Florida Sports Coach Abuse Lawyer

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

HOW WE CAN HELP GET YOUR FREE CONSULTATION

Fighting For Important Causes In State And Federal Courts

Many people have fond memories of playing sports as kids and teens. However, not everyone has a good experience. We sometimes hear news stories about young athletes being sexually abused by their coaches. While sex abuse is certainly a criminal matter, it may also be a civil one. A lawyer can assist you in filing a lawsuit to seek compensation for your injuries.

You only have a few years to file a civil case for sexual abuse, which means we must quickly gather medical records to substantiate injuries, witnesses to provide testimony, and emails or texts between you and the coach. Damages may be high, as victims often suffer bodily harm and serious psychological trauma. While the coach should be held responsible, others might also be implicated, like schools, community leagues, and other adults who knew of the abuse.

Contact our sports coach abuse lawyers for a confidential, free case review by calling The Law Office of Andrew Shubin at (814) 826-3586.

How Long You Have to File a Civil Case for Sexual Abuse by a Sports Coach in Florida

Your sexual abuse case must be filed within a specific amount of time set by law. If your case is not filed on time, you risk losing your right to file it, and you might never get justice.

Abuse Against Adults

Adults often enjoy playing sports and might be abused by a trusted coach. This could involve a professional sports league or sports played at the university level.

Civil cases for sexual abuse perpetrated against an adult fall under the statute of limitations described under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(n). Plaintiffs have only 4 years to file their cases, or they might be time-barred from doing so. Typically, this limitation period runs from the date of the most recent abuse, not necessarily when the abuse started.

This is an incredibly tight timeframe to file your case. Many victims have a hard time coming forward and might not do so for years. If you are still within the statute of limitations, you should contact an attorney immediately.

Abuse Against Children

Plaintiffs who sue for childhood sexual abuse may have more time to prepare their claims.

According to Fla. Stat. § 95.11(8), plaintiffs have 7 years from the age of majority to file their claims, or until age 25. Alternatively, plaintiffs may have 4 years from when they leave the dependency of the abuser. This is important in cases where parents or guardians sexually abuse children.

The discovery rule might instead govern your case. This rule allows plaintiffs to calculate the limitation period from the date they realize the sexual abuse caused their injuries. Since many victims repress memories of abuse, this might extend your time to prepare. Under this rule, you may have 4 years from the discovery of the relationship between the abuse and injuries.

Evidence to Prove Your Claims in a Case of Sports Coach Abuse

To back up your claims in court, our sports coach abuse attorneys need evidence of the abuse and evidence that connects the defendant to the case.

If you were physically injured during the abuse, you might have sought medical attention. If so, we can get copies of your medical records from that time. These records might support your story that you were abused and badly hurt. A doctor might review these records and confirm whether the injuries are consistent with sexual abuse.

We should also explore the possibility of finding witnesses. Do you know of anyone who might have personal knowledge of the abuse? For example, teammates might testify that the coach spent an unusual amount of time alone with you. They might even testify that the coach was also inappropriate with other players.

Grooming is a common factor in sexual abuse cases with children. Your coach might have deceived you into believing you had a consensual relationship. In that case, there might be various communications between you both. Texts, emails, and phone records can be used to prove that sexual abuse was happening.

Possible Damages in Sexual Abuse Cases Against Sports Coaches in Florida

Damages in sexual abuse cases may be substantial. Dealing with the consequences of sexual abuse can be expensive and emotionally difficult. Your injuries, pain, and suffering should be compensated fairly.

Economic Damages

Recovering from sexual abuse can be expensive. If you were injured, you might have needed expensive medical care. People who are abused more severely or repeatedly over a long time might need extensive and costly medical care.

Sexual abuse also tends to take a deep psychological toll on victims, as described in more detail below. Many people need intense therapy or psychiatric care to cope with the mental toll, which can be very expensive and is not always covered by health insurance. Many victims end up paying these costs out of pocket.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages involve mental and emotional injuries and distress. These damages are often very significant in sexual abuse cases, as victims might be reeling psychologically for years to come.

The abuse itself might have been extremely frightening and painful. What is worse is that many victims are forced to experience this pain over and over again as they are repeatedly abused. Even after the abuse stops, victims live with fear, depression, anxiety, and other distressing mental conditions. Many live with memories of the abuse for decades. If this describes you, you deserve significant financial compensation.

Non-economic damages are not measured by their financial costs, and determining their value for purposes of awarding compensation can be challenging. Generally, the jury decides how much compensation these damages are worth, and you need strong evidence to convince them that these damages are substantial.