California witnesses a higher incidence of sexual harassment reporting than the national average, with around five percent higher for women and approximately ten percent higher for men, reports a San Diego School of Medicine study.
If you ask a sexual harassment attorney San Diego, they can tell you how complex these cases can be for several reasons. It is often because afraid and traumatized victims are further intimidated by the opposing authorities to take back their complaints.
But despite the California law protecting your rights, it is crucial to hire an experienced attorney if you want justice for the harassment you face at the workplace.
The following information will enable you to understand some complexities of sexual harassment cases in the city and how lawyers can help victims.
Your rights as per California law
As per statistics, there were over five thousand and three hundred violent crimes in San Diego in 2020, of which four hundred and thirty-two were rapes. But several offensive conduct and harassment incidents go unreported because most city residents don’t realize that harassment can include snide remarks concerning age, gender, ethnicity, background, and more.
The state law empowers victims of sexual harassment to have a support individual or an advocate present during interviews by law enforcement agencies. They can also have them present during medical examinations, besides contacting a counselor for support.
As a California resident, you can also receive an Emergency Protective Order, file a civil lawsuit, and request your name to be kept confidential. A lawyer can explain the various other rights in detail, depending on the case complexity.
What damages you can expect in a lawsuit
It is not true that residents can seek only monetary damages in cases of sex crimes in California. Victims in San Diego can ask to be compensated in various other ways, depending on the nature of the crime, losses suffered, and the impact the abuse has had on their lives. For instance, those who lose their jobs in the process can seek reinstatement of employment and lost wages.
Furthermore, they can seek compensation for current and future emotional trauma and damage, enabling them to recover from the horrific ordeal. Depending on the employment type and case specifics, some victims can seek changes to the employer’s practices and policies that threaten their rights and protection.
Pivotal ways an attorney can help
A dependable and experienced sexual harassment attorney in San Diego can aid victims of various sexual crimes ranging from child molestation and workplace harassment to statutory rape and lewd conduct. A trustworthy attorney will make victims feel comfortable and safe through the process, ensuring they receive fair compensation for the ordeal they have suffered.
Attorneys will ensure to file suits against employers and not just the perpetrators if they fail to report sexual crimes committed under their watch. They will ensure that San Diego courts hold everyone, even remotely involved, liable for the crime.
Moreover, excellent attorneys can do more than get helpless victims their due justice. They can expertly defend unsuspecting San Diego residents against false and unreliable accusations, preventing them from facing severe consequences such as harsh prison terms, loss of custody of their children, and mandatory registration as a sex offender.