On Sep. 26, 2016, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released its annual report, Crime in the United States, 2015, which reported a 3.9 percent increase in violent crime in the United States compared to 2014. The report also revealed that there were 1,197,704 violent crimes nationwide – and those figures don’t account for the violent crimes that weren’t reported.
Here are a few highlights from the FBI’s report (2015 figures):
- There were about 15,696 murders in the United States.
- There were an estimated 90,185 “reported” rapes.
- Across the country, there were about 327,374 robberies.
- In 71.5 percent of the murders, a firearm was used.
As you can see, violent crime is a serious issue in the United States, and we want to bring something to light: As personal injury attorneys, we feel that people should understand the rights of crime victims. Because, what some crime victims do not realize is that in many cases, victims of physical and sexual assaults can file personal injury claims.
Often, someone is attacked while at work, or while on someone else’s private or commercial property. When attacks occur on others’ property, crime victims may be able to file a claim against the property owner’s insurance policy. Or, if an attack happened at work, the injured worker may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim.
Types of attacks that may lead to a personal injury claim:
- Attacks at work or on the job site
- Attacks at motels and hotels
- Attacks in parking lots
- Attacks at businesses
- Assaults on private property
- Attacks at amusement parks
- Attacks at concerts, bars, and nightclubs
There are many situations where a crime victim can seek compensation, even if the perpetrator is in custody and awaiting trial, has limited assets, or was never caught by the police. It’s just a matter of exploring your options.
Are you, or someone you love a crime victim? If so, contact Jones & Swanson to meet with a Kennesaw personal injury attorney for free!
