People who experienced sexual abuse as children often face devastating consequences. Coming to terms with the abuse can be the work of a lifetime.
If you were sexually abused as a child, the law allows you to sue your abuser and any other party whose actions or inactions contributed to the abuse. You can seek financial compensation for all that you’ve suffered due to the abuse. If your child was sexually abused, you can bring a lawsuit on their behalf.
Contact a Torrington child sex abuse lawyer at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, to discuss your legal options and the best way to proceed. These cases can be difficult for a victim, and it’s important to make an informed decision about what is right for you and your family. Schedule a free and confidential consultation with a compassionate personal injury attorney.
The person who committed sexual abuse is always liable to their victims, but others could also be responsible. When you can prove someone else’s negligence caused the abuse or allowed it to happen, the negligent party is responsible for compensating you for the harm you experienced.
Sometimes, child sexual abuse happens at the hands of a relative or friend of the family. The targets of a lawsuit in that case may be:
Child sexual abuse often happens in school, church, recreational or sports leagues, or through participation in organizations like the Scouts. Sometimes, abuse occurs in foster homes, residential facilities for children, or juvenile detention facilities. When abuse happens in these environments, the organizations can be liable for the abuse. A Torrington child sex abuse attorney will investigate the circumstances to identify all parties who could have been responsible.
Childhood sexual abuse creates profound trauma. Some survivors are immediately motivated to hold their abuser accountable, and for others, decades could pass before they are ready to seek justice. Some people prefer to put the experience behind them and never confront it again.
If you explore legal action with the help of our firm, we won’t encourage you to move forward unless we are confident that we can build a successful case. Connecticut General Statutes § 52-577d allows a survivor of childhood sexual abuse to bring a lawsuit any time before their 51st birthday, so in many cases, you have time to think about it carefully.
It’s often possible to negotiate a settlement with a perpetrator or responsible third party without ever filing a lawsuit. Handling a settlement through negotiation is typically less stressful and traumatizing than taking an action to court. However, if you decide to pursue a lawsuit, we can file it anonymously using just your initials or a pseudonym to protect your identity from the public.
A lawsuit seeking damages for child sexual abuse takes place in a Torrington civil court. We must prove the abuse happened, but the preponderance of the evidence standard applies in civil court. That means we must prove only that it is more likely than not that the abuse occurred.
Even so, proving abuse can be challenging when a long time has passed since the incident or incidents. Your testimony will have weight, but other evidence will be required if the defendant denies the allegation. A proactive child sexual assault lawyer in Torrington will review your physical and mental health records, speak with others who might have knowledge of the situation, and investigate all other avenues that might provide evidence confirming your account.
When you are suing someone other than the abuser, you must prove the defendant’s negligence allowed the abuse to occur. Parties entrusted with the care of a child have a heightened responsibility to protect the children in their charge. Showing that the school, church, camp, or other organization failed to protect you from sexual abuse triggers liability.
The decision of whether to seek compensation for childhood sexual abuse is intensely personal. If you have decided to seek justice from your abuser or a responsible third party, the attorneys at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, will handle the matter with discretion and sensitivity, empowering you throughout the process.
If you are ready to explore your legal options, reach out to schedule a free, in-person or remote consultation. A Torrington child sex abuse lawyer is ready to help you. Get in touch today.
