Attorney For Sexual Abuse Victims in New Hampshire

Sexual abuse can happen to anyone, and people of all ages report having been abused at some point in their lives. Whether the abuse was recent or happened long ago, you can sue for justice in civil court. A lawyer can help you gather evidence and build a strong case.

Many sexual abuse civil lawsuits involve claims against individuals, their employers, or even larger institutions like schools or churches. We must have evidence to support your claims for them to succeed. Unfortunately, evidence in sexual abuse cases can be tricky to obtain, especially if the abuse happened a long time ago. Even so, evidence may be out there, and an experienced lawyer should know how to find it.

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

Who May Be Included in a Civil Lawsuit for Sexual Abuse?

When we file your lawsuit, we must include all the people or entities we believe are responsible for the abuse. There is no limit to the number of defendants we may include, as long as we have evidence to support our claims.

The Person Who Committed the Abuse

We must include the person or people who actually committed the abuse. This might be one person or several people who all engaged in the abuse or knowingly allowed it to happen. Many cases involve defendants who are family members, teachers, and even church leaders.

Employers

It is a good idea to include the abuser’s employer, especially if the abuser used their position to commit the abuse. For example, if someone is sexually assaulted by a camp counselor while attending a summer camp, the business running the camp may be liable.

Institutions

Certain institutions may share responsibility for sexual abuse, depending on the circumstances. For example, schools, universities, churches, and other organizations may be involved in your case.

In many cases, these institutions are directly liable for hiring someone they knew posed a safety risk to others or for covering up the abuse and preventing victims from getting help.

When You Must File a Civil Lawsuit for Sexual Abuse in New Hampshire?

In 202, New Hampshire passed a law that eliminated the statute of limitations for civil claims from sexual abuse, sexual assault, and incest. This means that a victim of sexual abuse may file a civil lawsuit at any time. It does not matter how many years have passed since the abuse occurred.

What Evidence Do You Need for a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?

Evidence can be tricky in the best of situations. Your attorney can help you investigate and find the evidence you need to support your claims.

Testimony

Although it may be difficult, you will likely have to testify about sexual abuse in court. Your testimony may be especially crucial if there are no other witnesses. Not only that, but only you can fully explain how the abuse has taken a toll on your life and mental health.

Records

Numerous records that were compiled around the time of the abuse may help us shed light on how the abuse occurred and who is responsible. For example, when suing a school or university, school records about the victim, the abuser, and how often the victim and abuser were together may be crucial.

Our lawyers for victims of sexual abuse may also need records about the defendant’s employment if we sue their employer. These records might show that the employer knew the person who abused you was dangerous yet hired them anyway and failed to intervene when the abuse became apparent.

Forensic Evidence

DNA is arguably the strongest evidence possible in sexual abuse cases. However, we cannot obtain this kind of evidence on our own. To obtain DNA evidence, you need to contact the police and get examined by a medical professional who is trained to find forensic evidence. Many cases involve DNA from “rape kits.”

If you wait too long to report the abuse, DNA evidence may disappear. The sooner you contact the authorities and an attorney, the better.

Can You Sue for Sexual Abuse if You Did Not Report it to the Police?

Yes. Criminal and civil proceedings are entirely separate. If the defendant is not criminally charged because you never reported the abuse, you can still sue them in civil court. Even if they were charged and found not guilty in criminal court, you can still sue them civilly.

What Damages Are Available in Civil Lawsuits for Sexual Abuse?

You might be unsure about how to claim damages for sexual abuse. Your experiences during and after the abuse may cause a lot of pain, but determining what these claims are worth can be difficult.

Pain and Suffering

First, we must claim extensive damages for your pain and suffering. These claims may represent a large portion of your damages, as many sexual abuse victims are haunted by experiences with sexual abuse for many years, if not the rest of their lives.

These damages are highly subjective and often revolve around how they affect your daily life. The more the abuse affected your ability to live your day-to-day life, the greater these damages should be.

Cost of Mental Health Treatment

Sexual abuse may leave deep psychological scars that can lead to serious mental health issues if left untreated. If you have ever paid for mental health treatment from a therapist or a psychiatrist, we should include those expenses among your damages.

Cost of Medical Care

Many victims of sexual abuse are physically injured by the abuser. They may seek medical care for their injuries even if they do not explain how they received them. Again, we must include these costs in your damages, even if they are not as significant as some of your other damages.

Can You Sue for Sexual Abuse if the Abuser is Dead?

Yes. If the person who committed the abuse is deceased, we may focus on suing the institutions behind the abuser, like their employer or your school. It may still be possible to include the abuser’s estate in the case.

Speak to Our Lawyers for Sexual Abuse Victims in New Hampshire

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