Ottawa Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Because sexual abusers rely on an imbalance of power between themselves and their victims, they often seek out employment or volunteer opportunities that puts them in close proximity to young children, teenagers, or members of vulnerable communities. Oftentimes, sexual abusers find work as teachers, religious figures, sports coaches, camp counsellors, juvenile detention centre guards, and other positions wherein they hold a certain degree of authority over potential victims.
Children cannot consent to sexual activity. Nor can teenagers who have reached the age of consent engage in sexual conduct with a person in a position of trust or authority– such as a high school teacher or adult employer– or with an adult upon whom they are dependant, financially or otherwise. This is a form of sexual abuse known as sexual exploitation.
Abusers use the power they have over a young or vulnerable victim to coax them into participating in non-consensual sexual activities. They might use threats, physical violence, or other forms of psychological manipulation to coerce their victims. Using the trust their victim has placed in them to their advantage, sexual abusers might be able to convince their victim that their relationship is normal, non-exploitative, and private in order to keep their activities a secret. They could use threats to ensure that their victims remain silent, often asserting that if they were to report this criminal behaviour to a parent or authority figure that they would not be believed.
Victims of sexual abuse often suffer a kind of psychological turmoil. Afraid to disclose the abuse to which they have been subjected and powerless to stop it from happening again, survivors of sexual abuse often develop severe mental health disorders as a result of being abused by a trusted authority figure.
This is especially true of sexual abuse survivors who were exploited as children. Adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse frequently develop unhealthy coping mechanisms as a way of trying to deal with their trauma. These behaviours can include binge-drinking or relying on illegal substances, self-harm, as well as suicidal ideations and attempts. If you are in distress, contact Talk Suicide Canada by calling 1-833-456-4566.
Our Ottawa sexual abuse lawyers are committed to helping survivors in their pursuits of justice and fair compensation. At Preszler Injury Lawyers, we are serious about bringing abusers in the local community to justice. Our sexual abuse lawyers serving Ottawa appreciate the bravery and emotional fortitude required to talk about traumatic experiences from the past. We offer all prospective clients a free initial consultation, during which survivors of sexual abuse can feel safe discussing their experiences and receiving personalized, case-specific advice about legal options that might be available to them.
While we acknowledge that no amount of money will be able to change the past or heal the wounds inflicted by an abuser, our Ottawa sexual abuse lawyers may be able to help you recover financial compensation for damages you have incurred as a result of your abuser’s criminal actions. The damages to which you might be entitled could include:
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Future income loss
- Reduced earning capacity
- Failure to reach potential
- Prescription medication
- Psychological counseling
- And more
To learn more about how our sexual abuse lawyers serving Ottawa may be able to help you recover compensation, call 1-800-JUSTICE for your free initial consultation.
Speak with Our Ottawa Sexual Abuse Lawyers
No matter how far in the past your traumatic experience occurred, our sexual abuse lawyers serving Ottawa may be able to help you pursue a civil claim against your abuser. In certain cases, our Ottawa sexual abuse lawyers might also be able to pursue legal action against your abuser’s employer or another contributorily negligent party whose actions– or inactions– might have also been responsible for your trauma.
There is no statute of limitations on sexual abuse claims in Ontario. Whenever you feel ready to discuss your case, call 1-800-JUSTICE to schedule a free initial consultation, or contact Preszler Injury Lawyers online.
