Sexual Abuse Lawyer Reading PA

Sexual assault and abuse are things no one should have to deal with, but when they happen, the impacts can be felt for the rest of the survivors’ lives. As Reading’s trusted sexual abuse attorneys, Injury Lawyer Team understand how to handle sexual abuse cases with care, providing legal assistance to help survivors receive compensation and justice.

Our legal team has the experience and compassion to handle sexual abuse and assault cases in Reading to ensure sexual predators are brought to justice.

Why Choose Injury Lawyer Team

Injury Lawyer Team is committed to helping sexual abuse victims take back control of their lives by holding their abuser accountable and obtaining financial compensation. Our legal team has experience with these sensitive cases and the compassion to handle them with the care they deserve.

We’ll thoroughly investigate your claim to ensure the compensation we pursue matches everything you went through. We’ll calculate damages and determine a fair settlement to help you financially recover from what you went through.

Understanding Sexual Abuse and Assault

Provide a definition of sexual abuse and assault. Emphasize the lack of consent and power imbalances involved.

Sexual abuse and assault are profound experiences characterized by a lack of consent and, sometimes, an imbalance of power. These can range from more minor occurrences like unwanted sexual comments or jokes, or sexual violence like rape.

In Reading, sexual abuse and assault can take different forms and happen anywhere. A key component is the lack of consent. Consent has to be given by both parties. It has to be given continuously and without coercion. It can be removed at any point when someone changes their mind.

When it comes to consent, some people are legally unable to give it. This includes those under 18 years old, those intoxicated by alcohol or drugs, and some people with a mental incapacity.

Common Forms of Sexual Abuse

Several different actions constitute sexual assault and abuse. The most common forms of sexual abuse are:

• Incest: Sexual acts between two family members. Usually, it is between an adult and a younger family member, but it can be between family members of any age.
• Child Sexual Abuse: Sexual behavior or actions between an adult and a child. This can be anything from rape or exposing a child to sexual material.
• Sexual Assault and Rape: Sexual violence that involves forceful intercourse that’s non-consensual.
• Sexual Harassment: Unwanted sexual comments or non-penetrative touching. This often happens in the workplace, but it can happen anywhere.
• Digital Sexual Abuse: Sometimes called revenge porn, this is the non-consensual sharing or showing of someone undressing or performing sexual acts.
• Voyeurism: Watching someone perform sexual acts or undressing without their knowledge and consent.
• Statutory Rape: Sexual intercourse between an adult and a minor. This is often between an adult and a teenager who believe they can legally consent when they can’t.

Institutions Where Sexual Abuse Is Most Likely to Occur

Even though sexual abuse and assault can happen anywhere, there are institutions where they are prevalent.

Inpatient Treatment Facilities

Patients in inpatient treatment facilities or drug rehab programs are in a vulnerable state, and sometimes, other patients or staff will take advantage.

Prisons and Correctional Facilities

Just because someone’s in prison or a correctional facility doesn’t mean they should be sexually abused or assaulted. We’ll seek compensation for survivors within the prison system.

Foster Care

The children in our foster care system are already in a vulnerable state, but when you add in the fact they are often moved around from home to home, sexual abuse or assault can easily slip through the cracks.

Daycare Facilities and Nursing Homes

Those in a daycare or nursing home rely on their employees to help them with their needs. Staff might use this power to commit sexual crimes.

Educational Institutions

Students of any age are often susceptible to sexual abuse and assault on campus. Whether it’s at an elementary school or a large university campus, we’ll protect your rights and hold your abuser accountable.

Religious Institutions

Clergy sexual abuse has been happening for decades, but more people are finally speaking out, showing a pattern of systemic abuse. We’ll be there to help pursue compensation and hopefully help end systemic abuse within the religious institution.

Sports Clubs

Athletes of all ages are in a unique position where coaches, team doctors, or other teammates might take advantage of them.

Military Institutions

Many military members don’t report they’ve been sexually assaulted or abused due to the large imbalance of power predators use in these institutions.

Hotels and Short-Term Rentals

Hotels and short-term rentals are transient and, therefore, attract a lot of sexual predators looking for someone they deem “easy” to attack.

Shelters

Shelters should be safe places for people to get off the street or away from an abusive partner, but some people abuse their power and harm the vulnerable people in shelters.

Steps to Take If You Are a Victim of Sexual Assault

If you’ve been sexually assaulted in Berks County, knowing what to do afterward can be incredibly beneficial. Some steps you might want to consider taking are:

• Find a way to remove yourself from the situation to ensure your safety.
• Visit the hospital for medical attention, regardless of whether you have physical injuries or not or how severe you think they are.
• Report the abuse to the Reading police and file an official police report.
• Document everything you can about the assault or abuse so the perpetrator can be held accountable.
• Preserve any evidence you can by not showering or washing your clothing.
• Look into support from your loved ones and local resources like Safe Berks.
• Consider hiring an experienced sexual assault attorney to help you get justice and compensation.

Compensation for Sexual Abuse Victims

Survivors of sexual abuse or assault in Reading are likely entitled to compensation for what they went through. Injury Lawyer Team has experience representing survivors and protecting their rights when fighting for a fair settlement.

While no amount of money will change what happened, it can be what you need to begin rebuilding and recovering. Types of compensation survivors of sexual assault or abuse are entitled to include:

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

Victims of sexual abuse seeking justice and compensation will see their settlement varies depending on factors like:

• The severity and duration of the abuse
• The impact it’s had on their life
• The degree of negligence by any applicable institutions
• The strength of the evidence

Liability in Sexual Abuse Cases

While we can sue the individual perpetrators responsible for sexual abuse or assault cases, there are times when we can hold institutions accountable. This doesn’t apply to all sexual assault cases, but it’s important to know. Our sexual abuse attorneys can potentially hold institutions accountable on principles of:

• Failure to Report: Many institutions in Berks County are mandatory reporters. Even if they’re not, failing to report suspicions or allegations of sexual abuse and assault can make the institution liable.
• Negligent Hiring and Supervision: Institutions that don’t provide appropriate supervision or background checks can be held liable for sexual abuse or assault.
• Negligent Retention: When an institution chooses to do nothing or keep the alleged abuser or attacker on staff, victims can hold them liable.
• Vicarious Liability: Sometimes, we can hold the institution liable for the actions of their employees or agents, even if they’re not negligent.

An example of institutional liability could be when a high school chooses to keep a football coach on staff despite allegations of sexual misconduct.

How to Prove a Sexual Abuse Case

Proving a sexual abuse or assault case requires thorough investigation and planning. The attorneys at Injury Lawyer Team have developed a comprehensive strategy to help us prove these civil cases:

• Gathering all the evidence we can to build a strong case.
• Establishing a timeline of the sexual abuse or assault.
• Working with experts to obtain their testimony to help boost your case.
• Proving that any institutions involved were negligent.
• Showing the damages the survivor has suffered, like not being able to work, psychological trauma, etc.
• Building a case that shows the full scope of what the survivor went through.

How Our Reading Sexual Abuse Lawyers Can Help

When you’re ready to seek justice and compensation, our sexual abuse attorneys can help by:

• Offering you a safe place for a free and confidential consultation where you can share your story.
• Investigating your claim to gather all the evidence we can to prove your case.
• Develop a legal strategy that is strong and secures the best possible outcome for your case.
• Negotiating with all opposing counsel and insurance companies throughout the legal process.
• Representing you in court if we can’t come to the right settlement for you outside of the courtroom.
• Providing you access to local and national support resources so you can continue to heal through the civil lawsuit.
• Offering continuous support from the moment we start working together until your case is resolved.

The Time Limits for Filing a Claim in Reading, Pennsylvania

Sexual assault victims who want to file a civil lawsuit against their abuser or the negligent institutions that enabled the incident need to know about the statute of limitations. While the time limits might be different for criminal charges, the statutes of limitations for civil lawsuits under Pennsylvania law are:

• For child sexual abuse, the survivor has until they turn 30 to file a civil claim.
• For adult sexual abuse, two years after the date of the incident.

Contact a Reading Sexual Abuse Attorney Today!

You can trust us to handle your case with the care and attention it deserves while still being compassionate about what you went through. If you’re ready to bring your abuser to justice and seek compensation to help ease the financial burden, contact us online to schedule your free consultation, or call us 24/7 at 866-757-6452.

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