Sexual Abuse Lawyer Los Angeles CA

Sexual abuse and assault are crimes that can greatly impact the survivor for the rest of their lives. Whether it was consistent abuse or a single assault, the physical and emotional trauma will change their lives forever.

Injury Lawyer Team are dedicated to helping survivors get the justice and settlement they deserve so they can begin to heal. If you or someone you know is a sexual abuse survivor in Los Angeles, we’re here to help protect their rights.

We understand the courage it takes to come forward and fight back against an abuser, so we take the steps necessary to handle every case with care and dedication.

Why Choose Injury Lawyer Team

Everything that happens after sexual assault or prolonged abuse can feel intimidating. Not everyone is ready to come forward right away or report the abuse. Whenever you are, Injury Lawyer Team is prepared to fight for you. We’ve dedicated our careers to helping sexual assault survivors receive the maximum financial compensation and won’t stop until justice is served.

Our Los Angeles sexual abuse attorneys understand the sensitive nature of these cases. Not only will our law firm work your case by investigating thoroughly, but we’ll also provide compassionate guidance throughout the process. Whether your case can be handled via negotiations outside the courtroom or in court, you can count on our sexual abuse attorneys to protect your rights by prioritizing your healing and financial recovery.

Understanding Sexual Abuse and Assault

Various sexual crimes fall under the terms sexual abuse and assault. Sexual abuse and assault are any non-consensual sexual contact or behavior. These sex crimes happen without explicit consent from the victim, ranging from unwanted touching or sexual comments to forced sexual acts.

There are three main things to know about sexual abuse and assault. The first is that under no circumstance is it ever the survivor’s fault. The second is that consent is what differentiates the acts from being a sex crime or not. Consent has to be freely and enthusiastically given and ongoing. Even if someone initially consents but withdraws it, it’s no longer consensual.

The third thing is that a lot of sexual abuse involves imbalanced power dynamics between the perpetrator and victim. Sometimes, this is between an adult and a child or two adults, where one uses their authority to abuse the other.

Common Forms of Sexual Abuse

Because sexual abuse comes in many forms, some people don’t realize what happened to them constitutes sexual abuse or assault. Common types of sexual assault include:

• Rape and Sexual Assault: Non-consensual sexual penetration or attempted rape, usually involving coercion or force. It can involve drugs and alcohol to incapacitate someone before taking advantage of them.
• Statutory Rape: Sexual acts between an adult and a minor, usually teenagers. Even if the teenager says yes, they cannot legally consent due to their age.
• Childhood Sexual Abuse: Any sexual conduct between an adult and minor where the adult is exerting their power over the other. It often includes grooming the child to believe their actions are normal or okay.
• Sexual Harassment: Unwanted sexual contact or comments, including requests for sexual favors or any verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. These abusive acts often happen in the workplace.
• Incest: Sexual contact between family members. It typically happens between an adult and child relative but can happen with any family member.
• Unwanted Touching or Groping: Any sexual touching of intimate body parts over the clothes without any consent.
• Sex Trafficking: Forcing individuals into commercial sexual exploitation.
• Voyeurism: Watching anyone in a private setting without consent or exposing oneself publicly.
• Digital Sexual Exploitation: Sometimes called “revenge porn,” this involves sharing intimate photos and videos of someone online or to others digitally without their consent.

Institutions Where Sexual Abuse Is Most Likely to Occur

Sexual abuse or assault can happen anywhere, anytime. That being said, there are certain institutions where we see it happen more than others. As your compassionate and experienced California sexual abuse lawyers, we’ve handled cases of institutional sexual abuse, such as.

Workplace

We’ve helped sexual assault victims who have been sexually abused by their boss, coworkers, or anyone within the workplace.

Inpatient Treatment Facilities

Many patients are sexually abused in inpatient treatment facilities. Whether the abuse came from another patient or employee of the facility, we’ll get to the bottom of it.

Prisons and Correctional Facilities

Many sexual assault crimes happen within our correctional facilities around the country. For those who have dealt with sexual abuse in prisons and correctional facilities in Los Angeles, we’ll help bring the other prisoner or correctional officer to justice.

Religious Institutions

Even though people are meant to feel safe at their religious institution of choice, that’s not always the case. Many cases of clergy abuse have been brought to light, and we’re proud to help the survivors seek justice.

Nursing Homes

Many elderly patients in nursing homes have been subjected to sexual assault. We’ll defend the survivor against other patients and nursing home employees.

Sports Clubs

Athletes across sports have been known to be sexually abused by their teammates, coaches, team doctors, and others close to them.

Foster Care

We’ll work to defend Los Angeles’ vulnerable minors in the foster care system who are sexual assault victims.

Daycare Facilities

We have experience fighting for the rights of children who have been sexually harassed or abused by other daycare children or employees.

Educational Facilities

Educational facilities ranging from elementary schools to universities have had sexual abuse allegations against them. We’ll work to prove these cases and hold all those responsible accountable.

Military Institutions

Our military members should be focused on defending our country, not avoiding sexual harassment and abuse. We’ll work with survivors within the military to get them the compensation they deserve.

Hotels and Short-Term Rentals

Since these have a more transient environment, sexual abuse and assault are more common. We’ll bring the perpetrator to justice and hold the institution liable.

Shelters

People who are in shelters should feel safe staying there, but that’s not always the case. We’ll provide legal counsel to those abused in shelters and hold the shelter liable if necessary.

Steps to Take If You Are a Victim of Sexual Assault

If you’ve been a victim of sexual violence, your safety and well-being are a top priority. These are some immediate steps to take afterward:

• Get yourself to a safe place away from your abuser.
• Call the Los Angeles police and report the abuse.
• Seek medical attention, even if your injuries aren’t visible.
• Consider a sexual assault forensic exam to preserve evidence when you’re ready to pursue a civil lawsuit.
• You can seek support from people you trust or local programs like YWCA Greater Los Angeles Sexual Assault Crisis Services.
• Call an experienced sexual abuse attorney to help protect your rights.

Compensation for Sexual Abuse Victims

No amount of money will erase what happened to you, but compensation can be helpful in the healing process. Compensation that’s available to sexual abuse survivors includes:

• Medical expenses
• Therapy and counseling expenses
• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Loss of enjoyment of life

How much you’ll receive in a settlement varies. Factors that influence the total compensation you might receive are:

• The severity of the abuse or assault
• The strength of the evidence provided
• The duration of the abuse
• The overall impact on the survivor’s life

Liability in Sexual Abuse Cases

Liability in sexual abuse cases often extends beyond the individual perpetrator to include institutions that may have facilitated or failed to prevent the abuse. Institutions can be held legally responsible under certain circumstances:

• Negligent hiring practices
• Negligent retention
• Failure to report
• Inadequate training on spotting the signs of sexual assault

Legal principles such as vicarious liability allow institutions to be held accountable for the actions of their employees. Title IX regulations mandate that educational institutions take specific steps to prevent and respond to sexual assault. Religious organizations and other entities may also be held liable for creating environments where abuse can occur due to poor supervision or power dynamics.

How to Prove a Sexual Abuse Case

When it comes to proving assault in sexual assault cases, there needs to be a careful and thorough approach. Legal experts and investigators are vital in helping prove sexual assault or abuse in civil claims by:

• Gathering evidence
• Proving negligence or intentional misconduct
• Demonstrating the link between the abuse and the harm suffered
• Providing expert testimony
• Investigating the sexual assault claim

How Our Los Angeles Sexual Assault Attorneys Can Help

You must choose a legal team that has experience representing victims and understands the sensitive nature of these cases. Injury Lawyer Team is a trusted law firm when it comes to these violent crimes. We can help you by:

Giving you a confidential space to talk about what happened to you
Thoroughly investigating your sexual abuse claim
Gathering evidence to build a strong case
Identifying all liable parties
Dealing with insurance companies and opposing counsel
Working with experts to gather testimonies to strengthen your case
Negotiating a settlement that is fair compared to what occurred
Protecting your rights inside the courtroom and out

The Time Limits for Filing a Claim in Los Angeles, California

There is a statute of limitations for a sexual assault victim to file a civil claim in Los Angeles. Right now, adults who have survived child abuse have until they turn 40 years old or within five years of discovering the sexual abuse to file a civil lawsuit.

For sexual assault cases where the incident occurred in adulthood, they have ten years from the date of the last sexual act or three years after discovering the abuse to file a civil case.

Contact Our Los Angeles Sexual Abuse Lawyers Today!

If you’re ready to take the next step, contact us today at 866-757-6452 for a free consultation or fill out our online form.

Related Practice Areas

• Fresno Sexual Abuse Lawyer
• San Diego Sexual Abuse Lawyer
• San Francisco Sexual Abuse Lawyer
• San Jose Sexual Abuse Lawyer