How do I go about filing a suit for my case? I wouldn't even know how to label it? I was sexually assaulted

First, please know that it takes immense courage to take this step, and you deserve a clear, honest picture of how the civil system works. Unlike a criminal case that seeks jail time, a civil lawsuit focuses on financial compensation for your trauma, medical bills, and emotional distress. To file in Texas, you generally have a five-year deadline from the date of the assault if you were an adult, or until your 48th birthday if you were a minor at the time--that calculation is a bit of a more complicated analysis than bright lines. However, the hardest reality of these cases is that suing an individual attacker is rarely viable because most lack the personal assets to pay a judgment, and insurance explicitly excludes intentional criminal acts. Instead, a successful lawsuit usually targets a negligent third party—like a workplace, school, apartment complex, or business—that failed to protect you. Even though the civil burden of proof is lower than in a criminal trial, the process of gathering evidence and going through legal discovery can be deeply exhausting. Your best next step is to speak with a specialized attorney for a free, confidential consultation to see if a viable claim exists and to discuss ways to protect your privacy, such as filing anonymously under a pseudonym.