You Have Options Beyond the Criminal Justice System

Survivors of sexual assault or rape in Washington have several legal paths available, independent of whether police ever get involved or charges are ever filed. You can pursue a civil lawsuit against your attacker for money damages, and in many cases against a third party, such as a property owner or employer, whose negligence made the assault possible. You can also request a sexual assault protection order to legally bar contact from your attacker, whether or not you report the assault to law enforcement. If the assault involved a minor, our childhood sexual abuse practice area page covers the specific rules that apply. Meyer Thorp, PLLC represents adult survivors across Washington with discretion and care.

Why Survivors Turn to Meyer Thorp, PLLC

  • A trauma-informed approach that puts your comfort and control over the process first
  • Experience pursuing both individual claims against an attacker and negligent security claims against property owners and businesses
  • The ability to investigate prior incidents, security practices, and staffing at the location where the assault occurred
  • A contingency-fee structure for civil claims, so you pay nothing up front and nothing at all unless we recover compensation
  • Guidance on protection orders and crime victims compensation, alongside any civil lawsuit

Depending on your goals, you may be able to pursue any combination of the following:

  • A civil lawsuit against your attacker for damages such as medical costs, counseling, lost income, and pain and suffering
  • A civil lawsuit against a third party, such as a landlord, employer, school, or business, whose negligence contributed to the assault
  • A sexual assault protection order requiring your attacker to stay away from you, your home, and your workplace
  • An application to Washington’s Crime Victims Compensation Program for help with medical bills, counseling, and lost wages
  • Cooperation with a criminal investigation, which is handled by prosecutors and is separate from any civil case

Can I Sue the Person Who Assaulted Me?

Yes. A sexual assault generally supports a civil claim for assault and battery, regardless of whether the perpetrator is ever criminally charged or convicted. Most adult sexual assault claims must be filed within three years under Washington’s general personal injury statute of limitations (RCW 4.16.080). If the assault occurred while you were a minor, a different and more protective deadline applies under Washington’s childhood sexual abuse statute.

Can I Sue Someone Other Than My Attacker?

Often, yes. If the assault happened because a property owner, landlord, employer, or business failed to provide reasonable security, such as working locks, adequate lighting, functioning cameras, or sufficient staffing, that party may share legal responsibility. Common examples include:

  • An apartment complex or hotel with broken entry locks or no security in common areas
  • A bar, nightclub, or event venue that failed to remove a known aggressive patron
  • An employer that ignored warning signs about an employee or failed to screen staff with access to vulnerable people
  • A rideshare, delivery, or similar platform that failed to properly vet or respond to complaints about a worker

These negligent security claims often provide a path to compensation when the attacker cannot be identified, has no assets, or has already faced criminal consequences that do not include restitution.

What Is a Sexual Assault Protection Order?

A sexual assault protection order (SAPO) under RCW 7.105 lets a survivor ask a Washington court to bar contact from someone who committed nonconsensual sexual conduct against them, even outside a domestic relationship. There is no filing fee, no requirement to have reported to police, and no deadline based on how long ago the assault occurred. A SAPO can be a practical step even if you decide not to pursue a civil lawsuit or criminal case.

Can I Get Compensation Even Without Suing Anyone?

Washington’s Crime Victims Compensation Program, run through the Department of Labor & Industries, can help cover medical treatment, counseling, and lost wages connected to a sexual assault. The cost of an initial forensic exam is covered regardless of whether you file a police report. To qualify for most other benefits, however, the program generally requires a police report, so it is worth discussing this option with an attorney early if compensation, rather than a civil lawsuit, is your main goal.

What Compensation Can I Recover in a Civil Lawsuit?

A successful civil claim can provide compensation for medical and counseling expenses, past and future, lost income, and the pain, suffering, and emotional harm caused by the assault. A claim against a negligent property owner or employer may also account for the value of the safety measures that were never put in place. Washington generally does not allow punitive damages absent a specific statutory basis, so compensatory damages remain the central focus of most claims.

Talk to a Washington Sexual Assault Attorney

If you are considering your legal options after a sexual assault, you do not have to figure it out alone. Contact Meyer Thorp, PLLC today for a confidential consultation.

Sexual Assault and Rape Claims

You Have Options Beyond the Criminal Justice System

Survivors of sexual assault or rape in Washington have several legal paths available, independent of whether police ever get involved or charges are ever filed. You can pursue a civil lawsuit against your attacker for money damages, and in many cases against a third party, such as a property owner or employer, whose negligence made the assault possible. You can also request a sexual assault protection order to legally bar contact from your attacker, whether or not you report the assault to law enforcement. If the assault involved a minor, our childhood sexual abuse practice area page covers the specific rules that apply. Meyer Thorp, PLLC represents adult survivors across Washington with discretion and care.

Why Survivors Turn to Meyer Thorp, PLLC

  • A trauma-informed approach that puts your comfort and control over the process first
  • Experience pursuing both individual claims against an attacker and negligent security claims against property owners and businesses
  • The ability to investigate prior incidents, security practices, and staffing at the location where the assault occurred
  • A contingency-fee structure for civil claims, so you pay nothing up front and nothing at all unless we recover compensation
  • Guidance on protection orders and crime victims compensation, alongside any civil lawsuit

Depending on your goals, you may be able to pursue any combination of the following:

  • A civil lawsuit against your attacker for damages such as medical costs, counseling, lost income, and pain and suffering
  • A civil lawsuit against a third party, such as a landlord, employer, school, or business, whose negligence contributed to the assault
  • A sexual assault protection order requiring your attacker to stay away from you, your home, and your workplace
  • An application to Washington’s Crime Victims Compensation Program for help with medical bills, counseling, and lost wages
  • Cooperation with a criminal investigation, which is handled by prosecutors and is separate from any civil case

Can I Sue the Person Who Assaulted Me?

Yes. A sexual assault generally supports a civil claim for assault and battery, regardless of whether the perpetrator is ever criminally charged or convicted. Most adult sexual assault claims must be filed within three years under Washington’s general personal injury statute of limitations (RCW 4.16.080). If the assault occurred while you were a minor, a different and more protective deadline applies under Washington’s childhood sexual abuse statute.

Can I Sue Someone Other Than My Attacker?

Often, yes. If the assault happened because a property owner, landlord, employer, or business failed to provide reasonable security, such as working locks, adequate lighting, functioning cameras, or sufficient staffing, that party may share legal responsibility. Common examples include:

  • An apartment complex or hotel with broken entry locks or no security in common areas
  • A bar, nightclub, or event venue that failed to remove a known aggressive patron
  • An employer that ignored warning signs about an employee or failed to screen staff with access to vulnerable people
  • A rideshare, delivery, or similar platform that failed to properly vet or respond to complaints about a worker

These negligent security claims often provide a path to compensation when the attacker cannot be identified, has no assets, or has already faced criminal consequences that do not include restitution.

What Is a Sexual Assault Protection Order?

A sexual assault protection order (SAPO) under RCW 7.105 lets a survivor ask a Washington court to bar contact from someone who committed nonconsensual sexual conduct against them, even outside a domestic relationship. There is no filing fee, no requirement to have reported to police, and no deadline based on how long ago the assault occurred. A SAPO can be a practical step even if you decide not to pursue a civil lawsuit or criminal case.

Can I Get Compensation Even Without Suing Anyone?

Washington’s Crime Victims Compensation Program, run through the Department of Labor & Industries, can help cover medical treatment, counseling, and lost wages connected to a sexual assault. The cost of an initial forensic exam is covered regardless of whether you file a police report. To qualify for most other benefits, however, the program generally requires a police report, so it is worth discussing this option with an attorney early if compensation, rather than a civil lawsuit, is your main goal.

What Compensation Can I Recover in a Civil Lawsuit?

A successful civil claim can provide compensation for medical and counseling expenses, past and future, lost income, and the pain, suffering, and emotional harm caused by the assault. A claim against a negligent property owner or employer may also account for the value of the safety measures that were never put in place. Washington generally does not allow punitive damages absent a specific statutory basis, so compensatory damages remain the central focus of most claims.

Talk to a Washington Sexual Assault Attorney

If you are considering your legal options after a sexual assault, you do not have to figure it out alone. Contact Meyer Thorp, PLLC today for a confidential consultation.