Bradford Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Sexual abuse can have profoundly adverse effects on the lives of survivors. Due to social stigma and the manipulative nature of this crime, it can take many years for abusers to face legal consequences. Under the Canadian Criminal Code, sexual abuse is an indictable offence. A person found guilty of committing sexual abuse in criminal court can face significant prison time. Survivors of sexual abuse may be entitled to financial compensation to help recover costs they have incurred as a result of the trauma, including medical bills, psychological treatment, lost income, and more. 

If you have survived sexual abuse at any time, contact us today to speak with our compassionate team of Bradford sexual abuse lawyers, and see how we might be able to help you.

How to Define Sexual Abuse

Every case has unique nuances, and no two stories are the same. Sexual abuse occurs when a person in a position of authority – be it a parent, teacher, older family member, or other trusted figure in the victim’s life – uses their influence to exploit another person for their own sexual gratification. This may look like unwanted sexual touching, including sexual assault. It may also involve verbal harrassment, stalking, sexual exposure, or more.

To make sexual contact with somebody without informed consent is a crime. Ongoing sexual contact, with or without physical components, is sexual abuse. The sexual exploitation of children by adults, adolescents, or older children is among the most common iterations of sexual abuse in Canada. In one study, approximately 1 in 10 Canadians reported having been the targets of childhood sexual abuse. Despite this appalling statistic, the vast majority of sexual abuse cases never reach police or social services. 

Adults can also be the subjects of sexual abuse. In certain instances of spousal violence, for example, a financially dependent spouse might become a target. Layers of manipulation and control may intertwine sexual abuse with emotional, physical, financial, and other forms of intimate partner violence. Sexual abuse may also take place within the context of a relationship between an individual and trusted authority figure, such as a medical care professional, a community leader, or a representative of a religious organization. 

Impacts of Sexual Abuse

There is no one way of processing trauma, and no singular response common to every survivor of sexual abuse. However, a number of adverse effects have been shown to arise in connection with this trauma. 

Studies have shown that those who are subjected to childhood sexual abuse are more likely to develop issues surrounding substance abuse, as well as mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, as well as high stress levels that could lead to panic attacks, dissassociation, and personality disorders. Physical consequences may also arise from spikes of stress hormones, including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and even heart attacks and strokes. 

Statute of Limitations

Survivors frequently feel afraid to acknowledge or disclose that they have been abused. Feelings of shame, betrayal, and fear often prevent individuals from telling anyone about the truth of the perpetrator’s actions until many years have passed.

Because of this, there is no statute of limitations for sexual abuse and assault claims in Ontario. This means that if you have been the target of sexual abuse, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the perpetrator at any point in time, even decades after the abuse took place.

Contact our Bradford Sexual Abuse Lawyers Today

If you have been the target of sexual abuse, whether as a child, adolescent, or adult, you may be entitled to financial compensation for costs you have incurred as a result of the perpetrator’s crime. You might be able to recover the costs of medical and psychological treatments, as well as income lost because of the trauma, and possibly more. 

Contact our Bradford sexual abuse lawyers today for a free initial consultation. We respect the courage it takes to come forward, and are committed to listening to prospective clients compassionately. See how Preszler Injury Lawyers may be able to help you by calling 1-800-JUSTICE today.