Sexual Abuse – Assault at 7-11 Store Lawsuit Attorney
7-Eleven is a chain of American convenience stores that are popular all over the world. In fact, there are currently over 84,500 7-Eleven locations in 19 countries. That means you can enjoy a Slurpee, hotdog, and many other snacks, even if you are far from home. While the growth of any business has many positives, there are downsides, like having less control over how the stores are managed. This is, after all, a major franchise where each store has an owner and a team of staff members. Some of these people do a better job than others at keeping the store clean and ensuring that the property is free of hazards.
Security or lack thereof, is another issue that stores have to stay on top of. This is particularly important in neighborhoods with high crime rates or at locations where someone was previously assaulted, robbed, etc. Sexual abuse is another problem that customers should not have to worry about, yet we have all heard of people being raped, sexually harassed, flashed, etc. while they were on store property. These incidents often happen at night, but a sexual predator may be lurking on the premises at any time of the day.
The truth is, most of these incidents are due to security lapses, which people with criminal intent look out for and use to their advantage. Owners that fail in their duty to secure their premises can be sued by the victim or their family members for monetary damages, such as emotional distress, medical costs, and pain and suffering.
For more information on your rights and legal options, call us to speak with a 7-Eleven store sexual abuse – assault – molestation lawyer.
$1.93 Million
$2,287,495
$54 Million
$22 Million
$600,000
$965,000
Assaulted By Employee
$1,900,000
$1,975,000
Can I Sue 7-Eleven for Sexual Abuse at a Store Location?
We can see how people question their right to sue a business for incidents of sexual assault. After all, any criminal action would be taken against the perpetrator, so isn’t that the party you should go after in a lawsuit?
Unlike criminal prosecutions, personal injury lawsuits are based on the concept of negligence, meaning there was a failure to take reasonable care that could have prevented someone from being injured. For example, store owners have a duty to provide adequate security measures on the premises. The required measures depend on many factors, like the type of store, its location, and prior criminal incidents in the area. At a 7-Eleven, you would expect to find surveillance cameras in and outside the store and bright lights in outdoor areas, especially the parking lot. If there are loiters hanging around, they should be asked to leave, and the police contacted if they refuse to stay off the property.
We can’t ignore the fact that convenience stores and gas stations have a high rate of sexual assaults, especially at late hours of the night. It doesn’t help that many 7-Eleven stores are in neighborhoods with frequent criminal activity, which increases the need for security. Yet, many owners refuse to do the right thing and place profits over the safety of their customers.
At the end of the day, premises liability, i.e., a property owner’s responsibility to guests and visitors is a complicated concept. But it’s essential to understand how 7-Eleven is responsible for what happened to you and hold them accountable for the harm you suffered.
What if I was Sexually Abused by a 7-Eleven Employee?
So far, we’ve talked about sexual assaults by vagrants and other people who should not be on the property. But what if you were attacked by someone that works at the store? Can you sue 7-Eleven for sexual abuse by one of their staff members?
Yes, you can sue an employer for the actions of their employees under the principle of vicarious liability. Essentially, there are many instances where employers can be liable for injuries resulting from the actions of an employee, including psychological damage from sexual abuse. However, you will need to establish certain facts, like the incident occurring within the scope of employment and not while the employee was off the clock.
Aside from this critical factor, there are likely to be other elements to show that 7-Eleven is vicariously liable for sexual abuse by one of its workers. For instance, is there a history of complaints about the employee from other customers and staff members? Did the owner and/or company take the appropriate steps to screen the employee prior to hiring them? These and many other issues must be examined in order to build a strong case and negotiate the highest possible settlement on behalf of a sexual abuse victim.
Average Case Value of a 7-Eleven Store Sexual Abuse Claim
The average value of a claim for sexual abuse at a 7-Eleven location is generally 6 to 7 figures, though the exact amount will depend on many factors that are specific to each case. The majority of cases are worth $400,000 to $3,000,000, with the most extreme cases reaching values of $5,000,000 to over $10,000,000. If we had to make some generalizations, we would say cases where the victim was molested or suffered another form of sexual assault have the highest values, particularly when the victim is a child. But this is just one of many issues that affect how much a plaintiff is entitled to, which is why you should consult a sexual abuse attorney to find out the amount you can receive in compensation.
How Long will My Case Take to Settle?
For the most part, lawsuits where the plaintiff was sexually abused take between 1 and 2 years to settle. This is longer than the average amount of time to settle a store liability claim for accidents like slip and falls and falling merchandise. But sexual misconduct or assault cases are much more challenging to prove, especially as most victims end up with emotional injuries instead of bodily harm. One thing we can assure you is that over 95% of sexual abuse lawsuits against major retailers are settled by negotiating back and forth with the insurance company. Thus, it’s highly unlikely that you will need to set foot in the court room, but if a trial is required, it can take over 3 years to recover the payment you are owed.
How Much Time Do I have to Sue 7-Eleven for Sexual Abuse?
If you were an adult at the time you sexually abused at a 7-Eleven store, the statute of limitations for a lawsuit is 10 years. If you were younger than 18, you are classified as a minor, so you have 22 years from whenever you turn 18 if you wish to sue 7-Eleven for monetary damages.
For underage victims, the deadline for a lawsuit can also be determined by the discovery rule, a legal exception that’s based on the delayed discovery of injuries after an accident or abuse incident. For a child, processing what they endured and understanding the impact it has on their life won’t happen right away. And many of the clients that come to us are well into their 40s by the time they realize the mental and physical health issues they are suffering from, which came about as a result of sexual abuse during their childhood.
Thankfully, California’s discovery rule for survivors of child sex abuse provides victims with 5 years to file a lawsuit from whenever they come to this realization. That means you may be eligible to sue 7-Eleven for their failure to keep you safe, even if you were sexually abused many years ago. Our legal team is here to educate you on your rights and help you decide if filing a lawsuit is in your best interest. Contact us today and schedule a free consultation with a 7-11 store sexual abuse lawsuit attorney.
Contact an Experienced Sexual Abuse Attorney
As a victim of someone else’s negligence, knowing about your legal rights is an important step towards healing from your injuries and moving forward with your life. The store liability lawsuit attorneys at our office are here for you 24/7 if you have questions or concerns about your legal rights.
If you decide to hire us for a sexual abuse incident claim against 7-Eleven, please know that you will never be asked to pay for the cost of legal fees. It’s the business that pays us to represent you, and the only time we get paid is at the end of your case, when you receive your settlement check from 7-Eleven. Plus, we offer a Zero Fee Guarantee, so you owe us absolutely nothing if we don’t win your case.
To schedule a free case evaluation on your right to sue for being sexually assaulted at a 7-Eleven store, contact our law firm
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