Sexual Assault at UC Berkeley
If you are a victim of sexual assault at the University of California Berkeley, contact Manly, Stewart & Finaldi for a free legal consultation with one of our experienced sexual assault lawyers. We will listen to your story and believe you. We have years of experience exclusively handling sexual assault and abuse cases in California and throughout the nation. Contact us today to begin with a free and entirely confidential case evaluation.
How a UC Berkeley Sexual Assault Attorney Can Help
As a student at UC Berkeley, you should feel safe and confident on campus. You should never be subjected to acts of sexual abuse or violence in Oakland, such as sexual assault while you are in your living quarters, walking around on campus, in a school parking lot or engaging in school-related activities. Sexual assault by fellow students, administrators, staff members or strangers at UC Berkeley can change your life forever.
At Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, we help Oakland sexual assault survivors tell their stories and achieve justice for the grave wrongdoings committed against them. We will file the paperwork to initiate a claim against your assailant or the university itself on your behalf. Then, we will fight to prove your case and obtain maximum financial compensation for your related losses – both economic and noneconomic damages.
Who Is Liable for Campus Sexual Assault at UC Berkeley?
While pressing charges against the person who attacked you can lead to criminal consequences against the assailant, you also have the right to file a civil lawsuit to pursue financial compensation for the losses and suffering that you experienced. You may have grounds to name not only the perpetrator as the defendant in your case but UC Berkeley, as well.
The university can be held liable for sexual assaults that occur on campus, such as dorm room sexual assault, drug-induced or alcohol-induced rape, hazing sexual assault, sexual bullying or harassment, and internet sex crimes. It is the university’s responsibility to protect its students and prevent sexual assault. Negligently failing to do so can make the university liable for a victim’s experience and losses.
How to Report Sexual Assault at UC Berkeley
1. Get to a safe place, such as a trusted friend or family member’s house. Call 911 to contact the police if you are in immediate danger, if you have been injured or if it is an emergency. You can also call (510) 642-3333 to report emergencies on campus.
2. To reach confidential support in an urgent sexual assault situation, call UC Berkeley’s Path to Care Line at (510) 643-2005. Trained professionals are available to help you 24/7. You can also get support from the national hotline by calling 1-800-656-4673.
3. Get medical attention. Visit the urgent care center at University Health Services or an ER near you. Do not shower or clean yourself before going to the hospital. For a rape kit or sexual assault forensic exam, you will need to go to Highland Hospital.
4. Report the sexual assault to university officials or campus authorities. This can hold the perpetrator accountable by having him or her expelled or terminated from university employment. It can also document the incident to keep your legal options open.
5. Address your mental and emotional needs. Sexual assault is a traumatic experience that can have a wide range of effects on your psychological health. Seek help from a therapist or psychologist to make space for healing.
Contact an Experienced University Sexual Assault Lawyer Near You
Your experience as a student at UC Berkeley should not include being sexually assaulted, abused, harassed or taken advantage of by someone else. Once you have taken all of the necessary steps to protect your safety, physical health and emotional state after being sexually assaulted, focus on the legal side of things by contacting us.
The lawyers at Manly, Stewart & Finaldi will stand by your side through every step of the legal process for UC Berkeley sexual assault. Our lawyers care about you, your future and your recovery. Request a free consultation today by calling our West Coast office at (800) 700-8450. We have representatives available to help you as soon as possible.