What to Do if You Have Been Sexually Assaulted

Being sexually assaulted or raped is very likely the most traumatic experience a person can go through. Unfortunately, sexual assaults in the United States occur frequently. One out of six women in the nation are sexually assaulted, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. About 44 percent of victims are under age 18 and 80 percent are under age 30. Every two minutes, another American is sexually assaulted. There is an average of 267,868 victims (age 12 or older) of sexual assault each year.
Here are some more distressing numbers. Only about 60 percent of sexual assaults are reported to the police. About 97 percent – an overwhelming majority of rapists – will never spend a day in jail. Approximately two thirds of assaults are committed by someone known to the victim and 38 percent of rapists are a friend or acquaintance.

If You Have Been Assaulted
There are several steps you should take if you have been sexually assaulted to make sure that your rights are protected:
• First, move to a safe location away from the perpetrator.
• Do not clean up immediately. This may be difficult for you, but it is an important step you need to take in order to preserve crucial evidence. Don’t wash up, douche, change clothes, eat, brush your teeth or brush your hair.
• Write down all the details of the attack. Write down everything you can remember about the incident and the perpetrator including clothes and physical descriptions.
• Report the attack to law enforcement immediately. Call 911.
• Know that what happened was not your fault.
• Get medical attention right away.
• Also, obtain the resources you need to get psychological counseling and emotional support.
Compensation for Sexual Assault Victims
If you or a loved one was a victim of sexual assault or abuse, the experienced New York personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Our attorneys were able to reach a $2,500,000 settlement in the case of a minor, who was raped in the Bronx due to inadequate security controls in the building where she lived.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN)