Sexual abuse and assault are devastating crimes that have a profound impact on survivors. Every 68 seconds, someone in the United States is sexually assaulted and every 9 minutes, child protective services finds evidence for a claim of child sexual abuse. The effects of child sexual abuse can be long-lasting and affect the victim’s mental health. Victims are 4 times more likely to develop symptoms of drug abuse and PTSD as adults and are 3 times more likely to experience a major depressive episode as adults. Any form of sexual violence can lead to serious physical injuries, emotional distress, and psychological trauma, often affecting every aspect of a survivor’s life. With the compassionate support of our Chicago sexual abuse lawyers, you can navigate the legal system and seek the justice and healing you deserve.
If you are a survivor of sexual abuse or assault, the attorneys at Power Rogers are committed to helping you obtain justice and compensation through the civil legal system. Our attorneys are trauma-informed advocates and have experience in representing survivors of sexual assault and abuse to hold abusers accountable for their actions. We have dedicated our careers to fighting for victims and their loved ones. Contact our firm to learn more about how our compassionate attorneys can help and what your options are in a free and confidential consultation.
What Is Sexual Assault and Abuse?
Sexual assault and abuse is any unwanted or non-consensual sexual act or behavior, including when the victim lacks the capacity to consent, against another person. It can be physical, psychological, verbal, or virtual/online and with minors often being subject to grooming behaviors as well. Unfortunately, these behaviors are common in the U.S., with someone being assaulted almost every minute of every day throughout the nation.
Sexual abuse can be grooming behaviors, unwanted sexual conduct, fondling, rape, or other unwanted, coerced, or forced acts. It often occurs with someone who is in a position of power, such as a teacher, priest, activity leader, coach, or someone in law enforcement. Sexual abuse often happens with the perpetrator building a relationship with the survivor and using that relationship to begin the abuse. However, it can also occur in many other situations and takes different forms. It includes a variety of actions, from touching a victim in a sexual manner to forcing the victim to touch a perpetrator. It can also involve forcing a victim to look at sexual images or watch sexual activity.
Sexual assault involves any nonconsensual sexual behavior that may be threatening, violent, forced, or coercive. Such behavior can include rape, attempted rape, fondling, and unwanted touching, among others.
Sexual abuse and assault can occur anywhere, but it often occurs in school settings, religious institutions, daycare centers, group homes, foster homes, club activities, sports activities, residential treatment facilities, psychiatric facilities, hospitals, massage parlors, and spas. Often, it is not just the person who committed the assault or abuse who is responsible for the harm caused, but others as well if they had an obligation under the law to keep the person assaulted or abused safe and failed to do so. Institutions like schools, hospitals, prisons, and churches have a duty to protect those in their care, but time and time again, they fail to do so. When they fail to do so, they can be held accountable along with the perpetrator.
Often, it is not just the person who committed the assault or abuse who is responsible for the harm caused, but others as well if they had an obligation under the law to keep the person assaulted or abused safe and failed to do so.
Someone who has lived through sexual abuse or assault can have their life impacted in a variety of ways and often experiences both mental and physical symptoms as a result. These can be mild or severe enough to prevent them from living their daily lives. Some common symptoms of sexual abuse or assault include:
- Chronic pain, sleep disorders, or heart disease
- Substance misuse and eating disorders
- Harmful sexual behavior
- Self-harm tendencies
- Anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions
- Complex Post-traumatic stress disorder (or C-PTSD)
Children who experience childhood sexual abuse often experience the following symptoms as a result of the abuse:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Stomach issues, panic attacks, and general ill health
- Low self-esteem, poor body image, and eating disorders
- Trouble maintaining appropriate boundaries
- Fear of certain places or people
- Sexual disorders
- Regressive behaviors, like thumb-sucking or bed-wetting
- Anger issues, anxiety, depression, or hyper-vigilance
Sexual abuse and assault survivors often suppress their emotions to preserve their mental health. This suppression can exacerbates preexisting issues, with symptoms of repressed sexual abuse including developing a fear of intimacy, intrusive thoughts, anxiety, depression, and more impacting the survivor throughout their life.
It’s critical that you know there is always help available. No matter how many years have passed since the abuse, you deserve support so that you can start healing. A sexual abuse and assault lawyer can help you explore your options so you can move forward with your life.
Sexual Abuse and Assault: FAQs
Can I keep my name confidential?
Yes, we file all sexual abuse and assault cases under a pseudonym, Jane Doe or John Doe to protect the identity of the survivor. The Court will enter a Protective Order during the case which will allow the Defendants attorneys to know your name. The Protective Order is important as it allows the parties to the lawsuit to exchange important information that is needed to pursue the lawsuit.
Is Sexual Abuse And Assault A Civil or Criminal Matter?
Sexual abuse and assault cases can be both civil and criminal. Civil actions allow you to receive financial compensation from the perpetrator which can help pay for therapy and other treatment needed as a result of the abuse or assault. The burden of proof in civil cases is lower than in criminal cases that require the state to prove that the accused is guilty beyond reasonable doubt. This is because criminal cases decide whether the perpetrator is innocent or guilty to impose punishment in the form of imprisonment and other penalties.
Do I Need an Attorney for a Sexual Abuse or Assault Case?
It is a good idea to consult a sexual abuse law firm if you or a loved one has experienced sexual abuse or assault. Sexual abuse and assault lawsuits are very complex due to the nature of the crime and the type of evidence required to build and present a lawsuit successfully.
Remember, civil sex abuse lawsuits and criminal cases operate independently from one another. This means pursuing one doesn’t prevent you from pursuing the other. In a civil lawsuit, you are bringing the case on your behalf for the harm caused to you. While a criminal prosecution is handled by the prosecutor’s office where the abuse or assault occurred, filing a civil lawsuit may be the only way you can recover monetary compensation for the harm caused to you by the perpetrator.
Contact an Experienced and Compassionate Sexual Abuse and Assault Attorney for Help Today
If you are a survivor of sexual abuse or assault, remember that you have rights and you’re not alone. At Power Rogers, we have decades of experience helping people who have survived violent crimes and are ready to help you as well.
Our skilled team of Chicago sexual assault and abuse lawyers are committed to offering effective and trauma informed legal services you can depend on and the support you deserve. Contact the experienced and compassionate attorneys at Power Rogers for a free and confidential consultation today.
