Know the Signs: Sexual Abuse

Know the Signs: Sexual Abuse

The signs of sexual abuse are not always obvious. This is why it’s critical to learn and keep an eye out for indicators that someone may be enduring sexual abuse or assault. Personality changes are one key indicator that someone may be suffering from abuse, and it’s just one of several potential warning signs to pay close attention to.

Those suffering sexual abuse do not always know how to respond, protect themselves, or speak up. Parents, guardians, mentors, and every other responsible adult must look out for the abused. If you suspect or discover that someone in your life has endured sexual abuse, speak with them about getting help from an attorney.

Survivors of Sexual Abuse Do Not Always Speak Up. Knowing the Signs Is Critical.

Never assume that someone would tell you that they’re being, or have been, sexually abused. Shock and disbelief are two of the most common responses to such a heinous violation of one’s trust, and many survivors experience fear, shame, and other reactions that may prevent them from speaking up.

Pay attention to signs. The symptoms of sexual abuse are red flags that you should investigate further, and they can include:

• A depressed mood
• Drastic personality changes
• Apparent anxiety, which may become more apparent when an abuser is present
• Making sexually inappropriate comments or behaviors
• Self-harm
• Perpetration of inappropriate sexual behavior upon others
• Any other characteristics or behaviors that strike you as unusual

If you sense something is off, do not hesitate to compassionately initiate a conversation with the person you are concerned about. This approach may be exactly what the survivor needs to ask for help. These conversations are not comfortable, but they are necessary.

Who Can Be a Victim of Sexual Abuse?

Discussions of sexual abuse often focus on children, and this is appropriate. Children are unusually vulnerable to abusers because:

• They may be overly trusting.
• They have little, if any, knowledge of sexuality and, therefore, may not understand how to recognize abuse or protect themselves from future instances of abuse.
• They may succumb to fear, threats, and other tactics that sexual abusers often use to silence the survivor.
• They are often left unsupervised in the care of adults, which can expose them to an adult who is an abuser.

You should absolutely be attentive to children for these reasons. They require far more protection than most adults, and they are too often abusers’ targets. You should also recognize that sexual abuse may affect:

• The mentally handicapped
• The elderly
• The physically infirm
• Those confined in jails and prisons
• Those stuck in abusive relationships

Virtually anyone can become a victim of sexual abuse. Even employees of businesses such as Massage Envy have been accused of perpetrating sexual assault against paying customers. This problem is far more prevalent than many realize, and recognizing the signs of sexual abuse—and listening when survivors speak up—is our collective duty.

Who May Perpetrate Sexual Abuse?

The majority of sexual abusers know the victim but are not directly related to them. That being said, even those we least suspect may engage in sexual abuse, and a perpetrator could include:

• An adult acquaintance, such as a family friend
• A relative (particularly disturbingly, this may even include a parent)
• A teacher 
• A coach (as many scandals in recent history have exposed)
• A physical therapist
• A stranger
• An employer

If you’re looking for signs that someone may be engaged in sexual abuse, know that sexual abuse may coincide with other abusive behaviors. Someone who is overly controlling, manipulative, or otherwise abusive should pique your attention, particularly when abusive behavior is directed at a vulnerable individual.

Did You or a Loved One Suffer Sexual Abuse? Seek Justice by Hiring an Attorney Today

If you suspect or know that someone you care about is a survivor of sexual abuse, take action. If you deem it necessary, report the abuse to law enforcement—this step is generally necessary to protect survivors and hold perpetrators accountable.

There is another way you may hold a sexual abuser responsible while protecting anyone they have targeted (or may target in the future). Hire a sexual abuse attorney. These attorneys:

• Know that while the criminal justice system can provide fitting punishments for sexual abusers, this system is not perfect.
• Understand that even when a sexual abuser faces criminal penalties, those criminal penalties do not typically address all the harm the survivor suffered. 
• Recognize the benefit of compensation for survivors of sexual abuse and assault, as it can cover medical care, mental health services, and many other damages resulting from abuse.
• Handle survivors’ legal cases from start to finish, ensuring the survivors can continue to focus on healing.

There may be statutes of limitations for filing sexual abuse lawsuits. That said, these deadlines may have exceptions, and legislators and judges tend to be compassionate toward survivors of sexual predation. Even if it has been years since the abuse occurred, you or the survivor should contact an attorney.

A Lawyer Ensures You Are Not Alone After Such a Traumatic Experience

A sexual abuse and assault attorney can handle all legal services for a survivor, and we will talk about those services shortly. However, a lawyer’s assistance transcends legal matters, as a legal team can:

• Provide support: Support can be a priceless resource for those who have endured the trauma of sexual abuse. Many survivors suffer feelings of loneliness, often fueled by the perception that nobody understands them or their experience. When you hire an experienced sexual abuse attorney, they get it. They will provide the support that is so critical to a sustained recovery. 
• Lend its guidance: Your lawyer and other members of your legal team will have helped other survivors. Through their representation, your team members may have gleaned priceless wisdom, anecdotes, and advice they can pass on to you. We can all use as much help as we can get, and this is particularly true for survivors trying to mitigate trauma. 
• Refer you to resources for survivors: Attorneys who handle sexual abuse cases must think of the human before the case. Your lawyer will be acutely aware of how devastating abuse is and the urgency of getting you all the care you need. Expect your attorney to have relationships with trauma-focused counselors, other mental health professionals, medical providers, support groups, and others who may help you immensely.
• Be a resource you use time and again: The lawyer-client relationship is a uniquely personal one. Your sex abuse attorney will be your confidant, and they will need to learn what you’ve been through to see justice done. This experience can form a strong bond, and it’s not uncommon for attorneys to remain a resource well after the survivor’s lawsuit is complete.

Of course, your attorney will also do the legal work. They will ensure you’re in a position to heal and recover, and then they will pursue justice for you.

How a Sexual Abuse and Assault Lawyer Will Hold Liable Parties Accountable 

Sexual assault and abuse lawyers are extremely sensitive to their clients’ difficulties. To earn their clients’ trust and protect them, an attorney must understand their clients’ triggers and preferences for how involved they will be in the case. So, know that your lawyer will be most concerned with protecting you psychologically and emotionally.

Your lawyer will handle every aspect of your lawsuit, which is another way they shield the client from distressing memories and details. Expect that your attorney will:

Gather the Details of the Abuse (While Respecting Your Privacy)

Attorneys have a hyper-compassionate way of understanding the pain and mistreatment their clients have experienced. Some tactics include:

• Giving you the floor to share what you want to share
• Make clear that you draw the boundaries around the conversation (but encourage you to share what you can, knowing that the mission is to hold the abuser accountable)
• Speaking with witnesses and recording their statements for the case
• Relying on mental health professionals, sexual abuse counselors, and other experts to gain insight into your abuse

Hopefully, the survivor is willing to tolerate discomfort and difficult memories for the sake of their case. An attorney will help you share while respecting the immense trauma sexual abusers cause.

Secure All Evidence of Sexual Wrongdoing

Your sex abuse attorney will seek both subjective, circumstantial, and concrete evidence of the sexual abuse, which may include:

• Your account of abuse
• Police reports
• The findings of medical examinations
• Witness accounts
• Expert testimony

Those who perpetrate abuse leave a trail of evidence. Your attorney will work with their investigators, law enforcement officials, experts, and others to secure all evidence that is relevant to your case.

Learning About Any Criminal Proceedings (and Extracting All Relevant Information and Evidence)

Criminal and civil proceedings are independent. That being said, if the abuser is the target of a criminal case or has been a target in the past, your attorney will evaluate criminal proceedings.

Information and evidence uncovered in a criminal case can be used in a civil case in most cases. Your lawyer will be thorough, and they will see if anything unearthed in criminal proceedings may benefit your lawsuit.

Documenting Abuse-Related Damages

We all know that survivors of sexual abuse suffer. However, every survivor has a different story, replete with unique types of pain, coping responses, and other damages. Your lawyer may document all of your abuse-related damages using:

• Survivor statements about the toll the abuse has taken on their life
• Witness statements about how the abuse affected the survivor (even if those witnesses were not aware of the abuse at the time they made their observations)
• Expert testimony about how symptoms of abuse have manifested in the survivor
• Financial records indicating that the survivor has lost income or suffered other economic losses as a result of abuse
• Medical professionals’ testimony about the physical symptoms of abuse

Again, your attorney will be protective of you during the documentation stage.

Determining a Fair Settlement Value

Remember that seeking compensation in response to sexual abuse serves a few critical purposes, including the following:

• Getting you the financial help you need for treatment
• Ensuring our quality of life does not suffer because of an abuser’s actions
• Holding the abuser (and all other liable parties) accountable for the harm they’ve caused you

If your lawyer is going to achieve these ends, they must know the value of your economic and non-economic damages. They will obtain all financial records and rely on their training to determine the financial cost of your pain and suffering.

File a Lawsuit on Your Behalf (Which You Can Do Even If the Abuser Faces No Criminal Charges)

While certain types of insurance cover sexual abuse claims (believe it or not), many sexual abuse survivors choose to sue. They want to hold those who perpetrated or allowed abuse directly accountable.

Your lawyer will discuss your options with you. Should you choose to file a lawsuit against one or more parties, your lawyer will file that suit before the statute of limitations expires.

Fighting for the Financial Recovery the Survivor Deserves

The two primary ways to resolve a sexual abuse lawsuit are to:

• Negotiate a settlement with liable parties
• Take the case to trial, asking a judge or jury to render a verdict

Keep in mind that “settling” does not mean letting an abuser off the hook. Liable parties feel the financial pain, whether compensation comes through a settlement or judgment.

Explaining Compensation for Survivors of Sexual Abuse. This Is How Justice Is Done.

The cost of sexual abuse is so immense that it can be difficult, but possible, to calculate. Your attorney will assign an appropriate financial value to any:

• Trauma and other forms of pain and suffering
• Physical health conditions certainly or potentially related to the abuse
• Financial losses related to the abuse
• Other economic or non-economic hardship the abuser has caused you

Sexual abuse attorneys are uniquely qualified to identify, document, and value survivors’ damages. 

Let an Attorney Fight for You

Consultations are free, so don’t wait to find your legal team today.