Article provided by: Horowitz Law

Sexual abuse lawyer

According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network, an American experiences sexual assault every 73 seconds. Curiously, only 5 out of every 1000 perpetrators are brought to book. If we are to have a chance overcoming the monster, we all need to ensure that more perpetrators get punished. Perhaps you or your loved one has been a victim of sexual abuse; it is important to speak with a sexual abuse lawyer as soon as possible.

What is sexual abuse?

Sexual abuse refers to any form of non-consensual sexual act. In many cases, the victim s coerced, threatened, manipulated or forced to comply with the act while in other cases, the victim is unable to give their consent. Although many people think sexual abuse is synonymous with rape, rape is only a form of sexual assault.

Sexual abuse also covers a wide range of sexual activities that may include unwanted, non-consensual touching, penetration with a foreign object, anal penetration, etc. Inappropriate remarks, gestures, and visual acts could also fall under sexual assault. In all cases of sexual abuse, the most important thing to note is that it is never the victim’s fault.

What can I do if I have been sexually abused?

If you are in an emergency situation, call 911 immediately. If you do not feel your life may be in danger, you should report to the police immediately. They would assign a detective that specializes in helping victims of sexual abuse to investigate your case.

If you were raped, you should have a doctor examine your body for physical signs of sexual assault. It’s important you do this even before washing yourself because crucial evidence may be lost if you wait too long. The doctor would also test for sexually transmitted diseases and they may give you drugs to prevent certain infections.

Depending on the peculiarity of your case, you might need to contact a professional counselor or psychologist in your city. The detective assigned to you should be able to help you on how best to proceed.

At what point should I contact a sexual abuse lawyer?

Even if you are not sure whether your case is a criminal or civil case, you should contact a reliable sexual abuse lawyer as soon as possible. The lawyer can help you preserve the integrity of your case while ensuring your rights as a victim are not trampled upon.

If the police adjudge your case as a criminal case, your lawyer can help you enforce your rights as a victim. If it’s a civil case however, you would need a personal injury attorney to help you get your deserved compensation.

How much does a sexual abuse lawyer charge?

In civil lawsuits, most sexual abuse lawyers do not charge the victim in advance. They only negotiate a percentage of the damages recovered. The lawyer bears all the expenses involved during the lawsuit and in the unlikely event that no damages are recovered, the victim does not owe the lawyer any money.

At Horowitz Law, we offer a free case consultation for all victims of sexual abuse. We are passionate about victims of sexual abuse and we imagine a society where institutionalized abuse would be nothing but history. If you or anyone you know has been sexually abused, get in touch with our sexual abuse lawyers immediately and we’d be more than glad to take up your case.   

Sexual Abuse Lawyer Miami