Sexual abuse is one of the worst crimes a person could commit. Civil and criminal trials are often necessary to obtain the justice victims deserve, and to protect other individuals from the abuser’s future actions. Making the choice to pursue financial compensation from an abuser is a deeply personal one. Still, you do not have to go through it alone. Our New York sexual abuse lawyer can help you file your claim and obtain the full compensation you deserve, as well as possible closure.
Types of Sexual Abuse
For many years, this type of abuse was discounted or ignored, largely because victims felt too much shame or fear to come forward. In recent years, though, more people have been coming forward and filing sexual abuse lawsuits, empowering others to do the same. Sadly, sexual abuse takes many forms. Verbal, physical, and emotional attacks of a sexual nature all constitute abuse. The most common types of sexual abuse are as follows:
- Sexual exploitation
- Sexual harassment
- Voyeurism, including watching a person in a sexual manner when they did not give consent, or secretly watching others engage in sexual activity
- Unwanted sexual advances including fondling, touching, kissing, or any other sexual activity whether violence is involved or not
- Non-consensual exposure to pornography
- Recording explicit images of a person when they are unaware
- Displaying explicit images of a person in a public display when they were taken in a private context
- Rape, including date rape
What Compensation is Available for Sexual Abuse
The Child Victims Act was passed by the New York State Legislature on January 28, 2019. Under this law, victims who experienced sexual abuse as a child can file a claim for compensation against their abuser until they reach the age of 55. In the past, victims of childhood sexual abuse had only they turned 23 years of age to file a claim.
As with other personal injury claims, the goal of a sexual abuse civil case is to make a victim whole to the fullest extent possible. It can be very stressful for victims and their families to place a dollar amount on the trauma they have experienced. Still, it is vital to work with a lawyer who can establish the amount of compensation you deserve so you recover everything you deserve. The most common types of damages available in sexual abuse cases are as follows:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Therapy expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of ability to cope during work and other daily activities
- Loss of companionship and society
- Damage to a reputation
- Punitive damages
When claiming damages, it is important to not only consider your current losses, but any losses you will incur in the future, as well.
Contact Our Sexual Abuse Lawyers in New York Today
There is little that is as painful as being the victim of sexual abuse. At Poltielov Law Firm P.C., our New York sexual abuse lawyers will handle every aspect of your claim so you are shielded from the trauma of reliving your experience. We also work tirelessly to help our clients claim the full damages they are entitled to, and we will put that same drive to work for you. Call us now or contact us online to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys.