Sexual Abuse Lawyer in North Carolina for 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

Many more people experience sexual abuse at some point in their lives than we realize. You might have been abused as a child at the hands of trusted adults. You might have been abused as an adult by a romantic partner or an employer. Whatever the case may be, our legal team can help you sue those responsible and get financial compensation for everything you have gone through.

Many plaintiffs file claims against family members who abused them as kids. Others might sue religious leaders whose actions were covered up, or schools and teachers for abusing them as students. When we must file your claims depends on how old you were when the abuse occurred. You may file claims for childhood sexual abuse up until you turn 28. If you were an adult, you only have a few short years. It is best to call an attorney for help as soon as possible so they can help you collect evidence before it becomes lost to time.

For a private, free case evaluation from our sexual abuse lawyers for victims, call us at The Law Office of Andrew Shubin at (814) 826-3586.

Who May Be Held Responsible for Sexual Abuse in North Carolina

Sexual abuse is sometimes difficult to investigate because abusers often take steps to hide the abuse and eliminate evidence. Below are some people and parties commonly named in sexual abuse cases that you should consider discussing with your lawyer.

Family Members

Many cases of sexual abuse occur within families. Unfortunately, many victims are abused by someone within their own family or a close family friend. This can make reporting the abuse to the police difficult, as victims often fear being accused of lying and disowned by their family.

Common examples of abuse within families include children being abused by parents, grandparents, extended family members, or even siblings. Many victims want to report the abuse but are forced to keep quiet by other family members who do not want details of the abuse to be made public within their community.

Religious Leaders

It is not unusual to read stories in the news about religious leaders and organizations accused of sexual abuse. It is also not unusual to learn that many of these cases go unreported for years because the church or religious group involved decided to hide the abuse rather than get the police involved. This usually means that abusers are protected while victims must suffer from psychological trauma for many years.

You may be able to sue the person who committed the abuse and the church or religious institution they work for. Even if the abuser is long gone, the institution or organization may still be held responsible.

Schools and Teachers

Other common defendants in sexual abuse cases include schools and teachers. Students may be sexually abused by a teacher in charge of an after-school program or the coach of their sports team. Often, these adults have special access to young students, and they are often trusted people in their community.

If you were abused when you were in school, talk to an attorney about how you can get justice. Even if the teacher or school employee who committed the abuse is no longer around, our sexual abuse lawyers for victims can still sue the school.

When to File a Sexual Abuse Case in North Carolina

Civil cases for sexual abuse claims must be filed within a specific period set by the statute of limitations. Different types of claims may fall under different statutes depending on your age when the abuse occurred.

Childhood Sexual Abuse

Victims of childhood sexual abuse may have more time to file their civil claims in court because they were too young to take action when the abuse initially occurred.

According to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-17(d), such victims have until the age of 28 to file claims in court. While this may give very young victims the time they need to realize their legal rights and hire a lawyer, it is also an arguably tight deadline.

Many victims of childhood sexual abuse are so traumatized that they often do not come forward about the abuse until middle age. Having only until age 28 may make it very difficult for many victims to seek legal help before their claims expire. As such, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible.

Adult Sexual Abuse

Many other people experience sexual abuse after they become adults. While the situation might be different, the abuse is still incredibly difficult to live with, and victims may experience enormous trauma and suffering.

Unfortunately, those abused during adulthood have a much shorter amount of time in which to file civil claims. Such plaintiffs often must file their claims according to the ordinary statute of limitations for personal injury claims under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(5), which gives you only 3 years.

Evidence to Support Sexual Abuse Claims

To get justice in civil court, we must have evidence about the abuse and the defendant. This can be difficult, as many victims do not come forward for a long time, and evidence might be lost. Even so, your attorney can work to help you build a strong case on whatever evidence may still be available.

First, there is a good chance that we will need your testimony. Many instances of sexual abuse occur in secret, and there are no other witnesses other than the victim and the defendant. As such, your testimony may be paramount to your case. It may be difficult to face the defendant in court, and your attorney can help you prepare.

Sexual abuse is often violent, and victims may sustain serious physical injuries. Even if you never reported the abuse, you might have sought medical care for these injuries, and there may be medical records about them. These medical records can help us prove how you were injured. If they were from a long time ago, they might also help us establish a timeline of the abuse.