Bowmanville Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Survivors of sexual abuse may sustain long-lasting damage as a result of traumas inflicted upon them. The adverse physical, emotional, and mental consequences could be life-altering. According to a 2014 study, approximately 1 in 10 Canadians have been subjected to childhood sexual abuse, while the vast majority of those cases were never brought to the attention of law enforcement or social services.
Silencing, stigma, and shame are often associated with sexual abuse cases, many of which involve a perpetrator who manipulates their position of trust, power, and/or authority to force unwanted sexual activity on another. This may be a parent to a child, teacher to a student, one spouse to another, or other kind of relationship founded on an imbalance of power.
The circumstances of each individual case vary vastly, as do the consequences for the survivor. One common thread, however, is the importance of justice and alleviation of the survivor’s pain. Sexual abuse is an indictable offence under the Canadian Criminal Code, and a person found guilty of enacting sexual abuse in criminal court may face significant prison time. Additionally, there may be financial compensation available for survivors to help cover the costs of medical bills, psychological therapy, income lost due to the effects of the trauma, and more.
If you have survived sexual abuse at any point in your life, there may be legal recourse available to you. There is no statute of limitations on sexual abuse claims in Ontario, which means you could be eligible file a lawsuit against a perpetrator even decades after the crime took place. Contact our Bowmanville sexual abuse lawyers today to talk through the specifics of your case, and see how our team may be able to support you.
Defining Sexual Abuse
Often associated with relationships rooted in a power imbalance (such as an adult and a dependent child, a medical professional and their patient, etc.), sexual abuse is an ongoing behaviour in which a perpetrator leverages a position of authority in order to perform or elicit acts of a sexual nature. It is, in essence, a pattern of sexual assault, which may include physical and/or non-physical acts.
In many cases, the abuser’s position of authority over the survivor creates a highly manipulative relationship in which the survivor has little to no power. They may even feel fear or panic at the idea of the abuse being discovered. The damaging trauma can also be complicatedly intertwined with positive emotions or events. Perpetrators can play pivotal roles in the lives of the victims upon whom they prey. The nuances of each individual case are always different and unique, as are the extent of a case’s consequences. It can take many years for a survivor to understand the full extent of the damage they have sustained.
Health Consequences
Survivors of sexual abuse are statistically more likely to develop addiction and substance abuse issues as a result of the trauma. Studies have shown a correlation between childhood sexual abuse and the development of of physical and mental illnesses, including:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Disassociation
- High blood pressure
- High stress levels
- Self-harm
- And more.
The costs of medical treatment, including psychological care, can be significant. This is why survivors may be eligible for compensation that could help to alleviate the financial burden of healing from the abuse.
Contact Our Bowmanville Sexual Abuse Lawyers Today
Our team of Bowmanville sexual abuse lawyers is dedicated to listening with compassion, respect, and appreciation of the immense courage and vulnerability it takes for a survivor to come forward with a sexual abuse claim. At Preszler Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to helping our clients understand their legal rights, and to doggedly pursuing the compensation our clients deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation, either through our online booking form or over the phone at 1-800-JUSTICE.
