Ohio Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Sexual abuse can be incredibly difficult for victims to move on from. Many people have a hard time coming to terms with what happened to them, and you might feel as though you have no other options. An attorney can help you report the abuse and get justice through the civil court system. Your painful trauma and injuries deserve fair compensation.

To begin your civil claim for damages, your first step is to report the abuse. This can be emotionally fraught, and your attorney can help you contact the authorities and file a report. Your lawyer can help you gather evidence and information to support your claims and evaluate your numerous damages. We need as much evidence as we can find, which might be difficult if the abuse occurred many years ago. Witness testimony, your own testimony, medical records, and other evidence that might help your case should be obtained. Your damages might be more valuable than you realize, and the evidence can help us prove it.

Speak to our sexual abuse lawyers about a free, private case review by calling The Law Office of Andrew Shubin at (814) 826-3586.

How to Begin a Civil Case for Sexual Abuse Claims in Ohio

Starting a civil case for almost any kind of injury can be very difficult, but there is something especially difficult about sexual abuse claims. Not only do you have to navigate complicated legal channels to get your case into a courtroom, but the entire process can be very emotionally charged. Our sexual abuse attorneys will help you contact law enforcement so you can report the abuse. Even if the police cannot execute an arrest, we can begin preparing your civil case.

Report the Abuse

Whether you were sexually abused very recently or many years ago, it is never too late to report abuse to the police. While you do not necessarily have to get the police involved to file a civil claim for damages, doing so may be helpful. The police might open an investigation and uncover evidence we might not otherwise find. While the police might conduct a criminal investigation and arrest the defendant, there might not be enough evidence to warrant criminal charges. As such, filing a civil claim might be the only way for some people to get justice and reach a sense of closure.

Contact an Attorney

If you have not done so already, contact a lawyer and explain your situation. People are often hesitant to tell other people about how they were abused, but you can trust your lawyer. They are bound by the attorney-client privilege, meaning they cannot divulge any private information you tell them without your permission.

Speak to a lawyer about your claims as soon as possible, as plaintiffs have a limited amount of time to file civil cases. The statute of limitation for sexual abuse claims varies based on how old you were when the abuse occurred. Under Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2305.111(C), victims of childhood sexual abuse have 12 years from the date their cause of action accrues to file a civil claim. For minors, a legal cause of action generally accrues when they turn 18. This means you have until age 40 to file a civil lawsuit for childhood sexual abuse.

People sexually abused in adulthood must abide by a different statute of limitations under § 2305.111(B). Under this law, plaintiffs have only 1 year to file a civil claim, but the time limit may be determined in one of two ways. First, you may have 1 year from the date the abuse actually occurred. More specifically, you typically have 1 year from the most recent instance of abuse, not from when the abuse began. Second, you may have 1 year from the date you learn the defendant’s identity if they were previously unknown.

Assess Evidence and Damages

When preparing your case to be filed, your lawyer can help you search for evidence and assess your damaged. Evidence may be difficult to find, especially if you waited a while before coming forward. Even so, there might be evidence out there that can help your case, and your attorney should have the skills and experience to find it. On top of that, your attorney must evaluate all your damages before filing your case. Damages that are accidentally left out of the initial complaint might never be compensated.

Damages Available in Ohio Sexual Abuse Civil Cases

Your damages may account for the money you lost because of the abuse in addition to deeply painful experiences. These damages vary from case to case and are often unique to each plaintiff. Below are a few common examples of damages, although more might be possible.

Economic Damages

It is not uncommon for sexual abuse plaintiffs to have few, if any, economic damages. Considering that many plaintiffs wait years before coming forward, many cannot even remember if they lost money because of the abuse. Even so, economic damages are still possible. For example, you might have seen a doctor when you were abused to treat injuries inflicted by the defendant. You may claim medical costs as part of your damages. If you incurred other costs because of the sexual abuse, tell your lawyer.

Non-Economic Damages

This is likely where a large portion of your overall damages will come from since sexual abuse is often very painful to deal with. You may claim damages for the intense emotional trauma and distress you endured. If you experience psychological injuries like depression, anxiety, or PTSD symptoms, you may claim those, too.

If the abuse happened in connection to your job – like if an employer or supervisor abused a plaintiff – you might claim damage to your reputation. For example, you might have previously tried to come forward only to have the defendant ruin your reputation and credibility in an effort to avoid responsibility. This can be very problematic, as your professional reputation might be at stake.

Speak to Our Ohio Sexual Abuse Lawyers for Legal Support Right Away

Speak to our sexual abuse lawyers about a free, private case review by calling The Law Office of Andrew Shubin at (814) 826-3586.