Dallas Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Sexual abuse and sexual assault leave survivors with trauma that doesn't end when the attack is over. Medical bills, therapy costs, time away from work, and the emotional weight of what happened continue long after. 

If you were assaulted or abused in Dallas, you have legal options beyond the criminal system, and you don't need a conviction to pursue justice.

At the Law Office of Javier Perez, PLLC, we represent survivors of sexual abuse and sexual assault in civil lawsuits across Dallas and the Dallas–Fort Worth area. Our approach is trauma-informed, confidential, and focused on holding responsible parties accountable, and a Dallas sexual abuse lawyer from our team is ready to stand with you.

Call for a free, confidential consultation. You don't pay unless we win your case. Se habla español. Bilingual staff ready to help.

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Why Choose Our Dallas Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault Law Firm?

You're navigating trauma while trying to figure out whether you have a case, whether anyone will believe you, and whether going forward will make things worse. That fear and uncertainty are real. We step in to handle the legal process so you can focus on healing.

We listen without judgment. Survivors often worry they'll be questioned, blamed, or dismissed. We believe you. Our role is to investigate what happened, preserve evidence, and build a case—not to interrogate you.

We work with trauma-informed experts. As needed, we consult with therapists, medical professionals, and investigators who understand the psychological and physical impact of sexual violence. Their documentation strengthens your claim and helps prove the full scope of your damages.

We pursue responsible parties. The person who harmed you may not have the resources to compensate you fully, so our abuse claims lawyers investigate whether a property owner failed to provide adequate security, whether an employer negligently hired or supervised the perpetrator, or whether an institution (church, school, youth program, medical facility) ignored warning signs. 

We handle the pressure from opposing counsel and insurers. Defense attorneys may try to discredit survivors, minimize the abuse, or shift blame. We shield you from those tactics and push back with documented evidence, expert testimony, and a clear legal strategy.

We understand Texas deadlines and exceptions. Most personal injury claims in Texas have a two-year statute of limitations. However, Texas law provides extended timelines for certain civil claims arising from child sexual abuse. We evaluate your case to determine which deadlines apply and preserve your right to sue.

We've litigated hundreds of cases in state and federal court across Texas. Our lead attorney, Javier Perez, is Board Certified in Labor & Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization—a distinction held by fewer than 10% of Texas attorneys. That same meticulous approach to evidence, investigation, and advocacy guides our sexual abuse and assault practice.

We serve Dallas, Fort Worth, and surrounding communities with bilingual support. Featured on Univision and active in the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association, our firm understands the cultural and practical barriers that can keep survivors from pursuing justice.

We offer free, confidential consultations. You don't pay unless we win.

Not sure if you have a case? Call 214-499-0667 and talk with our team in confidence.

Criminal vs. Civil: Why You Don't Need a Conviction to Sue

Many survivors believe they must report to police or secure a criminal conviction before filing a civil lawsuit. That's not true. Criminal cases and civil cases are separate legal processes with different goals, standards, and outcomes.

Criminal Cases

Criminal cases are brought by the state against the perpetrator. The goal is punishment (jail time, probation, sex offender registration). The burden of proof is "beyond a reasonable doubt," a high standard. Prosecutors control the case, not the survivor. Many sexual assault cases never result in charges or convictions due to lack of physical evidence, credibility challenges, or prosecutor discretion.

Civil Cases

Civil cases are brought by the survivor (or their family) against the perpetrator and any third parties who contributed to the harm. The goal is financial compensation for medical bills, therapy, lost income, pain, suffering, and trauma. The burden of proof is "preponderance of the evidence" (more likely than not), a lower standard than criminal cases. You control the case through your attorney.

You may pursue a civil claim even if:

• You never reported to police
• Police investigated but made no arrest
• The prosecutor declined to file charges
• The criminal case resulted in acquittal
• The perpetrator took a plea deal
• Years have passed since the abuse (subject to statute of limitations)

Civil lawsuits offer survivors a measure of justice and accountability when the criminal system fails or falls short.

Who Can You Sue in Dallas Sexual Abuse Cases?

Texas law allows survivors to pursue compensation through three legal theories, depending on who enabled or failed to prevent the abuse.

Direct Perpetrator Liability: Assault, Battery, and Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress

The person who committed the assault or abuse may be held liable for civil assault or civil battery. Liability for intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED) is also sometimes available if a traditional tort does not fit the facts.

• Civil assault occurs when someone intentionally threatens imminent harmful or offensive contact, causing the victim to fear for their safety. The perpetrator does not need to make physical contact for assault to occur.
• Civil battery occurs when someone intentionally causes harmful or offensive physical contact. Sexual assault, unwanted touching, groping, and rape all constitute civil battery in Texas.
• Intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED) occurs when someone engages in extreme and outrageous conduct that intentionally or recklessly causes severe emotional distress. Sexual violence qualifies as extreme and outrageous conduct under Texas law.

Our sexual abuse lawyer in Dallas, TX pursues direct claims against the perpetrator to hold them personally accountable. However, many perpetrators lack assets or insurance to fully compensate survivors. That's why we also investigate third-party liability.

Property Owner Liability: Negligent Security

Property owners owe a duty to maintain reasonably safe premises and protect visitors from foreseeable criminal activity. When inadequate security allows a sexual assault to occur, the property owner may be held liable under Texas premises liability law.

Negligent security claims arise in settings like apartment complexes with broken gates, poor lighting, or no security cameras; hotels that ignore prior incidents or fail to screen employees; bars and nightclubs without adequate staffing or security measures; parking lots and garages with poor lighting and no surveillance.

Texas courts use the standard established in Timberwalk Apartments, Partners, Inc. v. Cain to determine whether a property owner should have foreseen criminal activity. Courts often evaluate foreseeability using factors like proximity, recency, frequency, similarity, and publicity of prior crimes.

Javier Perez Law investigates crime reports at the property, lighting and camera placement, gate and lock functionality, prior complaints about security, neighborhood crime data, and the property owner's knowledge of risks.

Institutional Liability: Negligent Hiring, Supervision, and Retention

Employers, churches, schools, youth programs, medical facilities, and other institutions may be held liable if they negligently hired, supervised, or retained an employee or volunteer who committed sexual abuse.

• Negligent hiring occurs when an employer fails to conduct reasonable background checks, ignores prior complaints or criminal history, or hires someone unfit for a position of trust (teacher, counselor, coach, medical provider, clergy).
• Negligent supervision occurs when an employer knows or should know that an employee poses a risk but fails to adequately monitor, train, or supervise them.
• Negligent retention occurs when an employer learns of an employee's dangerous conduct but fails to terminate or reassign them.

We investigate whether the institution conducted background checks, whether prior complaints were reported and ignored, whether the perpetrator had a history of similar conduct, whether the institution failed to implement safety policies, and whether supervisors were trained to recognize and report warning signs.

What Damages Can I Recover in a Civil Sexual Assault Case?

Texas law allows sexual abuse survivors to pursue both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages, including:

• Medical bills (emergency room visits, STI testing, pregnancy-related care, surgery if injuries occurred),
• Therapy and counseling costs (PTSD treatment, trauma therapy, long-term mental health care)
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity if the trauma prevents you from working
• Relocation costs if you had to move to escape the perpetrator or unsafe property

Non-economic damages, including: 

• Physical pain and ongoing discomfort
• Emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD
• Loss of enjoyment of daily activities and relationships
• Humiliation, fear, and loss of sense of safety
• Disfigurement or scarring if physical injuries occurred

If the perpetrator's conduct was especially egregious, or if the property owner or institution acted with gross negligence, such as ignoring repeated complaints, covering up abuse, or retaliating against victims, punitive damages may be available to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct.

How Long Do I Have to File a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit in Texas?

Many personal injury claims in Texas have a two-year deadline, butTexas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.0045 provides longer filing periods for certain claims arising from sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, and specified child sexual abuse offenses. In some situations, survivors may have up to five years (adult sexual assault) or longer for specified child sexual abuse claims. 

Statutes of limitations are complex, and exceptions depend on the specific facts of your case. Contact our firm as soon as possible so we can evaluate which deadlines apply and preserve your right to sue.

What to Do After a Sexual Assault or If You're Considering Legal Action

Seek medical care immediately if you haven't already. A medical examination documents injuries, provides STI testing and pregnancy prevention, and creates a record linking your injuries to the assault. Even if the assault occurred weeks, months, or years ago, therapy and counseling create documentation of emotional harm.

Preserve evidence. Save text messages, emails, voicemails, or social media communications with the perpetrator or others who witnessed the abuse or its aftermath. Keep medical records, therapy notes, and prescriptions. If the assault occurred on someone else's property, document poor lighting, broken gates, lack of cameras, or other security failures through photos or written descriptions.

Report the assault if you feel safe doing so. Reporting to police, your employer, school administration, or property management creates a formal record. However, you are not required to report to pursue a civil claim. Many survivors choose not to report for valid reasons related to safety, privacy, or distrust of authorities. Our team supports you, whatever your decision.

Do not communicate with the perpetrator's attorney or the property owner's insurance company without legal representation. Defense counsel may contact you to obtain a recorded statement, ask you to sign a release, or make a low settlement offer. Politely decline and refer them to your attorney.

Reach out to our Dallas office for a confidential consultation. We listen, explain your legal options, and help you decide whether pursuing a civil claim is right for you. Our sexual abuse attorney is ready to be your advocate.

FAQ for Dallas Sexual Abuse Lawyers

You Don't Have to Carry This Alone

The person who harmed you stole your sense of safety. The institution that failed to protect you broke your trust. The property owner who cut corners on security put profit over people. You didn't cause any of this, and you don't have to navigate it alone.

Our Dallas personal injury attorneys understand that pursuing legal action is not about reliving the trauma but about holding the right people accountable and giving you resources to heal. We handle the investigation, the legal filings, and the pressure from defense attorneys. You focus on healing and rebuilding your life.

In your time of need, Javier Perez is on your side. Contact a Dallas sexual abuse attorney for a confidential consultation. You don't pay unless we win your case.

Schedule A Free Consultation

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Javier Perez Law - Dallas Office Location

Address: Energy Square Tower, 4925 Greenville Avenue, Suite 1450, #1, Dallas, TX 75206

Contact No: +12144990667