Attorney for Victims of Sexual Abuse in Northampton Township, PA

Sexual abuse is a serious crime, but victims may seek justice beyond the criminal courts. In civil court, you may sue those responsible for the abuse and claim financial compensation for everything you have gone through. Get a lawyer now who can help you fight for justice.

It is common for sexual abuse victims to wait to report their claims. If your claims are still within the limitation period set by the statute of limitations, you can sue. However, this period may differ based on your age when the abuse occurred. It is best to report the abuse and get a lawyer as soon as possible. The sooner we get started, the more likely we are to find evidence to support your claims.

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

How Long Do You Have to File a Civil Lawsuit for Sexual Abuse in Northampton Township, PA?

The time you have to file a civil lawsuit for sexual abuse depends on how old you were when the abuse occurred.

Childhood Abuse

If you experienced childhood sexual abuse, you have 37 years from the date you turned 18 to file your lawsuit. Put another way, you have until age 55 to file your claims in court.

The law allows for a lengthy limitation period because children often cannot take legal action on their own and may be prevented from reporting the abuse by the abuse or other adults.

Abuse in Adulthood

If you were at least 18 but younger than 24 when the sexual abuse happened, you have until the age of 30 to file a civil lawsuit for sexual abuse.

If you were 24 or older, your claims would fall under the ordinary statute of limitations for personal injuries, giving you 2 years to file the case.

Tolling the Statute of Limitations

If you cannot file your case because of circumstances beyond your control, our attorneys for victims of sexual abuse may have the court toll the limitation period, giving you more time.

For example, many victims wait to report the abuse because they are actively being threatened by the abuser. They may fear that if they seek out legal help, they will get hurt. If we can prove that you were unable to file your case on time because of duress caused by the defendant, the court may agree to toll the limitation period.

Can You Sue for Sexual Abuse That Happened a Long Time Ago?

Yes. The statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse gives victims until the age of 55 to file a lawsuit. Even if the abuse happened when you were a young child, it may still be possible to file a lawsuit even if several decades have gone by since the abuse.

How to Gather Evidence for a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

Evidence is one of the most challenging aspects of sexual abuse lawsuits. Abusers often take steps to eliminate evidence, and it may be even more difficult if the abuse happened a long time ago.

Records

Certain records that were made around the time that the abuse happened may shed light on how the defendant perpetrated the abuse. For example, if a young student were abused by a teacher at school, school records about the teacher, their employment, and the victim.

We may also need some of your medical records. If you were injured from the abuse, you may have gone to the hospital. Even if you did not report the abuse, those medical records about your treatment may still be available, and they may help prove that the abuse occurred.

Witness Testimony

There is a strong chance that you will need to testify. In many cases, the victim is perhaps the only witness to the abuse, and only they can fully describe what happened to them.

If other people have first-hand knowledge of the abuse or relevant details surrounding the abuse, we must find them quickly and speak to them.

Evidence from the Police

The police may launch an investigation and uncover powerful evidence we might be unable to obtain on our own. Even if the defendant is ultimately not criminally charged, we may find new information we can use to build your civil case.

Who May Be Held Responsible for Sexual Abuse?

Numerous parties may be held accountable for sexual abuse, not just the person who perpetrated it.

Individuals

Of course, we must include the abuser in your lawsuit. Even if they are only one of several defendants, they are still a primary defendant and must be included. If they have passed away, it may be possible to include their estate.

Employers

We should also consider including the abuser’s employer in the case. If the abuser used their position of employment to commit the abuse or perpetrated the abuse while on the job, we can argue that their employer should be held liable, too.

Schools

Many cases of sexual assault, especially those involve minors, involve schools. The school owes a legal duty to protect students and prevent things like sexual abuse. The fact that the abuse happened at school or was perpetrated by a faculty member means the school failed to fulfill its duty, and it may be held responsible.

Churches

Churches have made numerous headlines in recent years for sex abuse scandals involving minors. When a church leader perpetrates sexual abuse, the church may try to cover it up rather than reporting it to the authorities. In many cases, the church or larger religious organization behind it is directly liable for knowingly allowing the abuse to happen and hiding evidence.

Can You Sue for Sexual Abuse if You Do Not Have Significant Economic Damages?

Yes. Many victims report that they did not lose much money because of the abuse. For many, the most significant claim is for pain and suffering.

How Do You Evaluate Pain and Suffering in a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?

Evaluating pain and suffering may be unique in each case, as these experiences are highly subjective and depend on each plaintiff. It is a good idea to get evaluated by a mental health professional who can help shed light on how sexual abuse has affected your life and mental health.

What Happens if Other Sexual Abuse Victims Come Forward?

If other victims come forward with claims of abuse against the same defendant, certain hearings may be combined to streamline the judicial process. We may also attempt to coordinate evidence with other plaintiffs to make our case stronger.

A class action is possible but unusual unless we are dealing with many claims involving a common defendant, such as a school or church. In such cases, there may be multiple abusers, but they all work under the same organization.

Receive Legal Support from Our Lawyers for Victims of Sexual Abuse in Northampton Township, PA

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