Victims of violent crime are entitled to crime victim compensation from the state of Georgia if they meet the reporting requirements. These reparations cover medical expenses, funeral expenses, counseling expenses, lost wages, loss of support and crime scene sanitation up to a $25,000 award cap. However, often damages exceed that cap.
Situations in which to pursue a civil court case for violent assault
There are several scenarios in which crime victim compensation feels inadequate.
- If the state declines to prosecute a case or a jury finds the perpetrator not guilty. This can be devastating. But there is still the option of getting pain, suffering and punitive damages from a civil court case.
- A victim may want to pursue a civil suit for additional funds if their monetary damages exceed $25,000. Being the victim of a crime can wreak financial havoc, especially on those who do not have emergency savings funds.
- If the assault took place in a public area or at an apartment building, a victim might be able to sue the business owner or building owner on a premises liability claim for further compensation.
There are no words to fully articulate the physical and psychological consequences of violent assault for a victim. But there are options available. When the criminal justice system fails, a victim can sue the perpetrator—or the owner of the property on which the assault occurred—for damages.
Everyone deserves justice and appropriate compensation after the trauma of an assault. It won’t undo what happened. But it will help the victim move forward and begin the long process of healing.