If you have suffered sexual abuse, you may be experiencing considerable emotional trauma and devastating physical injuries, and be struggling to cope financially. After everything you have been through, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next.
Fortunately, with help from a Brevard County sexual abuse lawyer at Andrew Pickett Law, you could recover full compensation for your damages. There is no amount of money that will change what you have been through, but easing your financial burden could go a long way in helping you feel empowered as you regain control of your life.
Contact our office for a free consultation today and learn more about what’s next for your sexual abuse civil claim.
How Civil Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Work
After suffering sexual abuse, you may be able to hold your abuser and other liable parties accountable for what you have been through. Filing a civil lawsuit against the liable party opens up the opportunity for you to recover compensation for your suffering.
The burden of proof in civil claims is based on a preponderance of the evidence. This is a considerably lower burden of proof than the defendant may face in criminal court. The defendant may or may not face criminal charges for the sexual abuse they put you through. However, you can take action against them by retaining a sexual abuse attorney to help you bring them to justice.
If your attorney can prove the defendant is responsible for the abuse you endured, they can be ordered to compensate you for all of the ways your life has been affected by your injuries and the sexual abuse you suffered.
What Damages Could You Recover?
You have the right to be made whole when someone else causes you injuries that substantially affect your life. When you have been sexually abused, you have the right to be compensated for a variety of damages. Here are a few of the most common types of damages sexual abuse victims recover when they pursue civil claims:
Emotional Trauma and Pain and Suffering
Sexual abuse victims often suffer considerable emotional trauma and physical pain and suffering resulting from their injuries. You may find it difficult to continue having relationships with your family and friends, lose interest in activities you once found joyful, find your academic performance declines, suffer considerable weight loss or gain, develop substance abuse or self-harming behaviors, and otherwise struggle to cope with what you have been through.
No amount of money will change what you have been through, but recovering restitution for your damages may help you get the treatment you need to get through these challenging times.
Medical Expenses
After suffering sexual abuse, you will likely have astronomical medical expenses. Not only should the abuser and other liable parties cover your medical treatment and care, they should also provide compensation for all of your other injury-related medical expenses, including:
- Transportation costs
- Mental health counseling fees
- Physical or occupational rehabilitation costs
- Ambulance bills
- Hospital bills
- Diagnostic imaging test fees
- Co-pays
- Costs of over-the-counter or prescription medications
- Costs of medical equipment
- Costs of home accommodations
Relocation Fees
Sexual abuse victims commonly find it necessary to move after being abused. The costs associated with finding a new place to live, breaking a lease, hiring movers, setting up utility accounts, or purchasing a new home can all be covered by the liable party as part of your sexual abuse civil claim.
Proving Liability in Sexual Abuse Cases
The burden of proof in sexual abuse cases will be based on a preponderance of the evidence. This means your lawyer will be tasked with showing that the defendant is more than likely responsible for the sexual abuse you endured due to the evidence presented in court.
Some of the most powerful types of evidence that can prove liability in sexual abuse claims include:
- Photos of the victim’s injuries
- The defendant’s criminal background
- Police reports
- Medical records
- Video of the abuse
- Witness statements
- Expert testimony
Your attorney will carefully evaluate the circumstances of your case to ensure not only your abuser, but all parties who facilitated the abuse you endured, are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
Meet with a Brevard County Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Pursuing the damages you are entitled to can be daunting. However, when you have a legal advocate ready to help you bring your abuser and other liable parties to justice, you can breathe easier. Reach out to a Brevard County sexual abuse lawyer at Andrew Pickett Law today.
Meet with Andrew Pickett and his team of paralegals to find out how much your case could be worth. Call our office or fill out our secured contact form to get started on your civil sexual abuse lawsuit as soon as today.
