Are you a victim of sexual abuse or sexual assault? If “yes,”
you may have legal recourse in the form of a sexual abuse lawsuit, even
if the perpetrator is in custody or awaiting a criminal trial. Please
read on as we dive deeper into sexual abuse and what it entails.
According to the
American Psychological Association, sexual abuse is “unwanted sexual activity, with perpetrators using
force, making threats or taking advantage of victims not able to give
consent.” According to the APA, most victims know their perpetrators.
When a victim is sexually assaulted, their immediate reactions typically
involve feelings of shock, fear, and disbelief, says the APA. In the long-term,
the psychological effects can be profound – they can include Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), debilitating anxiety, and fear.
According to
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), “Every 98 seconds,
another person experiences sexual assault.” RAINN also says that
each year, hundreds of thousands of people are sexually assaulted in the
United States.
Some basic prevention tips from RAINN:
- Trust your instincts and go with your gut if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
Get yourself somewhere safe or call the police.
- Don’t accept drinks from strangers or people you don’t trust.
- Pay attention to how you feel. If you suspect you’ve been drugged,
call 911 and tell healthcare professionals what you think happened so
they can run tests on you.
- If you make an online connection and you meet the person offline, pick
a public place.
- If you meet someone online, don’t give them too much personal information
the first time you meet them.
If you experienced unwanted sexual contact, rape, or another form of sexual
assault, know that it was NOT your fault. Also, know that you may be able
to file a sexual abuse lawsuit, even if the perpetrator has not been caught
by law enforcement.
You see, many sexual assaults occur on college campuses, at public parks,
in dark parking lots, at motels and hotels, nightclubs, schools, and even
people’s place of work. In many cases when a sexual assault occurs
on a specific property, the victim can file a lawsuit against a third
party, such as a nightclub or motel where the assault occurred.
Juries everywhere frown heavily upon sexual abuse and assault and are often
inclined to award sufficient damages to a victim, especially if the perpetrator
was someone the victim trusted, such as a teacher or a manager at their work.
If you’ve been sexually assaulted on Long Island,
contact Laurence A. Silverman, Esq. immediately to schedule a free consultation with an attorney to discuss
filing a claim for compensation!