Sexual abuse can have lifelong impacts on relationships with others. If a person is abused by someone in a position of trust and authority, the abuse can affect relationships with family members and can make it difficult for a survivor to trust others in the future.
If you were abused by a trusted religious figure and you are ready to come forward, a Rochester clergy abuse lawyer can represent you and your fight for economic justice. Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf or negotiate a settlement. You do not need to go through this process alone. Contact us at (800) 219-9622 to speak with a member of our staff.
How Sexual Abuse Can Impact Relationships
Sexual abuse can change a child’s view of the self, of others, and of the world. A child may feel as though others cannot be trusted or may believe that he or she does not have the right to make decisions or control over what is done to his or her body.
A victim may struggle to set boundaries and may be abused by others in the future. In some cases, a survivor may lash out at others to try to deal with his or her own pain and shame.
Perpetrators often lead victims to believe that they deserved the abuse, and even that it was condoned or required by their religion. If a victim comes from a family in which religion forms a bedrock, that can cause the child to question his or her entire worldview.
People who have been abused by members of the clergy often keep it a secret for years or decades out of fear and shame. Victims may fear that no one will believe them, or they may fear the social repercussions of reporting the abuse, even in the present day.
Survivors of sexual abuse may develop a range of mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Many may turn to alcohol and drugs to try to numb the pain and to avoid dealing with the trauma of what happened to them, per the journal Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America.
The pain, shame, and difficulty trusting others can make it difficult for survivors to form healthy romantic relationships. They may become involved in abusive relationships and may wind up getting divorced, or they may become withdrawn and avoid getting close to others in an attempt to protect themselves from further harm.
Compensation in a Rochester Clergy Abuse Case
If you pursue a personal injury case related to clergy abuse, our lawyers will work on establishing losses related to your case. You can seek payout for noneconomic damages like pain and suffering, but you may also fight for economic losses. This can include compensation for therapy bills or medical expenses. A member of our team can discuss your possible awards, as this will vary based on the case.
Your years of pain and suffering deserve compensation, and our team wants to help you fight for awards. Sexual abuse has long-reaching effects, even decades later. Take the first step and call our firm. We are here to guide you through every step of the legal process and take some of this weight off your shoulders.
For a free legal consultation with a Clergy Abuse Lawyer serving Rochester, call (800) 794-0444
How an Attorney May Be Able to Assist You
If you were victimized, a Rochester clergy abuse lawyer may be able to pursue legal action against the person who abused you, regardless of the religious faith that an individual represents. Pintas & Mullins Law Firm is ready to protect the interests of victims no matter how daunting the case may seem.
We can investigate to gather information to back up your claim. If you were abused decades in the past, which is common in these types of cases, it may be difficult to find direct evidence of the abuse.
In many cases, people in positions of authority refuse to investigate alleged abuse and even intimidate and threaten victims to keep them quiet or to get them to retract their claims. It is also common for large religious organizations to transfer a person who has been accused of abuse from one location to another to protect the institution from negative publicity and expensive lawsuits. Instead of dealing with the issue, leaders give the abuser access to other potential victims, and the cycle continues.
Our team can interview witnesses and review documents to find out if the religious institution and its leaders failed to address or covered up the abuse. If so, we may also be able to sue them to seek compensation for your losses.
Rochester Clergy Abuse Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Get in Touch with a Rochester Clergy Abuse Lawyer
Unlike many other personal injury cases, New York laws have a long statute of limitations for some sexual abuse or assault crimes. In the case of adults who were minors at the time of the abuse, victims can pursue a civil suit until they turn 55 years of age, per NY State Senate Bill S2440.
The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the individual who abused you and against anyone else who was complicit by covering it up, intimidating you, or retaliating against you. You may be entitled to a financial award to compensate you for costs for physical and mental health care that you needed to cope with the impacts of the abuse, as well as for lost income, lost or reduced earning capacity, and pain and suffering.
Those who have been harmed by other people’s actions or negligence often want to file a lawsuit to seek compensation but are hesitant to do so because of concerns about expensive legal fees. However, Pintas & Mullins Law Firm operates on contingency.
If you ask our team to represent you in a case involving clergy abuse, our firm will only get paid if we secure a financial award for you by negotiating a settlement or by winning at trial. Call (800) 219-9622 to learn more about how our lawyers can help with your case.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
