Sexual Abuse Lawyer New York City NY

Have you recently been the victim of sexual abuse or sexual assault in New York City? Sexual abuse survivors face more than just the physical damage caused by their abusers. There are also emotional consequences that can last a lifetime in some cases.

Although you should prioritize emotional support during this challenging time, you also have the option to hold your abuser accountable with a civil lawsuit. Civil lawsuits allow victims of sexual abuse to pursue compensation for legal damages.

However, to succeed with your sexual abuse claim in New York City, you need the legal guidance of an experienced attorney on your side. Injury Lawyer Team can provide that guidance to increase your chances of obtaining maximum financial compensation through the claims process.

Whether you suffered from child sexual abuse or have recently been assaulted by trusted medical professionals in a treatment center, we can help you hold these people accountable for their behaviors.

Why Choose Injury Lawyer Team

There are many reasons to choose our law firm to represent you during your civil lawsuit. First and foremost, we are committed to pursuing the highest settlement possible to ensure all your losses are covered, whether that means medical bills, therapy costs, or emotional distress.

A compassionate approach is essential when helping survivors navigate this complex legal process, and we prioritize this trait in every interaction.

If you decide to work with Injury Lawyer Team after a free consultation, we will work tirelessly to pursue justice on your behalf. Your rights under state law will be protected at all times. Your New York sexual abuse lawyer will handle the heavy lifting of the legal process so you can focus on healing physically and emotionally from the sexual abuse you experienced.

Understanding Sexual Abuse and Assault

According to the laws of New York, sexual abuse and sexual assault have slightly different definitions. Sexual abuse occurs when someone subjects another person to sexual contact without their permission. Sexual assault is an umbrella term for sex crimes, which include rape, forcible touching, criminal sexual contact, and predatory sexual assault.

Sexual crimes are far too common in New York City. For example, 1,455 rapes were reported in 2023 alone [1], and this figure does not include unreported assaults.

These two principles share several characteristics. First, the victim does not consent to the perpetrator’s behavior for both sexual abuse and sexual assault. Similarly, there is often a power imbalance between the parties involved in the incident, which the abuser takes advantage of.

For example, a caseworker in a shelter may abuse their client and threaten punishment if the victim comes forward.

For help understanding these distinctions and how they might impact your civil claim, speak with a qualified sexual abuse lawyer.

Common Forms of Sexual Abuse

Our law firm has handled many sexual abuse claims in the past, each of them unique. Here are a few scenarios that may be defined as sexual abuse or sexual assault under New York law.

• Unwanted physical contact – Touching someone sexually with a body part or object without their consent is a form of sexual abuse.
• Child sexual abuse – New York is very strict on child sex crimes, so the standard for filing a civil suit is much lower if it involves child sexual abuse. It’s important to note the age of consent in New York is 17.
• Sexual exposure – If a person exposes someone else to sexual imagery, such as child pornography or flashing, without the recipient’s consent, they are committing sexual abuse.
• Sexual exploitation – Using power, trust, or vulnerability to achieve sexual ends with another and enjoy some type of benefit may constitute abuse because of coercion.
• Sexual intercourse – Any form of penetrative sex or sexual oral contact that is not consensual could be considered rape or another form of sexual assault.

Institutions Where Sexual Abuse Is Most Likely to Occur

Sexual acts can occur anytime and any place in New York City. Unfortunately, these sexual abuse cases often happen in institutions where better safeguards should be in place. Here are some institutions where sex abuse may occur.

Workplaces

Workplace sexual harassment, abuse, and assault are, unfortunately, common. Many of these cases occur because of the significant power imbalances between employers and employees, which our law firm has seen multiple times. 

Your company likely has a strict enforcement policy for harassment or abuse, so read through the guidelines to determine what is against the guidelines.

Inpatient Treatment Facilities

These medical centers are designed to care for patients who must stay overnight. Often, these patients are in vulnerable situations, which abusive individuals may take advantage of to commit inappropriate sexual acts. 

Prisons and Correctional Facilities

Correctional facilities are rampant with sexual abuse and assault. Often, the alleged offender is another prisoner or a guard with a position of authority. Seeking justice against sexual predators in prison can be very difficult without a lawyer’s aid, mainly because perpetrators may rely on the silence of others to get away with their behavior.

Foster Care

The foster care system is designed to help place children in safe homes when they cannot stay with their biological parents for one reason or another. Child victims may be abused by individuals in their foster families. Our firm has handled cases of foster care abuse in the past.

Daycare Centers

Daycare facilities are another common source of child sexual abuse cases. Sexual predators could be in charge of supervising children during the day and taking advantage of them. 

Educational Institutions

Vulnerable children in schools could be subject to sexual abuse or assault. All academic facilities feature power dynamics between administrative staff or teachers and students that could result in inappropriate behaviors by those in authority. 

Religious Institutions

Clergy sexual abuse has become an enormous problem. One of the reasons why it festers is because people tend to trust religious leaders quickly. Victims of clergy sexual abuse, primarily children, often do not realize what is occurring.

Nursing Homes

Elderly individuals are often sexually abused when they live in nursing homes. Typically, they are more vulnerable because of their medical circumstances, making them easy targets for abusive staff or other residents in the nursing home.

Sports Clubs

Many sexual abuse survivors are forced to take legal action against coaches or trainers who abuse them within sports programs. Athletes often trust these people to improve their skills, and that trust could be used to manipulate a vulnerable individual into an unwanted sexual act. 

Military Institutions

The military has a unique culture that often suppresses reports of sexual abuse or sexual assault. If the abuse is committed by a superior, they may pressure the victim to keep it a secret, preventing predators from being held accountable.

Hotels and Short-Term Rentals

If the wrong person is staking out your hotel room or has placed a secret camera in private spaces, you may be in immediate danger of sexual abuse. Members of the staff or other guests could commit heinous acts against you that lead to lifelong mental anguish. 

Shelters

There are many homeless people and other vulnerable individuals in New York City. Often, they will seek refuge in a shelter, but abuse could occur if a case worker takes advantage of the vulnerability of their client.

Steps to Take If You Are a Victim of Sexual Assault

If you are the victim of sexual abuse or sexual assault, it is essential to prioritize your well-being in the immediate aftermath of the event. Here are some steps you should follow to focus on your health and financial security.

• Seek medical attention immediately to address any physical damage from the assault and obtain medical records as evidence.
• Report your sexual abuse to the New York City Police Department or another entity with authority.
• Document information about the abuse, including what led to it, how it happened, and what occurred in the aftermath.
• Contact sexual abuse lawyers from our law firm to get a free consultation and learn more about filing a civil claim to seek justice.

Once you have addressed these concerns, consider what emotional support you need for the healing process. You can talk to someone right away by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-4673).

Some child victims and adult survivors may prefer one-on-one counseling services with NYC sexual abuse therapists. For a broader range of services for survivors of sexual abuse, the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault has centers in the city.

Compensation for Sexual Abuse Victims

The primary goal of filing a sexual abuse claim is to recover financial compensation for legal damages. A sexual abuse attorney from Injury Lawyer Team can walk you through which losses may apply to your claim.

Economic and non-economic damages could include lost wages, medical bills, future medical expenses, therapy costs, emotional distress, physical pain, and loss of enjoyment of life. If the defendant had malicious intent, you could also receive punitive damages.

Other factors will affect the settlement amount in your sexual abuse case. The extent of your losses is a primary factor that stems from the severity of your injuries. The amount of evidence available to support your claim could also change the amount of compensation you receive.

Finally, the skill of your sexual abuse lawyers will affect the settlement, which is why hiring an experienced professional from our law firm is crucial.

Liability in Sexual Abuse Cases

Our legal expertise will benefit your case, especially in establishing liability. Liability refers to the party that is responsible for the harm you suffered. The defendant in your claim could be either an individual or an institution.

It may be possible to hold an institution accountable if it fails to report incidents, fails to prevent abuse, enforces poor supervision, fails to respond to complaints, or creates an environment where sexual abuse could occur.

Some precedents under New York law may apply when you pursue legal action. Vicarious liability occurs when one entity is responsible for the actions of a related entity. In religious communities, specific power dynamics are at play that could be relevant.

For example, a spiritual leader may use the trust that a child has in them to commit sexual acts against a minor. If your sexual abuse occurred in an educational institution, Title IX regulations may be used to rule on the treatment of different sexes.

How to Prove a Sexual Abuse Case

Your civil lawsuit in New York City must prove that the four following elements are “more likely than not” true. Though the burden of proof is lighter than a typical criminal trial, it is still on the plaintiff to provide enough evidence of these factors.

• Duty of care – The defendant is responsible for not harming the plaintiff.
• Breach of duty – The defendant’s actions broke that duty of care.
• Causation – There is a link between the defendant’s actions and the harm suffered by the plaintiff.
• Legal damages – The plaintiff suffered legal damages under New York state law due to the harm.

Proving these elements can be challenging, so you’ll need experienced legal professionals to help you navigate this process. Our legal team understands what evidence is required to support your claim and win compensation, so we will help you build a strong case against your abuser.

How Our NYC Sexual Abuse Attorneys Can Help

Pursuing justice can be overwhelming during these complex legal procedures. Our legal team will give you a better chance of completing your claim and earning the maximum settlement possible. Here are the ways Injury Lawyer Team can assist you.

• A free and confidential consultation where you can ask questions about the claims process and your specific lawsuit.
• An assessment of all possible legal damages to address your economic and non-economic losses and determine a fair settlement.
• A thorough investigation of the sexual assault that occurred to gather evidence that will support your claim.
• Strong negotiating tactics to secure enough financial compensation from stubborn defendants and their legal teams.
• Legal representation in court if the case advances to a civil trial.
• There are no upfront costs to use our services, and we only get paid if we win your case.

The Time Limits for Filing a Claim in New York City

You have a limited time to pursue justice, depending on your age and the nature of the sexual abuse you suffered. New York State created a new legislation in 2019 called the Child Victims Act. This expanded the statute of limitations for civil cases involving child sexual abuse.

For example, if you are an adult who was abused as a minor, you now have until the age of 55 to file a claim against your abuser because of the Child Victims Act. As an adult survivor of abuse, you have three years for minor infractions or as many as twenty years for more severe types of assault. Some types of child sex abuse and adult assault have no statute of limitations.

Contact a New York City Sexual Abuse Lawyer Today!

All forms of sexual abuse are severe, from child sexual abuse to exploitation to third-degree rape. As a victim, you face immense challenges as you heal physically and emotionally after the event. Sometimes, the impact of sexual abuse can put your entire financial future at risk. You can hold your abuser accountable while also pursuing compensation through a civil lawsuit.

To seek legal advice during a free consultation, call our office today at 866-757-6452 or complete the contact form online.

Related Practice Areas

• Buffalo Sexual Abuse Lawyer
• Rochester Sexual Abuse Lawyer
• Syracuse Sexual Abuse Lawyer
• Yonkers Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Resources: [1] Statista