If you live in Indianapolis Indiana and are a victim of sexual abuse, contact an Indianapolis sexual abuse lawyer today. Over the last ten years, we have heard of a significant increase in sexual abuse at the hands of people in trusted positions.
We can no longer limit our notion of the sexual predator as the stranger in a white van offering candy. Today, sexual predators can be found even in the most sacred of places. Lawyers for sexual assault victims make it their mission to protect the rights of sexual abuse victims.
If you or a loved one have been the victim of sexual abuse, contact a sexual abuse attorney right away.
Sexual Abuse Attorneys Protecting the Rights of Sexual Abuse Victims
Victims of sexual abuse suffer more than just the act of being abused. Sexual abuse can lead to many problems, including:
- Anxiety
- Fear
- PTSD
- Depression
- Withdrawal and isolation
- Guilt
- Denial
- Trust issues
Sexual assault attorneys will work hard to make sure their clients get the help they need to conquer the problems associated with the abuse. They will also work relentlessly to make sure the people at fault are held accountable so that the abuse doesn’t happen to anyone else.
Types of Sexual Abuse for Contacting a Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Ten or twenty years ago, we taught our children to refuse rides with strangers. We told women not to jog alone late at night. We think our children are safe when they go to church and school.
Sadly, times have changed. The face of sexual abuse in our country has changed. Some of the worst sexual abusers today are found in the very places we think we are safe.
Some of the most common types of sexual abuse today involve:
Religious Institutions
Although it has only been the last decade or so that we have identified sexual abusers in the church, it has been going on for hundreds of years. People are coming forward with evidence or allegations of sexual abuse in the church that took place fifty or sixty years ago.
The scary thing is that we look to the church and other religious institutions as safe places. We don’t want to imagine that our children and family are at risk of sexual abuse while at church.
Studies show that most sex abusers, especially child sex molesters, average about twelve different victims over their life. Each victim is expected to have experienced an average of six or more sexual abuse incidents.
Since members of the clergy are exposed to children for most of their careers, the numbers can be even higher.
Schools
When we send our kids off to school in the morning, our biggest fears may be that they fail a test or have their lunch money stolen. We don’t think for a moment that our children will be subjected to sexual abuse.
However, it happens. Many children are sexually abused by coaches, teachers and administrators. When this happens, a sexual assault victim lawyer won’t just go after the individual, no, sexual offense lawyers go after the school and the administration as well.
It is their responsibility to ensure that our children are safe.
Doctors
We hate to think that we could be sexually abused by our doctors. However, there have been hundreds of cases over the last decade of doctors and dentists sexually abusing patients. A lot of this takes place while the patient is unconscious.
The patient may not even know the abuse takes place. It is often not until much later that the patient realizes they have been violated.
Law enforcement
Movies and television shows often make light of the concept of a citizen offering sexual favors in exchange for a police officer to look the other way. However, you’d be surprised how often this happens.
People are subjected to different types of sexual abuse at the hands of law enforcement officers. This takes place at traffic stops, pat downs, and bookings. If you or a loved one have been the victim of sexual abuse, contact a sexual abuse attorney in Indiana today!
Employers
We have heard of sexual harassment by employers. However, people also suffer sexual abuse at the hands of their managers and bosses. What a lot of people don’t know is that your employer can be held responsible for sexual abuse committed by their employees.
Even if they aren’t directly named in a lawsuit, they still suffer the consequences. For example, victims of sexual abuse have lower levels of production, performance and attendance.
Athletics and Community Groups
We encourage our kids to play sports. It keeps them healthy, teaches them about teamwork and can help bring them out of their shell.
However, what do we do if we suspect one of children are being sexually abused by a coach or teammate? If this happens to your family, contact a sexual abuse attorney in Indiana.
Sexual abuse can happen anywhere. Just because a person is in a position of trust doesn’t meant they won’t hurt us. If someone in your family is being sexually abused, reach out to a sexual abuse attorney immediately. They will help get your family justice.
They will also fight to get your loved one the compensation they deserve for their pain and suffering.
How Can a Sexual Assault Attorney Help?
If someone is guilty of sexually abusing your loved one, you do need to report it to the authorities. You can bring criminal charges against the person responsible. But is that all you can do? No. The perpetrator of the abuse should be held civilly responsible for their actions.
The institution that oversees the perpetrator may also be liable for their behavior. A sexual abuse lawyer can help get you the justice and compensation you deserve.
The amount of types of compensation you can demand in a sexual abuse can depends on the situation. There is no actual cause of action called “sexual abuse.” Typically, your sexual abuse lawyer will have to file a lawsuit other a different cause of action.
Often times, they will file a lawsuit under either assault and battery or intentional infliction of emotional distress. We’ll take a look at both of these briefly here.
Assault and Battery
The Indiana criminal code is different than most states. They don’t actually list the word “assault” in their statutes. Instead, they break the type of assaults down into:
- Intimidation and threat
- Criminal recklessness and
- Criminal battery
In Indiana civil law, however, assault and battery are charged together. By definition, an assault is an attempt or a threat to commit a battery. A battery is the unwanted touching of another without consent that is either harmful of offensive.
As you can imagine, an awful lot of behaviors can be characterized as a battery. Sexual abuse is certainly one of these behaviors.
If someone commits sexual abuse against you, they have committed a battery. Unless consent was given, it will be considered a battery. And, when it comes to children, there is no such thing as consent.
A child can never consent to sexual activity. If you or a loved one have been the victim of a battery, you need to contact a sexual abuse attorney today to schedule your free consultation.
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
The tort of Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress is very broad. It includes just about any behavior that is considered so terrible that it causes severe emotional distress for the victim.
As you can imagine, sexual abuse can cause very severe and long-term emotional distress for its victims. Sexual abuse victims often suffer emotional distress as a result of their abuse.
Perpetrators of sexual abuse will likely be found liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
In an emotional distress case, your sex abuse lawyer will have to show that the defendant’s behavior was:
- Extreme or outrageous
- Intentional or reckless
- And caused either emotional distress or physical harm
It doesn’t matter what cause of action you file your suit under. You will demand damages for both physical and emotional harm caused by the defendant. Because of the nature of these cases, juries often award very high damages in sexual abuse cases.
Unlike many other types of personal injury cases, you usually can’t file a claim against a defendant’s insurance company. Most insurance policies specifically exclude sexual abuse from their coverage.
Even if you get a judgment against a defendant in your sexual abuse case, you will have a hard time collecting against that judgment. This is because most defendants are not independently wealthy.
You’ll have no choice but to go after the defendant’s personal assets to get your money. This means you can put a lien against their home or try to levy their bank accounts.
However, the odds of collecting your judgment are low. This is why lawyers for sexual harassment often look to other parties to get you the compensation you deserve.
What Parties Can Be Named in a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
In many cases, there is more than one defendant who can be named in this type of suit. Your sexual abuse attorney will name any individual, company, entity or organization who may be responsible for your injuries. This may include:
- Company
- Employer
- City or municipality
- School board or administration
- Doctor’s group or hospital
- Community organization
- Law Enforcement Agencies
- Colleges and Universities
There are a few reasons why your sexual abuse lawyer would want to name these additional parties. One if purely financial. These groups have a much greater ability to pay a judgment than an individual perpetrator does.
However, there is another reason they want to name these parties. Companies and organizations should be held responsible for the acts for their employees or members. Sometimes sexual abuse is part of a greater problem.
If nobody holds them responsible for their negligence, people will continue to become victims of the sexual abuse.
Your attorney can also demand that the defendant be added to your local city or state’s sex offender registry. This way, the public will be put on notice that the defendant is a sexual predator.
Not only does this hold the defendant accountable, but it also helps other would-be victims stay far away from the defendant and his company.
What Sort of Damages Can a Sexual Abuse Attorney Demand in a Sex Abuse Case?
Although there isn’t a long list of the types of damages you can claim in a sexual abuse case, damages are typically rather high. If you win your lawsuit for sexual abuse (or assault and battery/intentional infliction of emotional distress) you can expect to receive the following:
- Medical bills for treatment or counseling
- Lost wages for time missed from work
- Permanent disability (if appropriate)
- Pain and suffering
Indiana does let you claim pain and suffering. This is meant to compensate you for any physical and emotional pain your encountered as a result of the defendant’s actions. Your sexual misconduct lawyer will work hard to get you the compensation you deserve.
If the defendant doesn’t agree to a settlement, your case will go to trial. Historically, juries award significant damages to victims of sexual abuse. As discussed earlier, however, the challenge is collecting on your judgment.
This is why it’s always a good idea to name the defendant’s employer or organization as a defendant as well.
Contact a Sexual Abuse Attorney in Indianapolis Today
If you or a loved one have been the victim of sexual abuse in the office, you need to contact workplace sexual harassment lawyers right away. You can schedule your free initial consultation.
This will give you a chance to tell your story and ask any questions or concerns you may have. Your lawyer can look to see if the defendant or his organization have a history of sexual abuse cases. He can also let you know what he thinks your case may be worth.
You can bet the defendant is going to have a sexual abuse lawyer working for him. You don’t want to deal with this alone, you need to focus on your own recovery. Your lawyer can help refer you to organizations or counselors who can help with your recovery.
Focus on yourself and let the sexual abuse attorney worry about the legal side of things. Call Rowe and Hamilton sexual harassment lawyers today at 317-482-7888.
