For almost every crime, there is going to be a victim. Some crimes are more violent than others, but nearly all crime is going to have an effect on someone, somewhere. When it comes to crimes that are committed directly to or in the presence of a person, the risk of sustaining certain types of damages is increased significantly. Many people may not be aware that there are programs available to help with the unexpected costs that victims may incur after a crime is committed. In Wisconsin, there are many situations in which you may be eligible to receive various types of compensation through the state’s Crime Victim Compensation program.

Eligibility Requirements

Victims of certain crimes, family members of deceased victims, those who were injured helping a crime victim or police officer, and those who have been in an accident with an intoxicated driver are all able to file claims with the Crime Victim Compensation program, as long as they meet the eligibility requirements. To be eligible for compensation, the following must be true:

• The victim's actions did not cause or contribute to their death or injury.

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If you were harmed by someone else’s intentional actions, you may be able to assert your rights, hold the wrongdoer accountable, and recover damages through a civil claim. Personal injury claims often involve injuries caused by negligence or carelessness such as car accident injuries. However, a personal injury claim may also be brought by someone who is injured intentionally. Victimology is the area of law that deals with personal injury claims for victims of assault, abuse, and other forms of intentional harm. A victimology claim may allow you to recover financial compensation for emotional distress and other damages.

Suing for Physical Injuries and Emotional Distress

A personal injury claim is a civil claim that an injured person may use to collect monetary compensation for “damages” or losses that the injured person sustained because of the injury. Damages usually include financial losses such as medical bills and lost income from missed work. Damages may also include non-financial harm caused by the injury including physical pain, mental suffering, and emotional distress. In most personal injury claims, compensation for non-financial damages, such as mental and emotional distress, are only available if the person suffered a physical injury. For example, if a person suffered a broken nose during an assault and battery, that person may be compensated for emergency room bills as well as the pain and suffering he or she endured because of the broken nose.

Suing for Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress

There are some situations in which a person may be entitled to compensation for emotional distress even if he or she did not sustain a physical injury. Wisconsin law recognizes two different types of emotional distress claims: negligent infliction of emotional distress and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The standard for recovering compensation for emotional distress without a physical injury is much higher than the standard for recovering compensation with a physical injury. To have a valid claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress, you must show that:

A personal injury claim allows an injured person to seek compensation for damages caused by the injury such as medical bills and lost income from missed work. When most people think of personal injury claims, they think of slip and fall claims, car accidents, and other claims that are founded upon an allegation of the defendant’s negligence. However, individuals who are intentionally injured may also have grounds for a personal injury claim. If you were the victim of assault or battery in Wisconsin, you may be able to hold the perpetrator accountable for their actions as well as recover financial compensation for damages through a personal injury claim.

Civil Cases Involving Assault And Battery

Being the victim of a violent crime is a life-changing experience. Most victims of sexual assault, battery, robbery, and other violent crimes are left with physical and mental scars that last for years. In addition to painful mental and physical injuries, being the victim of a physical attack can lead to considerable financial harm. If you were hurt in an act of violence, you may be facing financial hardship caused by medical expenses, lost wages from missed work, and other costs. A personal injury claim may enable you to recover compensation for your financial losses as well as your non-financial damages. A civil claim is a separate legal action from any criminal charges that the perpetrator or “tortfeasor” may face.

Individuals who are physically harmed by a romantic partner, family member, or household member may be left with serious injuries – both mental and physical. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) may be caused by blows to the head, hitting one’s head on the ground, receiving a penetrating injury to the skull, and through other forms of physical trauma. If you sustained a traumatic brain injury as a result of domestic violence, you should know that you have certain rights. You may be able to hold the alleged abusive person accountable for his or her actions criminally and civilly.

Criminal Charges Versus a Civil Claim

Although doing so is often much easier said than done, it is important to call the police after being physically attacked by an abusive person. Doing so enables you to create a record of the abuse and hold the alleged abuser criminally accountable for the harm he or she caused. Criminal charges, however, do not provide financial restitution for the injured victim. A traumatic brain injury can have a dramatic influence on a sufferer’s life. Your TBI may have caused you to suffer from painful and debilitating symptoms such as intense headaches, nausea, dizziness, memory problems, speech difficulties, cognitive issues, depression, sleep disturbances, and more. The injury may have necessitated expensive medical care. Symptoms may even prevent you from working and earning an income. This can create a heavy financial burden. A civil claim may allow you to recover financial compensation for the losses you experienced because of the traumatic brain injury.

There are very few crimes in the United States that could be accurately described as victimless. Most of the time, crimes that are committed will affect someone in some way, shape, or form. When it comes to a crime such as driving while under the influence of alcohol, also known in Wisconsin as OWI, there often are personal injury victims. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 10,500 alcohol-related traffic deaths across the country in 2018 and many more alcohol-related injury- or damage-only crashes. Accidents involving drunk drivers are often traumatic for the victim, which is why the victim has the right to pursue compensation from the offender.

Pursuing a Personal Injury Lawsuit

When you get into a car accident with another person, you have a right to pursue compensation for damages that you may have sustained. This is true in Wisconsin, especially if you were in a collision with an intoxicated driver. Wisconsin operates on a system of comparative negligence when it comes to motor vehicle crashes. This means all parties involved have the potential to be partially at fault for the accident. As long as you were not found to be more than 50 percent responsible for the accident, you can pursue damages.