by a rideshare driver. More than 3,000 claims are currently consolidated in the federal Uber MDL.

Workplace Sexual Assault Lawyer

A workplace sexual assault lawyer can pursue a civil claim against both the perpetrator and the employer. Employers are liable when they knew about prior misconduct, failed to investigate complaints, or retaliated against employees who reported the assault.

School Sexual Assault Lawyer

A school sexual assault lawyer handles assaults by teachers, coaches, staff, and other students at K-12 schools, colleges, and universities.

Doctor & Medical Professional Sexual Assault

Patients assaulted by physicians, therapists, or other medical professionals can sue both the provider and the hospital, clinic, or practice group.

Hotel & Hospitality Sexual Assault

Hotels, motels, resorts, and short-term rental platforms can be held responsible when negligent security, broken locks, or a known pattern of incidents enabled an assault.

What Compensation Can a Sexual Assault Lawyer Recover for You?

A sexual assault lawyer can recover compensation in four main categories: medical and therapy expenses, lost wages and diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, and punitive damages where a defendant acted with malice or an institution covered up the misconduct.

How Much Is a Sexual Assault Lawsuit Worth?

Settlement values for a sexual assault lawsuit vary based on the severity of the injuries, the strength of evidence, the defendant’s assets and insurance, and whether an institution shares liability.

Why Choose Schenk Law Firm as Your Sexual Assault Attorney?

The right sexual assault lawyer for your case should combine decades of complex-injury experience with a genuinely survivor-centered practice.

Proven Experience in Personal Injury and Civil Litigation

Schenk Law Firm has represented injured clients since 1979 and recovered more than $25 billion on their behalf.

Compassionate Victim-Focused Approach

The attorney sexual assault survivors choose should put dignity first. Every client works directly with a partner attorney, meetings happen on your terms, and we never pressure a settlement that undervalues what you went through.

Your Conversations with us are Confidential and Protected

When you reach out for a case review, your discussions with our attorneys are protected by the attorney-client privilege under California Evidence Code section 952.

No Fee Unless We Recover

You pay nothing up front and nothing unless we recover compensation.

What Happens After You Contact Us?

  1. Free confidential consultation. Tell us what happened in your own words, at your pace.
  2. Case investigation. We gather evidence, records, and documentation, and work with investigators and medical experts as needed.
  3. Legal strategy. We identify every liable party, both the perpetrator and any institution whose negligence contributed.
  4. Filing your claim. Civil lawsuit, settlement negotiations, or both, on the track that best fits your goals.
  5. Resolution. Settlement, verdict, or other outcome. You pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover.

FAQ

Answers below cover the questions survivors most often ask a sexual assault lawyer before deciding to move forward. If your situation is not addressed here, contact us for a free, confidential case review.

What Does a Sexual Assault Lawyer Do?

A sexual assault lawyer represents survivors in civil lawsuits against perpetrators and the institutions that enabled them, helping clients recover compensation for medical care, therapy, lost income, and pain and suffering. The attorney handles evidence gathering, filing, negotiation, and trial work so the survivor does not have to face the defendant alone.

What Should I Do Immediately After a Sexual Assault?

If you are in danger, call 911 or go to a hospital. If you are safe, preserve any physical evidence, note the date and time, and consider contacting a confidential resource like RAINN (1-800-656-HOPE). You are not required to report to police to later pursue a civil claim.

Can I File a Sexual Assault Lawsuit if No Criminal Charges Were Filed?

Yes. A civil sexual assault lawsuit is separate from any criminal case. Civil courts use a lower burden of proof (preponderance of the evidence), so survivors can win compensation even when prosecutors declined to file charges or a criminal jury acquitted the defendant.

What Is the Average Settlement for a Sexual Assault Lawsuit?

Settlement values range widely because every case is different. Recent benchmarks include the $8.5 million Uber bellwether verdict in February 2026 and institutional cover-up settlements that have reached eight and nine figures. Any honest sexual assault attorney will evaluate your specific facts before discussing a range.

Will My Name Be Kept Private?

Initial consultations are fully confidential, and we never share what you tell us without your permission. If your case proceeds, many survivors file under a pseudonym (Jane Doe or John Doe) or request a protective order to limit public disclosure. Your San Diego sexual assault lawyer will walk you through the privacy options available in your jurisdiction.

What Is the Difference Between Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse?

The terms overlap significantly in civil law. “Sexual assault” typically refers to discrete nonconsensual acts, while “sexual abuse” often describes an ongoing pattern, especially involving a minor or someone in a position of dependence. Most survivors qualify to sue under either framework.

Is a Sexual Assault Attorney Near Me Required, or Can I Use an Out-of-State Lawyer?

You do not need a sexual assault attorney near me in the strict geographic sense. A sexual assault lawyer San Diego firm like ours represents survivors in all 50 states, partnering with local counsel where required.

What Evidence Is Needed for a Sexual Assault Case?

Helpful evidence includes medical and therapy records, text messages, photos, rideshare or hotel receipts, witness statements, and any prior complaints filed with an employer, school, or police. An experienced attorney sexual assault survivors trust can build a strong case even where physical evidence is limited, especially when institutional patterns of misconduct can be documented.

Does Uber or Lyft Cover Sexual Assault by Its Drivers?

Both companies have historically denied liability by classifying drivers as independent contractors, but courts increasingly find the rideshare platforms legally responsible. The February 2026 Uber bellwether verdict found the company liable, and the newly consolidated Lyft MDL may follow a similar path.

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