Sexual abuse is a profoundly traumatic experience that can leave lasting emotional, psychological, and physical scars. Survivors often face immense challenges in the aftermath, from dealing with trauma to navigating complex legal systems. Whether the abuse occurred in a workplace, school, church, private home, or any other environment, survivors have the right to seek justice. A compassionate and experienced sexual abuse lawyer can help survivors hold their abusers accountable and pursue compensation for the suffering and harm they have endured.

At Knapp Moss, we are committed to representing survivors of sexual abuse with the care and sensitivity their cases deserve. Our legal team understands the complex emotions involved in these cases, and we are here to help survivors navigate the legal process and fight for justice.

What is Sexual Abuse?

Sexual abuse involves any unwanted or non-consensual sexual act forced upon an individual, regardless of their age or relationship to the perpetrator. This can include a wide range of inappropriate behavior, including physical acts, harassment, and exploitation. Common forms of sexual abuse include:

• Sexual Assault: Physical acts of sexual violence, such as rape, molestation, or unwanted sexual contact.
• Sexual Harassment: Unwanted sexual advances, comments, or behavior in the workplace or other environments that create a hostile or uncomfortable atmosphere for the victim.
• Child Sexual Abuse: Sexual acts, exploitation, or grooming of minors by adults. This can occur in schools, religious institutions, foster care, or even within a child’s home.
• Institutional Abuse: Abuse that occurs within institutions such as schools, churches, or sports organizations, where individuals in positions of authority take advantage of vulnerable people.
• Clergy Abuse: Sexual abuse committed by members of religious organizations, including clergy, priests, or other church officials.
• Sexual Exploitation: Coercing someone into performing sexual acts through manipulation, threats, or the abuse of authority. This can also include trafficking or forced prostitution.
• College or University Sexual Assault: Many sexual abuse cases occur on college campuses, where students may be victimized by fellow students, professors, or staff members. Colleges and universities can be held accountable for failing to provide adequate protection or respond to reports of abuse.
• Nursing Home or Care Facility Abuse: Sexual abuse can also occur in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, where vulnerable elderly residents may be exploited by staff members or other residents.

Survivors of sexual abuse are often left to deal with the emotional, psychological, and physical impacts of the abuse for years, if not a lifetime. It’s important for survivors to know that they have legal options and support available to them.

Why You Need a Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Filing a legal claim for sexual abuse can be overwhelming, both emotionally and legally. A sexual abuse lawyer can provide invaluable support during this difficult time by guiding survivors through the legal process, ensuring their rights are protected, and advocating for fair compensation. Here’s why hiring a lawyer is essential:

• Holding Abusers and Institutions Accountable: Sexual abuse cases often involve individuals in positions of power, such as employers, teachers, or religious leaders. Your lawyer will help gather evidence, identify liable parties, and ensure that both the abuser and any enabling institutions are held accountable.
• Navigating Complex Legal Systems: Sexual abuse cases often involve a mix of criminal and civil law. A lawyer will help you understand your legal options, whether pursuing a civil lawsuit for damages or cooperating with law enforcement in criminal proceedings.
• Securing Compensation: Survivors may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, therapy, lost wages, and the emotional trauma caused by the abuse. Your lawyer will help calculate the full extent of your damages and pursue the compensation you deserve.
• Ensuring Confidentiality and Sensitivity: Sexual abuse cases are extremely sensitive, and survivors may fear retaliation or judgment. A lawyer will handle your case with confidentiality and professionalism, ensuring that your privacy is protected.

Filing a Sexual Abuse Claim

Survivors of sexual abuse have the right to file a civil lawsuit to seek compensation for their suffering, even if the abuser has not been criminally convicted. Filing a civil lawsuit can help survivors achieve justice, hold the abuser accountable, and secure financial compensation for the damages they have endured.

The process of filing a sexual abuse claim involves several important steps:

1. Consult with a Lawyer: The first step is to consult with a sexual abuse lawyer who can review your case and explain your legal options. Your lawyer will help you determine whether you have grounds for a civil lawsuit and will guide you through the process.
2. Investigating the Abuse: Your lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation of the abuse, gathering evidence such as witness statements, medical records, and police reports. In cases involving institutional abuse, your lawyer will also investigate whether the institution knew about the abuse and failed to take action.
3. Filing the Lawsuit: Once your lawyer has gathered enough evidence, they will file a civil lawsuit on your behalf. This lawsuit will seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, therapy costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
4. Negotiating a Settlement or Proceeding to Trial: In many cases, the defendant may offer a settlement to avoid going to trial. Your lawyer will negotiate on your behalf to ensure that any settlement offer is fair and fully compensates you for your losses. If a settlement cannot be reached, your lawyer will represent you in court.

Compensation in Sexual Abuse Cases

Survivors of sexual abuse may be entitled to several types of compensation, depending on the circumstances of the abuse and the impact it has had on their lives. Common forms of compensation in sexual abuse cases include:

• Medical Expenses: Compensation for medical bills, including treatment for physical injuries or sexually transmitted infections resulting from the abuse.
• Therapy and Counseling: Many survivors of sexual abuse require long-term therapy or counseling to cope with the emotional trauma of the abuse. Compensation may cover the costs of mental health treatment.
• Lost Wages: If the abuse caused you to miss work or lose your job, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages or loss of future earning capacity.
• Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the emotional and psychological distress caused by the abuse, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and loss of quality of life.
• Punitive Damages: In cases where the abuser’s actions were particularly egregious, the court may award punitive damages to punish the abuser and deter similar conduct in the future.

Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse Claims

The statute of limitations is the legal time limit within which survivors can file a civil lawsuit for sexual abuse. In California, recent changes to the law have extended the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases, allowing survivors more time to pursue justice.

• Child Sexual Abuse: Under California law, survivors of child sexual abuse can file a lawsuit until age 40 or within five years of discovering the abuse, whichever is later. The law also includes a three-year lookback window (until the end of 2025), during which survivors of any age can file claims for previously time-barred cases.
• Adult Sexual Abuse: The statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit related to adult sexual abuse is typically two years from the date of the abuse. However, exceptions may apply in certain cases.

Your lawyer will ensure that your claim is filed within the appropriate time frame, preserving your right to seek compensation.

Why Choose Knapp Moss?

At Knapp Moss, we have extensive experience handling sexual abuse cases throughout California. Our legal team is dedicated to providing compassionate, client-focused representation, and we fight tirelessly to help survivors seek justice. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay unless we win your case.

Conclusion

If you or a loved one has been the victim of sexual abuse, hiring an experienced sexual abuse lawyer can help you pursue justice and secure the compensation you deserve. At Knapp Moss, we are committed to standing by your side every step of the way. Contact us today for a free consultation.