Brooklyn Sexual Abuse Lawyer   

Abuse in any form is extremely difficult for a victim to face. Some victims of abuse may be led to think that they did something wrong, or that they might be the one to blame. This possibility is even stronger when it comes to cases of sexual abuse.  

If you have been the victim of a sexual abuse, first realize that you are not alone. There is nothing to be ashamed about.  

According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, approximately 17,700,000 women were victims of rape since 1998. And that is just one type of abuse. If you have been the victim of any type of abuse, you should seek legal help immediately to obtain justice.  Many victims do not realize that sexual abuse is not only a crime, but can be the subject of a civil lawsuit as well. A personal injury lawyer can help you determine what choice you want to make about how to respond to the tragedy that has changed your life.

Contact a Brooklyn sexual abuse lawyer who can provide advice and counsel for your claim and can determine whether the strategy requires seeking an order of protection, obtaining police involvement, or filing a lawsuit to recover money damages in a court of law. En Español.

Who Can Sue and Be Sued

In a case brought on behalf of an abuse victim, generally the victim and the victim’s caregiver – a parent or legal guardian, for instance – have legal standing to file a claim.  

Depending on the type of claim, there may be a variety of individuals or organizations that should be the subject of a civil lawsuit arising from a case of sexual abuse, including:  

• Schools  
• Nursing Homes 
• Day Cares 
• Summer Camps  
• Religious Organizations  
• Hospitals 
• Foster Homes 
• Therapists 

It is common for victims to think only of the immediate aggressor. However, in the case of a teacher being an abuser, the school principal or superintendent may also be held accountable.  

In the case of a camp counselor being an abuser, the individual that negligently hired the counselor may be required to answer for this negligence as well.  

Speaking to a Brooklyn lawyer for abuse victims is important to determine who should be held responsible for a particular claim of sexual abuse.  

Statute of Limitations

Movements such as Time’s Up and Me Too have had some impact in New York. In September 2019, New York Governor Cuomo extended the statute of limitations on rape and other sex crimes. Now, victims have much more time to come forward and report abuse, as well as hold their abusers civilly liable.

Now, victims of sexual abuse have up to 20 years to report second-degree rape and up to ten years to report third-degree rape. Under the old law, accident victims had only five years to report the crime. With the new law, the statute of limitations for incest in the first degree was also eliminated, and the statute for incest in the second degree was increased to 20 years. For any third-degree criminal sex act, the statute was also increased to ten years.

More than the criminal statute of limitations has also changed with the new law. Individuals wishing to file a civil lawsuit for sexual abuse have up to 20 years to do so. The Child Victims Act, signed earlier this year, allows survivors of child sexual assault to file a lawsuit before they are 55 years old.

Speak to a Brooklyn Sexual Abuse Lawyer Today

If you have been the victim of sexual abuse, you must seek out justice for your claim. Speaking out for yourself is just one step along a very long road to recovery. Your voice may also give courage to others who have been similarly abused.  

If you do not seek justice, the person or persons who wronged you may never be punished for the harm that was caused. In fact, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network estimates that 99 percent of perpetrators of sexual violence will walk free.   

If you or a loved one is the victim of a sexual abuse, contact a Brooklyn sexual assault lawyer who can fight for you.