Legal Help for Survivors of Sexual Abuse

If you’re a survivor of sexual abuse, you have the option to file a personal injury lawsuit against the abuser or the organization that failed to protect you from abuse. If you are a parent of a minor child who is a survivor of sexual abuse, you can file a lawsuit on their behalf.

You’re not alone as a survivor, even if it can sometimes feel that way. The statistics on how many people have been impacted by sexual abuse may be emotionally difficult to read.

Whether to file a lawsuit is an important decision, and you shouldn’t take it lightly. Only you can decide what’s best for your mental health and healing journey.

These legal claims may take a while to resolve, and there is no guaranteed outcome. The process may be a drain on your emotional well-being. However, some survivors find filing a sexual abuse lawsuit can be empowering and may help them on the road to healing.

Sexual abuse survivors abused by people in positions of power or trust — such as a teacher, priest, doctor or employer — may be eligible to file a sexual abuse lawsuit.

Institutions such as schools, churches, medical businesses and other employers have a duty to report sexual abuse among vulnerable populations (i.e., children, the disabled or the elderly) and prevent cover-ups, though these laws may vary by state.

Sexual abuse claims may come from many different types of trusted institutions and businesses, from churches or rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft to online video games or workplaces.

Lawsuits that arise from these claims could include workplace harassment and abuse cases. In addition, there is the potential for multidistrict litigation (a large group of lawsuits) against certain companies with repeat offenses, like Uber.

Plaintiffs in these lawsuits allege the business or organization had a duty to report sexual abuse and take steps to protect people from abuse, but failed to do so.

It may be difficult to imagine any type of compensation that could make up for the abuse a survivor experienced. However, filing a lawsuit may provide financial support to help survivors heal and move forward with their lives.

These types of compensation are just examples, and each case is different. A sexual abuse attorney can explain all potential types of compensation you can claim, so it’s important to get the opinion of a licensed attorney.

When you speak to an attorney, there’s no obligation to file a lawsuit. There’s also typically no cost to you unless the attorney gets you a jury verdict or settlement.

It can be intimidating and uncomfortable to go to court in a sexual abuse case. However, most of these cases settle out of court because of litigation costs and the negative public exposure for those accused. Court hearings will typically only require the lawyers to be present.

In addition, the justice system has special protections for some rape and sexual assault survivors, who may be able to file their lawsuits anonymously. Discuss these options with your lawyer if you want to keep your name private.

Your lawyer will handle putting the evidence together and filing all necessary legal documents.

You should take your time to decide if you will pursue legal action, but you should know that there are time limits to file a sexual abuse case. These time limits can vary by state: Some have sexual assault statutes of limitations as short as one year, while others have no time limit.

Many states pause the statute of limitations for abuse claims involving minor children. Some states don’t have time limits for filing a child abuse claim, and a survivor may file their suit at any time.

Some states may also extend time limits in child abuse claims based on the discovery rule, meaning the deadline is determined by when a person discovers their injury. In child abuse cases, survivors may not realize they were abused until many years later. Because of psychological and emotional trauma, they might not discover childhood abuse until they are adults.

Even if you aren’t sure if you want to file a lawsuit, you may benefit from speaking to an attorney. They can help you understand your rights and the process for filing a case.