Brooklin Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Mistreatment and abuse of children is considered by many to be a global public health concern. People who were sexually abused as children have a higher likelihood of developing serious mental health concerns than non-victims, in addition to falling victim to destructive coping mechanisms and negative behaviours. Being abused sexually can have negative effects that impact victims in both the short-term and long-term. These outcomes often include:
- Poor school performance
- Juvenile delinquency
- Suicidal ideation and/or attempts
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Addiction
- Alcohol use disorder
- Poor physical health
- And more
The criminal actions of a sexual predator can have lifelong implications for the children they have targeted. In addition to suffering from the physical and psychological effects of their trauma, in order to cope with the abuse inflicted upon them and the fallout of their harrowing experiences, survivors of sexual abuse are often required to go to great personal expense to receive necessary treatment and counseling. On top of that, many adults who were victimized in their youth have difficulty completing vocational training, pursuing higher education, achieving career growth, or indeed, retaining a stable income. As such, because of the trauma they have experienced, sexual abuse survivors could enter adulthood with substantially reduced future earning capabilities, continually lose wages and career opportunities, and experience financial instability.
Our Brooklin sexual abuse lawyers are driven by the pursuit of justice. No victim is personally responsible for being exploited by a sexual predator. And we believe no victim should be forced to face the financial ramifications of a criminal’s inexcusable actions.
By working with our sexual abuse lawyers serving Brooklin, residents of the region whose lives have been negatively impacted by an abuser could be able to recover compensation for the damages they have incurred as a result of the trauma they suffered, as well as damages they might incur in the future. To discuss your situation in a free initial consultation with our Brooklin sexual abuse lawyers, call 1-800-JUSTICE or contact us online today.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
Sexual abuse and sexual exploitation hinge on an imbalance of power between the perpetrator and their victims. Abusers might have a position of power or authority over their victims because of their age and/or occupation. In fact, many serial abusers hold positions of trust, such as camp counselors, teachers, priests and other religious figures, sports coaches, neighbours, family friends, and other adults who work and/or live in close proximity to children.
Other abusers might exploit a child’s dependency upon them in order to threaten, bully, bribe, manipulate, or otherwise coerce them into engaging in non-consensual sexual activities. These perpetrators are often foster parents, guards at juvenile detention facilities, and other adults.
If a survivor of sexual abuse chooses to file a civil claim against their abuser, the perpetrator themselves might be liable for compensating them financially. However, in certain cases of systemic or institutional sexual abuse, the abuser’s employers and/or other parties might also be considered liable.
Organizations that fail to investigate complaints of sexual abuse, actively sweep their employees’ or representatives’ transgressions under the rug, collude to silence victims, or turn blind eyes to misconduct occuring under the auspices of their institution could be considered contributorily negligent. By failing to take any reasonable actions to protect the children in their care, they essentially make it easier for serial abusers to continue exploiting and traumatizing children in the future. As such, these contributorily negligent parties and/or entities may be responsible for financially compensating the sexual abuse victims they failed to keep safe from harm.
Schedule Your Free Initial Consultation Today
In the province of Ontario, there is no statute of limitations on sexual abuse claims. No matter how far in the past your abuse occurred, our Brooklin sexual abuse lawyers may still be able to help you recover the compensation to which you are rightfully entitled.
To receive case-specific, confidential, and considerate legal feedback from our sexual abuse lawyers serving Brooklin, get in touch with Preszler Injury Lawyers today.
