Baltimore Victim's Rights Lawyers for Injury Cases

Attorneys Helping Crime Victims With Civil Claims in Baltimore

Crime victims may be affected in many ways, and they may be able to take legal action to address the injuries they have suffered. In the experience of the team at Silverman Thompson, too many survivors never talk to a lawyer about bringing a civil claim. When we hear from survivors who elected not to explore civil claims, we hear certain objections over and over again.

Concerns About a Victim's Ability to Obtain Compensation

Well-meaning friends, colleagues, and even criminal justice professionals may complain, "You can't squeeze blood out of a turnip." That advice is just plain wrong.

Before you can determine whether you have a valid cause of action against the perpetrator or someone who may be held legally liable for his or her criminal conduct, a complicated analysis must be performed. At the very least, a qualified person must analyze the following:

• Does the perpetrator have sufficient assets to pay a judgment? We have a team of collection lawyers who are experienced in searching out hidden assets to help with this determination.
• Does any insurance policy cover your claim? A perpetrator may have insurance coverage. You may have insurance coverage through a policy maintained by you or someone else. A third-party's insurance coverage may extend to your injuries. Determining whether insurance coverage applies requires factual investigation and analysis, which we perform at no cost to you. Insurance policies often cover claims that defy common sense. For example, a homeowner's policy has been held to cover claims for defamation brought against the homeowner that have nothing to do with the home. Only a lawyer who has experience dealing with insurance coverage can evaluate whether coverage exists. We have a team of highly-trained lawyers who can perform insurance coverage analysis and leave no stone unturned when looking for potential insurance coverage for crime victims.
• Can a third party be held liable for some or all of your injuries? In many cases, third parties, such as employers, business owners, hotels, landlords, etc., can be held financially liable for a perpetrator's criminal acts. Common situations involving third-party liability include:
• Negligent security claims against owners of businesses where criminal acts occur (e.g., action against a bank for an ATM robbery)
• Negligent hiring and supervision claims against employers of criminal perpetrators (e.g., a claim against a school for sexual assault by a teacher)
• Premises liability claims against owners of properties where a criminal act occurs (e.g., a claim against a landlord for the sexual assault of a tenant)
• Claims against parents of minors who commit criminal acts
• Claims against accomplices and criminal conspirators
• Claims against professional liability insurance carriers for criminal acts of professionals (e.g., a claim against a medical malpractice insurance carrier for sexual abuse by a physician)

Concerns About the Cost of Legal Representation

Survivors may worry that they do not have the money to consult with a lawyer on a potential claim. However, you do not need to pay a penny to bring a civil claim. All of our consultations with victims are absolutely free. In addition, in the event you decide to move forward with a civil claim, we are paid on a contingency fee basis. That means we will collect a percentage of any verdict or settlement, but we will collect no fees or expenses from victim survivors unless or until a verdict or settlement is reached.

Concerns About Emotional Issues

Finally, survivors may fear that the civil litigation process will prove too stressful. The process of civil litigation is not easy or stress-free for anyone, especially for survivors. We work closely with survivors, their therapists, and their families to evaluate whether bringing a civil claim is in their best interest. We urge survivors to talk with our experienced attorneys so they can make an informed judgment whether to move forward on a civil claim.

We also ask survivors to remember that most civil cases settle out of court. Moreover, how far you take a claim is entirely up to you. You can decide whether to bring a suit, and you will decide whether to go to trial.

Our experienced crime victim attorneys can help make the civil litigation process less scary for survivors. We have been successful in limiting the discovery of a victim's personal information (including medical records, counseling records, etc.) to keep defendants from using the civil litigation process to abuse and/or harass victims. We have successfully shielded our client's identity in civil lawsuits involving child sex abuse and child sexual assault. Rules permitting the use of pseudonyms (e.g., John Doe), filing cases under seal, and civil protective orders have enabled us to bring lawsuits without publicly identifying clients for whom privacy is important.

We have obtained accommodations to help make the litigation process less frightening for survivors. For example, we have convinced courts to permit child victims to testify in the judge's chambers and via closed-circuit television, obtained agreements to permit a young child to be deposed while sitting on their mother's lap, and obtained stipulations requiring opposing counsel to notify all parties in advance of graphic exhibits to shield survivors from exposure to disturbing images.

We coordinate closely with treating therapists and family support networks to ensure that survivors remain connected and engaged with their support communities throughout the litigation process. We work with our survivor clients to plan for what will happen after a case ends to ensure the survivor's financial and emotional needs will be met.

Contact Our Baltimore, MD Crime Victim Injury Attorneys

At Silverman Thompson, our attorneys will provide compassionate representation for you as you address the harm you have suffered as a crime victim. We will work to ensure that you can hold a perpetrator or other parties responsible for your injuries and damages. Contact our Baltimore victim's rights lawyers at 410-385-2225 to set up a free, no-obligation consultation.