Gananoque Sexual Abuse Lawyer
A serious criminal offence that is punishable with significant prison time, sexual abuse can have profoundly negative impacts on survivors long after the crime has been committed. It is a violation of a person’s sexual integrity. Often rooted in an imbalanced relationship in which a perpetrator leverages their position of trust and authority in order to force a target into participating in unwanted sexual activities, sexual abuse can impact victims for years or even decades to come.
In addition to the physical impacts of sexual abuse, survivors are often isolated by the calculated behaviours of their abusers. They are frequently silenced by shame, fear, and social stigmas. As a result, they frequently shy away from disclosing the truth to anyone that might be able to help.
Targets of sexual abuse are typically children or vulnerable adults, and may not know the options available to them at the time, or have the resources to seek a change of circumstances. At Preszler Injury Lawyers, we understand that coming forward with a case of sexual abuse can be a deeply sensitive matter. We are committed to helping our clients understand their legal rights and pursue the justice they are owed.
Something not all survivors of sexual abuse may know is that they might be entitled to compensation. By working with our sexual abuse lawyers serving Gananoque, survivors might be able to pursue a civil claim against their abuser in an attempt to recover compensation for damages they have incurred.
To address your questions, and speak through your specific options, contact us today and schedule a free initial consultation with our Gananoque sexual abuse lawyers.
What is Sexual Abuse?
When an adult in a position of trust and authority uses their position to force unwanted sexual behaviours upon a child or an otherwise vulnerable person, they have committed sexual abuse. This may involve sexual assault, groping, forced touch, and it may involve non-physical abuse such as verbal harrassment, threats, stalking, or voyeurism.
Perpetrators of sexual abuse often wield power over their targets through social or familial means. Examples of such positions of power may include:
- A teacher
- A member of the clergy
- A sports coach
- A foster parent
- A caregiver in a nursing home
- And more
It is not uncommon for perpetrators to engage in “grooming” behaviours, engaging in calculated acts to make a target accept increasing degrees of sexual contact, all the while isolating them from possible sources of support, and shrouding the relationship in secrecy. As a result of this, it is estimated that the majority of sexual abuse cases– particularly those wrought against children– go unreported.
Help for Survivors of Sexual Abuse
Because of the complicated nature of this crime and the frequency with which survivors are stigmatized within their communities, there is no legal statute of limitations on sexual abuse cases. This means a survivor of sexual abuse might be eligible to pursue a civil claim against their perpetrator at any point in time.
By working with our sexual abuse lawyers serving Gananoque to pursue a civil claim, survivors might be able to recover damages they have incurred as a result of the trauma they endured. These damages include but are not limited to:
- The costs of medical care
- The costs of prescription medication
- Income lost as a result of physical and/or psychological injuries
- The costs of psychological counseling
- Pain and suffering
- And more
Contact Our Gananoque Sexual Abuse Lawyers Today
At Preszler Injury Lawyers, we believe that survivors of sexual abuse deserve to know their legal rights. If you have been impacted by this crime at any time in your life, there may be financial support available to you. For more information, contact us for a free initial consultation and see how our Gananoque sexual abuse lawyers may be able to help you.
