Rhode Island Sexual Abuse Lawyer Representing Victims

Item: The Law Office of Andrew Shubin
Rating: 5
Author: Tina L

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Fighting For Important Causes In State And Federal Courts

Sexual abuse is more common than people realize, and many victims are afraid to come forward about sexual abuse for many years. If you have experienced sexual abuse, you should contact an attorney and report the incident to the police. You can also sue the person who abused you and anyone else who might have knowingly allowed the abuse to occur.

You might sue various people for sexual abuse. Often, people are abused by family members, teachers, clergy members, or others in a position of authority. Abuse might happen during childhood or during your adult years. If you were abused as a child, you may have longer to file your claims, as children often cannot come forward about abuse until much later. Your attorney can help you prepare for your case, both legally and emotionally. You may need to testify, which can be a challenging experience, and we can support you through this difficult time.

Contact our sexual abuse attorneys representing victims for a free case review by calling The Law Office of Andrew Shubin at (814) 826-3586.

Who You Can Sue for Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse might be perpetrated by almost anyone, and victims may sue any number of people involved in the abuse. Unfortunately, many people are sexually abused by people close to them or in positions of authority, making it difficult to come forward and report the abuse.

In many cases, plaintiffs sue family members for sexual abuse. This might be someone very close, like a parent or sibling. It might be someone more distant, like a cousin or even a family friend. Even though this person may be a family member, they should still be brought to justice.

Many other people report sexual abuse while they are young students in school. Teachers, coaches, and administrators might have perpetrated the abuse. Additionally, we may be able to sue the school itself for your damages.

Many clergy members, religious leaders, churches, and religious organizations have been accused of committing or covering up sexual abuse in recent years. This is an unfortunately common trend, and many people continue to come forward with stories of being abused at church.

How to Gather Evidence of Sexual Abuse in Rhode Island

One of the biggest problems with civil claims for sexual abuse is evidence. Whatever the case may be, we will try to help you find the evidence you need.

When the sexual abuse first occurred, you might have been badly hurt. If you sought medical attention for your injuries, our sexual abuse attorneys representing victims may use your old medical records to prove the abuse. Even if you did not report the abuse at the time, your medical records may reveal injuries consistent with sexual abuse.

In many cases, sexual abuse happens secretly, and there are no witnesses. However, there might be someone out there with personal knowledge of the abuse. We might convince them to come forward. Alternatively, there might be other abuse victims who can testify.

Time Limits on Filing Civil Claims for Sexual Abuse in Rhode Island

Your time to file is strictly limited. While it might be difficult to come forward about sexual abuse, you must do so before your time expires. Otherwise, you might be unable to sue for damages and get justice.

Civil claims for sexual abuse must be filed within the time set by R.I. Gen. L. § 9-1-51(a)(1). This law gives victims of sexual abuse either 35 years from when the abuse occurred or 7 years from when the abuse was realized to file their claims, whichever is later.

If you were a child when the abuse occurred, these time limits would not begin to run until you turn 18.

Possible Damages You Can Claim in a Sexual Abuse Civil Case

Damages in sexual abuse cases may be awarded for various injuries, losses, and painful experiences.

If you incurred any economic expenses because of the abuse, they should be accounted for and claimed. This may include medical bills from when you were treated for injuries caused by the abuse. It may also include the costs of mental health treatment to help you cope with the trauma of the abuse.

You may also claim non-economic damages related to your pain, suffering, and distress. For many, this is incredibly overwhelming, and living in the shadow of sexual abuse may be incredibly painful. As such, these damages may be quite substantial.

What Your Attorney Can Do for Your Sexual Abuse Case in Rhode Island

Your lawyer may help in many important ways as you prepare your civil claims.

First, they can help you initiate the lawsuit. This requires gathering extensive information about evidence, the defendant, the abuse, and your damages. Once the complaint is prepared, your attorney should file it with the right court before the limitation period ends.

Next, your attorney should handle all communications with the defendant and their legal team. Many victims never want to see the defendant again, and you should absolutely not communicate with them directly. Leave that to your lawyer.

Preparing Yourself for a Sexual Abuse Case

Preparing for a civil case for sexual abuse can be hard. Not only is there a lot to prepare legally, but you must also prepare psychologically and emotionally.

Sexual abuse tends to garner attention, and there may be pubic attention, scrutiny, or backlash. This sometimes deters people from coming forward, but you must remain strong and persevere to get justice.

You must also be prepared for the defendants in your case might refute everything, which can be extremely frustrating. They might make you out to be a liar, but we will prove otherwise.

You must be prepared to testify and explain your story. This can be difficult for victims who are afraid of reliving the trauma of the abuse. Your attorney should help you prepare your testimony.