Sexual abuse can have devastating consequences in a person’s life, causing untold physical, mental, and emotional trauma. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we’re committed to supporting abuse survivors in Boston.
WE ARE ONLY ACCEPTING SEXUAL ABUSE CASES INVOLVING INSTITUTIONS.
IF YOU HAVE A MATTER INVOLVING A RELATIVE OR ACQUAINTANCE, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL BAR ASSOCIATION
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Why Choose Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we help you achieve the highest compensation in sex abuse cases. We strive to help you recover all medical expenses, therapy costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering to help you prioritize your healing and financial recovery.
| $21 Million Hotel sexual assault case | $15 Million Coach grooming and abuse | $7 Million Cruise ship rape settlement |
| $6 Million Negligent security assault | $6 Million Child sexual abuse lawsuit | $5 Million Therapist sexual abuse settlement |
Our compassionate and experienced legal team has a proven track record of protecting clients’ rights and helping them obtain justice.
Understanding Sexual Abuse and Assault
Sexual abuse and sexual assault in Massachusetts fall under broader legal buckets.
- Abuse: Crimes that are intended to cause harm, instill fear of imminent physical harm, or cause another to involuntarily engage in sexual relations.
- Indecent assault and battery: Crimes against minors and/or people with intellectual disabilities.
- Sexual assault: Sexual assault in Massachusetts is used as an umbrella term to encompass most sex crimes, including rape, sex with a minor, aggravated rape, and any other non-consensual sexual crime. There is no specific sexual assault crime in Massachusetts.
A lack of consent is a common theme in sexual assault cases in Boston, with people in power abusing their authority for sexual gratification. The age of consent in Massachusetts is 16, meaning a person can legally consent to sexual activity at this age.
Common Forms of Sexual Abuse
Because sexual abuse can be broad, here are some common forms to help you understand if you are a sexual abuse survivor.
- Rape: Forced, non-consensual intercourse
- Dating and Domestic Violence: Sexual abuse between intimate partners
- Stalking: A pattern of behavior when one individual constantly harasses
- Child sexual abuse: Abuse of a minor by another minor or an adult.
Institutions Where Sexual Abuse Is Most Likely to Occur
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we handle cases in the following areas:
- Workplace
- Inpatient treatment facilities
- Correctional facilities
- Foster care system
- Daycare facilities
- Long-term care homes
- Educational institutions
- Religious institutions
- Sports clubs
- Military institutions
- Hospitality industry
- Shelters
- Medical field
Steps to Take If You Are a Victim of Sexual Assault
If you are a victim of sexual assault, there are steps that you can take to help you overcome your situation.
- Do what you can to protect your safety and well-being, including leaving.
- Go to the hospital. Many hospitals have rape kits available to collect DNA, which can be critical in proving your case. The doctors can also test you for STIs and refer you to local resources.
- Write down all details, including any names of witnesses. Be sure to take pictures if you don’t go to the hospital. Doctors typically take pictures if you go to the emergency room.
- Connect with sexual assault lawyers in Boston. We can help you navigate your options.
Survivors of sexual abuse in Boston can access support through local organizations like the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, NAMI Massachusetts, and REACH.
Compensation for Sexual Abuse Victims
Sexual abuse survivors in Boston can recover compensation in different areas, including:
- Medical expenses
- Mental health expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Lost wages
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers does their best to get you the maximum compensation, but how much you can get depends on the following:
- Abuse severity
- Abuse length
- Abuse impact
- Age
- Evidence
Liability in Sexual Abuse Cases
Both the abuser and third parties, like institutions, can be held liable in Boston sexual abuse cases. Institutions can be held liable for:
- Negligence in preventing abuse
- Failure to report incidents
- Inadequate response to complaints
Examples of these behaviors are inadequate supervision, failure to complete background checks, or creating an environment where abuse could happen. They are vicariously liable.
Vicarious liability means that a third party or institution can be held liable for another person’s illegal activities, even if they didn’t commit a crime. This is common in cases where institutions are negligent, such as by not performing background checks.
Federally funded organizations, including educational institutions, can be held to Title IX regulations, which protect people from discrimination based on sex, including sexual assault or harassment.
How to Prove a Sexual Abuse Case
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we work with you to prove liability in sexual assault cases in the following ways:
- We review all the evidence you have and seek additional information to build the case.
- We use it to prove negligence or intentional misconduct against the institution.
- We link it to the abuse and the harm that you suffered as a result to get your settlement.
How Our Boston Sexual Abuse Lawyers Can Help
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we can help you navigate the system, acting as your guide throughout the process. We help investigate your claims, building a strong case that will stand up in a court of law. Ultimately, we help you get the justice you deserve.
The Time Limits for Filing a Claim in Boston
How long you have to file a civil claim for sexual assault in Boston depends on how old you were when it took place.
- Child sexual assault: Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 260 § 4C, the statute of limitations is 35 years after the final act of abuse or within seven years of discovering damages as a result of abuse, whichever is later.
- Adult sexual assault: The statute of limitations is three years from the date of the abuse.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help you understand your options through a free and confidential consultation.
Contact a Boston Sexual Abuse Lawyer Today!
If you or someone you love has been a victim of sexual abuse in Boston, you deserve justice and compassionate legal representation. The trauma of sexual abuse can have long-lasting physical, emotional, and psychological effects. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to holding perpetrators accountable and securing the compensation victims deserve.
Our team of experienced sexual abuse attorneys will work tirelessly to investigate your case, gather evidence, and fight for your rights, whether the abuse occurred in a school, religious institution, workplace, or any other setting. We understand how sensitive these cases are and approach every situation with the utmost care and confidentiality.
Call us at (888) 424-5757 or fill out our contact form.
Related Practice Areas
- Cambridge Sexual Abuse Lawyer
- Lowell Sexual Abuse Lawyer
- Springfield Sexual Abuse Lawyer
- Worcester Sexual Abuse Lawyer
All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.
