Sexual Assault Attorneys in Alabama: Your Complete Legal Guide
If you or someone you love has survived sexual assault in Alabama, understanding your legal rights is a critical first step toward justice and recovery. This guide covers Alabama’s key sexual assault laws, profiles five law firms that handle these cases, and answers the most important questions survivors face.
Introduction
Sexual assault is among the most devastating crimes a person can experience. Beyond the immediate physical and psychological trauma, survivors often face a confusing legal landscape when deciding how to pursue justice. In Alabama, both criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits are available paths, and each operates under distinct rules and timelines. Alabama’s civil statutes of limitations are among the shortest in the country, which makes contacting an attorney promptly one of the most important steps a survivor can take.
Alabama Sexual Assault Laws
Definitions and Criminal Offenses
Alabama law defines sexual offenses under Ala. Code § 13A-6-60 through § 13A-6-70. Sexual assault broadly refers to any sexual activity that occurs without the consent of all parties. The law recognizes a lack of consent when the perpetrator uses forcible compulsion, or when the victim is incapacitated, a minor, or has a mental disability that prevents legal consent.
Rape in the First Degree is a Class A felony. It applies when sexual intercourse occurs through forcible compulsion, when the victim cannot consent due to physical or mental incapacitation, or when the victim is younger than 12 years old and the perpetrator is 16 or older. The penalty is life imprisonment or a term of 10 to 99 years, with fines up to $60,000.
Rape in the Second Degree is a Class B felony carrying 2 to 20 years in prison and fines up to $30,000. It applies when a person 16 or older has sexual intercourse with someone aged 12 to 16, provided the perpetrator is at least two years older than the victim.
Sexual Abuse in the First Degree is a Class C felony (1 to 10 years in prison). It covers non-consensual sexual contact accomplished through forcible compulsion or with an incapacitated victim.
Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree is generally a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and fines up to $6,000. It covers non-consensual sexual contact without forcible compulsion. The offense escalates to a Class C felony for repeat offenders or when the perpetrator is significantly older than a minor victim.
Sexual Misconduct is a Class A misdemeanor covering non-consensual sexual intercourse or sodomy obtained through fraud, and other non-consensual sexual activity not addressed by the categories above.
Statutes of Limitations
Criminal Deadlines
Under Ala. Code § 15-3-5, Alabama provides no statute of limitations for rape in the first degree, for any felony involving the use or threat of violence against a person, and for any sex offense committed against a victim who was under 16 years old at the time. For other felony sex offenses, the criminal statute of limitations is 21 years. Misdemeanor sexual offenses carry a one-year criminal SOL.
Civil Deadlines
Alabama’s civil deadlines for sexual assault lawsuits are among the most restrictive in the nation. Adult survivors must file a civil lawsuit within 2 years of the incident. Survivors abused as minors must file within 2 years of their 19th birthday, meaning by age 21. Alabama has no discovery rule – the clock does not pause or restart when a survivor later connects their psychological injuries to the abuse. There is also no lookback window. As of early 2025, Senate Bill 21 has been introduced in the Alabama Legislature proposing to extend the civil SOL for childhood sexual abuse to age 55 and to create a lookback window, but this bill had not yet been signed into law. Given these short deadlines, consulting an attorney without delay is essential.
Top 5 Sexual Assault Attorneys in Alabama
1. Morris, King & Hodge, P.C.
Address: 200 Randolph Ave SE, Huntsville, AL 35801
Phone: (256) 536-0580
Website: https://www.mkhlawyers.com
Morris, King & Hodge has over 50 years of experience representing injury victims across Alabama. The firm specifically handles sexual assault civil claims and offers both male and female attorneys so survivors can choose who they feel most comfortable working with. The firm builds civil cases against perpetrators and the institutions that failed to protect survivors, pursuing the maximum compensation possible for medical bills, counseling costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Free, confidential consultations are available.
2. Pittman, Dutton, Hellums, Bradley & Mann
Address: 2001 Park Place N, Suite 1100, Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: (205) 322-8880
Website: https://www.pittmandutton.com
Pittman Dutton is a Birmingham-based plaintiff firm with a dedicated sexual assault and abuse practice. The firm’s attorneys – W. Lee Pittman, Tom Dutton, Chris Hellums, Mike Bradley, Jonathan Mann, Austin Whitten, Peyton Clark, and James Davis – handle civil cases involving sexual assault in schools, places of worship, workplaces, and rideshare situations such as Uber and Lyft. The firm secures evidence, identifies all responsible parties including institutions, and takes cases to trial when necessary. Pittman Dutton notes that sexual assault can cost survivors more than $200,000 in lifetime medical expenses, lost productivity, and criminal justice costs – losses that should be borne by those responsible, not the survivor. Consultations are free and completely confidential.
3. Heninger Garrison Davis, LLC
Address: 2224 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: (659) 222-4880
Website: https://www.hgdlawfirm.com
Heninger Garrison Davis has amassed over $3 billion in recoveries for clients throughout the United States. The firm maintains a dedicated sexual abuse and misconduct practice in Birmingham, handling claims involving institutional defendants such as schools, churches, employers, and healthcare facilities. HGD holds a 4.9-star rating from nearly 900 Google reviews. The firm employs best-in-class technology to streamline case management and communication, and was recognized by the Birmingham Business Journal as one of the Best Places to Work. HGD also closely monitors Alabama’s evolving SOL legislation, including Senate Bill 21, and advises survivors on how changing laws may affect their cases.
4. Mezrano Law Firm
Address: Birmingham, AL (statewide offices including Florence, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Huntsville, Gadsden, and Mobile)
Phone: (205) 537-0112
Website: https://www.mezrano.com
Mezrano Law Firm is a statewide Alabama personal injury firm with offices in multiple cities. The firm’s sexual abuse attorneys pursue justice for clients injured because of sexual violence, and note that a civil lawsuit can be brought regardless of the outcome of any criminal case. Mezrano offers free, confidential case evaluations and is available 24/7. The firm’s broader practice includes nursing home abuse and premises liability, areas relevant when institutional negligence contributed to a sexual assault.
5. The Reeves Law Firm
Address: 232 Moulton St E, Decatur, AL 35601
Phone: (256) 355-3311
Website: https://www.thereeveslawfirm.com
Attorney Gregory A. Reeves has been a trial lawyer for more than 30 years and is a former City Council President for the City of Decatur. He holds an AVVO rating of 10 and an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Reeves has served as adjunct faculty at the Alabama School of Law and has taught trial skills to other lawyers as faculty of the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyer’s College in Dubois, Wyoming. The firm specifically handles sexual assault injury cases including abuse by coaches, clergy, and rideshare drivers such as Uber and Lyft. Reeves has presented at the National Child Abuse Conference on civil remedies for abuse victims. The firm serves clients throughout north Alabama including Morgan, Cullman, and Jackson counties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file a civil lawsuit even if the perpetrator was never criminally charged?
Yes. Civil and criminal cases operate entirely independently. A civil lawsuit is your personal claim for financial compensation – it has nothing to do with whether the perpetrator faces criminal charges or is convicted. The burden of proof in a civil lawsuit is lower than in a criminal trial. You only need to show it is more likely than not that the abuse occurred. Many survivors obtain civil justice in cases where criminal prosecution was never pursued or did not result in conviction.
What compensation can I recover in a civil sexual assault lawsuit in Alabama?
Alabama law allows survivors to recover economic damages including medical bills, therapy and counseling costs, and lost wages or lost earning capacity. Non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life are also available. In cases involving egregious conduct or institutional cover-ups, punitive damages may be awarded on top of these. Pittman Dutton notes that lifetime costs for sexual assault survivors can exceed $200,000 – these losses should be recovered from those who caused them, not shouldered by the survivor alone.
What should I do immediately after a sexual assault in Alabama?
Seek medical attention as soon as possible even if you are uncertain about reporting the assault. A sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) can treat injuries, document findings, and collect forensic evidence that can be critical in both criminal and civil proceedings. You are not required to report to law enforcement in order to receive a medical exam. Preserve all evidence – clothing, communications, photographs. Contact a sexual assault attorney as early as possible, because Alabama’s 2-year civil deadline begins running immediately. The Alabama Crime Victim’s Compensation Commission may provide up to $20,000 in financial assistance for medical bills and related expenses to eligible survivors who report the crime within 72 hours.
Closing
Alabama’s strict civil deadlines make early legal action critical. The firms listed above have experience handling sexual assault civil cases and offer free, confidential consultations. If you or someone you love has been a victim of sexual assault, contact one of these attorneys today.
For immediate crisis support, contact the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.