Child abuse and sexual misconduct involving minors are widespread problems that pervade different social, racial, economic, age, and faith classes. We trust so many people with the care of our loved ones–from nursing home staff and teachers to club leaders and members of the church. When these individuals breach that trust and go beyond the law and harm, abuse, or violate our loved ones, the damage can be catastrophic, and some people never fully recover from the trauma it inflicts on them.
There are more sexual assault cases in the news these days than anyone would like to hear, and cases of sexual assault involving children are especially dreadful. Victims sometimes come forward years or decades after-the-fact to seek justice and some form of closure, but they often come forward to prevent the same abuse that they endured from happening to others. If you’ve suffered abuse, contact a New York child sexual assault lawyer with the Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 219-9622.
How We Can Help
§ 130.96 of the New York Penal Code states that predatory sexual assault is a class A-II felony. It can lead to significant jail time. However, Child sexual assault cases can be very difficult to handle. First of all, child victims are often unwilling to come forward about the abuse they’ve faced. It can be too painful for them to open up about what happened.
Also, extreme forms of trauma can cause victims to clam up about the abuse–this is a defense mechanism that helps the victim function somewhat normally but it can make it difficult to build or pursue a case against a would-be defendant.
In any case, children usually require the consent of an adult such as a parent or a legal guardian to file a claim against an abuser. This creates a tricky dilemma if a parent or both parents are the ones abusing the child.
Next, strict statutes of limitations apply to civil and criminal cases of every type. These limitations outline the time frames within which a claim must be brought forward, failing which the claim is deemed void. In the past, this issue prevented hundreds if not thousands of victims of childhood sexual assault from coming forward even after they reached adulthood, but changes in the law have slowly made it easier for people to demand justice and seek awards and retribution for past instances of abuse.
Finally, there may be more than one guilty party involved or complicit in your case. For example, a church or another organization may be guilty of empowering, turning a blind eye to, no reporting, or even facilitating the actions of a child abuser under its employ. Identifying whom you can hold accountable for your suffering, collecting evidence to support your claims, and then pursuing legal action against those parties takes a lot of effort and an understanding of the intricacies of abuse and child assault laws.
Our team is comprised of compassionate, experienced, and knowledgeable attorneys who can help you. Contact our New York child sexual assault lawyer to learn more about the next steps you should take. We handle all of our clients’ cases in the strictest of confidentiality and only collect if you win your claim or a compensation payout. Our no win, no fee policy ensures you have nothing to lose from retaining our services.
The Law Is On Your Side
The law is on your side, and your lawyer, the authorities, and various help and support groups want to see you do well in life, come to terms with the past, and get just for harm and damages you were unfairly made to suffer in the past. However, the trauma of childhood sexual assault can be difficult to overcome, and many people are at a loss with regards to which direction the should go and where to turn for help.
We want you to remember that you are not alone in this. It is unfortunate that the vast majority of child sexual assault cases–over 80% of cases according to some estimates–go unreported, but incremental changes in the law and the public’s perception of abuse have helped, and more and more people are coming together to support each other and work towards a safer future for everyone.
Despite this positive progress, there is a lot of work that needs to be done, and child sexual assault crimes need to be handled on a case-by-case basis. Every victim’s challenges and suffering are unique, and the awards you may be entitled to will be based on the circumstances of your case. However, a few facts that will very likely be mentioned in your claim are that the victims of abuse are:
- Up to four times more likely to abuse drugs
- Up to four times more likely to suffer from PTSD in adulthood
- Up to three times more likely to experience depression in adulthood
You can learn more about the signs and symptoms of child sexual assault with the Mayo Clinic so that you can identify if a loved one has suffered abuse or assault of some form.
If you suffered child sexual assault, there is no way to move but forward. You might help others come forward and come to terms with what they underwent. You might also help put an end to the abuse that your abuser inflicted on others. Sexual predators rarely restrict their crimes to one person or one period. They often move between communities or abuse multiple victims in the same community over a long period of time. By helping yourself, you can help others. We encourage you to step forward and let us help you.
For a free legal consultation with a New York Child Sexual Assault Lawyer serving nationwide, call (800) 219-9622
Contact Us Today
Our New York child sexual assault lawyer will help you understand the laws that govern child sexual assault, what you can do based on the unique circumstances of your case, and how we will go about putting together a claim for awards and compensation. The scars of abuse take a long time to heal, but financial compensation can provide you with some relief. It can help pay for treatment and compensate for opportunities you lost as a result of the trauma and anxiety that you developed after being sexually assaulted.
You can also gain some closure by bringing your abuser to justice and hopefully putting an end to the abuse that they inflicted on others after you. Please call the Pintas & Mullins Law Firm for help. We are just a call away. Dial (800) 219-9622 today.
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