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Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C. Wallingford personal injury attorneys help Connecticut victims of sexual abuse tell their stories and seek justice from the institutions that failed to protect them, such as schools and religious organizations. If you or a loved one is a sexual abuse survivor, please contact our Wallingford sexual abuse lawyers at (203) 902-4504 for a confidential consultation 24/7. Find out how we can help today.
Sexual abuse occurs when someone uses force, deceit, intimidation, coercion, threats or violence to engage in sexual acts with another person. Sexual abuse can affect anyone, at any age, but often victimizes children. Sexual abuse can take many shapes and forms in Connecticut.
If you have experienced any type of sexual abuse, you have the right to pursue justice through the legal system. You may be entitled to financial compensation from not only the perpetrator, but also the organization that allowed the abuse to happen, such as a church, diocese, school, camp or the Boy Scouts of America.
A sexual abuse lawsuit is a civil action seeking justice and financial compensation for a survivor. It holds perpetrators accountable by forcing them to pay for a survivor’s medical expenses, therapies, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages. A lawsuit can shed light on dangerous sexual abuse behaviors within a community, potentially saving others from the same fate.
In Connecticut, the statute of limitations gives child sexual abuse survivors until their 48th birthdays to file lawsuits. As an adult sexual abuse survivor, however, you only have two years from the date of the last act of abuse to bring a lawsuit against a perpetrator or institution. Act quickly to protect your legal rights as a survivor in Wallingford.
Child sexual abuse can have serious ramifications on a child’s mental, emotional and psychological wellbeing. Common red flags for child sexual abuse include depression, anxiety, mood swings, outbursts, poor performance in school, weight loss, nightmares, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and unusual knowledge of sexual subjects. If you are a parent who has discovered the sexual abuse of your child, you have the power to take action.
Start by talking to your child. Explain that you aren’t mad, that it wasn’t the child’s fault, and that you believe his or her story. Then, report the suspected sexual abuse to the police. You can also confide in a national hotline, such as 800-656-HOPE, to speak to a trained sexual abuse professional. When you’re ready, consult with a Wallingford sexual abuse attorney about bringing a lawsuit on your child’s behalf.
Bringing a civil claim for sexual abuse can provide justice, closure and healing for you and your family. However, filing a lawsuit requires knowledge of Connecticut’s laws. The civil justice system places the burden of proof with the survivor (plaintiff) during a claim. This means it will be up to you to show, using evidence, that the perpetrator more likely than not caused the damages you are claiming.
A lawyer can help you bring and prove your claim using effective legal strategies – all while keeping your identity private, if desired. Your lawyer can go up against an institution in pursuit of compensation on your behalf, if necessary, while you focus on healing. Hiring an attorney can give you the peace of mind you need and deserve during this difficult time. It can also improve your chances of a successful claim.
The attorneys at Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C. have fought for survivors throughout Connecticut for a combined 100 years. We offer the quality legal representation you require during a sexual abuse lawsuit. Contact us today using our secure online form or by calling (203) 902-4504 and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Initial consultations with our sexual abuse attorneys in Wallingford are always free and confidential.