Sexual Assault Statute of Limitations in Washington State

The sexual assault statute of limitations in Washington State varies on a case-by-case basis. The nature of the crime (and the age of the survivor) plays a critical role in how long you have to file a civil lawsuit. For instance, if someone experienced first-degree rape as an adult, they would have 20 years from the commission of the offense to initiate litigation. Yet, if they suffered the same crime as a child, there would be no time limit.

Washington State, along with other U.S. states, is extending the statutory deadline for many survivors of sexual abuse. Cases that were once ineligible for litigation are now being reopened, giving survivors more options for holding perpetrators and other liable parties financially accountable. A Washington sexual assault lawyer can determine the filing deadline that applies to your case.

Statutes of Limitations for Sexual Crimes in Washington State

The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) lists the filing deadlines for various civil cases in the Evergreen State. They note:

Survivors of first-degree and second-degree rape have 20 years from the incident’s date to file a lawsuit.
Survivors of third-degree rape have 10 years after the commission of the crime to sue.
Childhood survivors of sexual abuse (including first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree rape) do not face deadlines for filing a lawsuit.

These deadlines apply regardless of who committed the crime. For instance, if someone experienced abuse at the hands of a priest, they would have the same filing deadline as someone who was abused by a non-clergy member.

Sexual Assault Cases Typically Have Longer Filing Deadlines

Washington has a personal injury statute of limitations. RCW § 4.16.080 notes that you generally have three years to file a lawsuit following a car accident, slip and fall, and other injury-related incidents. This three-year deadline does not apply to sexual abuse cases. That’s because the state acknowledges the complexity of these matters and wants to empower survivors of abuse.

You Can Take Civil Action, Even If the Other Party Faces Criminal Charges

The responsible party in your civil claim may have been arrested and convicted of a crime. Yet, here’s something to know: the civil process and criminal justice process are two separate matters. The criminal justice system aims to penalize the offender for their actions and impose jail time, fines, and other penalties. The civil claims process intends to hold the perpetrator financially accountable for their actions.

This means:

You can sue, even if the other party is facing (or has been convicted of) criminal charges.
The other party’s conviction could bolster your civil claim or lawsuit.
You have financial recovery options.

For a free legal consultation, call (725) 900-9000

What Happens If You Don’t Comply With the State’s Sexual Assault Statute of Limitations?

While Washington State wants to empower sexual abuse survivors to hold their abusers accountable, you have a limited time to take action. If you wait too long to file your case and the statute of limitations expires:

You couldn’t file a civil lawsuit. This could leave you without any options for holding the responsible party financially accountable.
You couldn’t recover damages. Without having litigation as an option, you could be unable to recoup the cost of anything you spent on medical bills and other injury-related costs.
The insurance company wouldn’t have a reason to settle. Some insurance companies settle because they want to protect policyholders from litigation. Without the threat of litigation, an insurer could have no reason to negotiate or offer fair compensation.

As a survivor of sexual abuse, you deserve to hold the responsible party accountable for your hardships. When you work with a sexual assault lawyer, they can manage your claim’s many obligations, including its deadlines.

You Could Benefit From Hiring a Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Van Law is more than a personal injury firm; we tirelessly advocate for survivors of sexual abuse in Washington State. When you hire our team, you get someone who is dedicated to building and winning your case. What’s more:

We work on a contingency-fee basis. Our clients never pay out-of-pocket fees to retain our help. A portion of their settlements pay for our time and efforts––never their savings.
Our firm puts your needs first. With Van Law, you’ll feel like you’re our only client. We take the outcome of your case personally, and we offer a tailor-made legal strategy that seeks both closure and compensation.
We’re on your side. Our attorneys offer more than advocacy. We offer peace of mind, stress relief, and certainty about your next steps. Your personal injury attorney will stand between you and anybody else who threatens to derail your case’s progression.

Our personal injury lawyers have more than 100 years of combined experience holding negligent parties accountable. You can learn more about our commitment to client satisfaction by reading our testimonials.

We Seek the Compensation You Need and Deserve

We’re well aware that financial recovery can’t undo the trauma you suffered. Yet, it can pave the way toward a new chapter in your life, giving you the resources to recover and rebuild. With our team’s help, you could recover these losses:

Necessary medical expenses, including hospitalization and treatment
Lost income, including tips, bonuses, and commissions
Loss of future earning ability (if you suffered injuries that affect your earning power)
Pain and suffering
Disability, whether physical or cognitive
Scarring and disfigurement
The cost of anything you spent out of pocket related to the incident

As noted, you have a limited time to seek these damages under Washington State’s statute of limitations. You can learn more about your filing deadline and other case-related specifics during your free claim review.

Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today

Connect With Van Law About Your Sexual Assault Case in Washington

You’re not alone after surviving sexual abuse. You have the support and advocacy of our entire legal team. From the moment you hire us, we intend to grant you peace of mind about what comes next. We handle everything your case requires to reach a fair conclusion, and that involves understanding its statute of limitations.

Call now to start taking legal action. We’re available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to hear from you.

No obligation consultations are always free.

Let Us Help You! Call Now: (725) 900-9000

We are available 24/7

Client Testimonials

These guys are amazing. Helped me throughout the process. Always there when I need help. Inititailly called a law firm (the one that has lots of ads on the radio), but they declined my case. Van Law Firm accepted my case without a second thought! Kudos to Daniel, my case manager, and Amanda who expedited my payment process. Highly recommended.

Milby Mags

Got in an accident at the beginning of the year and they have been awesome, especially with it being my first accident and me being like this. They have been very communicated, stayed in contact with me the whole time, giving me updates when there were any and even when there weren’t and answered any question I had. I would recommend them to anyone. Everyone I have talked to there has been very friendly. I would give them a 10 out of 10.

Ethan Gullet

They made sure that my insurance company covered what I paid for them to which included the gap for my car that was totaled. My medical costs were taken care of and reduced substantially so I was able to get more on my settlement. My case manager, Will Garcia, was always helpful in assisting me and answering any questions I had. They really did an amazing job with my case. I would definitely recommend them to anyone in need of this type of legal help. Most lawyers do not help you with the recovery of the car and rental etc. They are amazing.

Teresa Cuthbertson