Los Angeles Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Sexual Abuse Lawyer Los Angeles CA | Injury Lawyer Team

Sexual abuse and assault are crimes that can greatly impact the survivor for the rest of their lives. Whether it was consistent abuse or a single assault, the physical and emotional trauma will change their lives forever. Working with a Los Angeles sexual abuse lawyer is crucial to holding the perpetrators of child sexual abuse accountable.

The Injury Lawyer Team is dedicated to helping survivors get the justice and settlement they deserve so they can begin to heal. If you or someone you know is a sexual abuse survivor in Los Angeles, we’re here to help protect their rights.

Why Choose Injury Lawyer Team for Your Sexual Abuse Claim

We understand the courage it takes to come forward and fight back against an abuser, so we take the steps necessary to handle every case with care and dedication.

Everything that happens after sexual assault or prolonged abuse can feel intimidating. Not everyone is ready to come forward right away or report the abuse. Whether you are in or out of court, the Injury Lawyer Team is prepared to fight for you. We’ve dedicated our careers to helping sexual assault survivors receive the maximum financial compensation and won’t stop until justice is served.

Our Los Angeles sexual abuse attorneys understand the sensitive nature of these cases. Not only will our law firm handle your case by thoroughly investigating, but we’ll also provide compassionate guidance throughout the process. Whether your case can be handled via negotiations outside the courtroom or in court, you can count on our sexual abuse attorneys to protect your rights by prioritizing your healing and financial recovery.

What is Sex Abuse?

Various sexual crimes fall under the terms sexual abuse and assault. Sexual abuse and assault are any non-consensual sexual contact or behavior. These crimes happen without explicit consent from the victim, ranging from unwanted touching or sexual comments to forced sexual acts.

There are three main things to know about sexual abuse and assault. The first is that, under no circumstances, is the survivor at fault. The second is that consent is what differentiates the acts from being a sex crime or not. Consent has to be freely and enthusiastically given and ongoing. Even if someone initially consents but withdraws it, it’s no longer consensual.

The third thing is that a lot of sexual abuse involves imbalanced power dynamics between the perpetrator and victim. Sometimes, this occurs between an adult and a child, or between two adults, where one uses their authority to abuse the other.

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What are the Different Kinds of Sexual Abuse Cases?

Because sexual abuse comes in many forms, some people don’t realize what happened to them constitutes sexual abuse or assault. Common types of sexual assault include:

Rape and Sexual Assault: Non-consensual sexual penetration or attempted rape, usually involving coercion or force. It can include drugs and alcohol to incapacitate someone before taking advantage of them, such as in cases of date rape.
Statutory Rape: Sexual acts between an adult and a minor. Even if the minor consents, they may not be able to legally consent due to their age. The victim’s consent does not make sexual activity okay if they are a certain age.
Childhood Sexual Abuse: Any sexual conduct between an adult and a minor where the adult is exerting their power over the other. It often involves conditioning the child to believe their actions are normal or acceptable.
Sexual Harassment: Unwanted sexual contact or comments, including requests for sexual favors or any verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. These abusive acts often happen in the workplace.
Incest: Sexual contact between family members. It typically happens between an adult and a child relative, but it can happen with any family member.
Unwanted Touching or Groping: Any sexual touching of intimate body parts without any consent.
Sex Trafficking: Forcing individuals into commercial sexual exploitation.
Voyeurism: Watching anyone in a private setting without consent or exposing oneself publicly.
Digital Sexual Exploitation: Sometimes called “revenge porn,” this involves sharing intimate photos and videos of someone online or with others digitally without their consent.

Where are Sexual Assault Cases in Los Angeles More Likely to Happen?

Sexual abuse or assault can happen anywhere, anytime. That said, certain institutions see it more than others. As your compassionate and experienced California sexual abuse lawyers, we’ve handled cases of institutional sexual abuse, such as:

Workplace

We’ve helped sexual assault victims who have been abused by their boss, coworkers, or anyone within the workplace.

Inpatient Treatment Facilities

Many patients are abused in inpatient treatment facilities. Whether the abuse came from another patient or an employee of the facility, we’ll get to the bottom of it.

Prisons and Correctional Facilities

Many sexual assault crimes happen within our correctional facilities around the country. For those who have dealt with sexual abuse in prisons and correctional facilities, we’ll help bring the other prisoner or correctional officer to justice.

Religious Institutions

Even though people are meant to feel safe at their religious institution of choice, that’s not always the case. Many cases of clergy abuse have been brought to light, and we’re proud to help the survivors get justice. We can help survivors take legal action, even if the abuse occurred years ago.

Nursing Homes

Many elderly patients in nursing homes have been subjected to sexual assault. We’ll defend the survivor against other patients and nursing home employees through legal action.

Sports Clubs

Athletes across sports have been known to be sexually abused by their teammates, coaches, team doctors, and others close to them.

Foster Care

We’ll work to defend vulnerable minors in the foster care system who are assault victims.

Daycare Facilities

We have experience fighting for the rights of children who have been sexually harassed or abused by other daycare children or employees.

Educational Facilities

Educational facilities ranging from elementary schools to universities have had sexual abuse allegations against them. We’ll work to prove these cases and hold all those responsible accountable.

Military Institutions

Our military members should be focused on defending our country, not avoiding sexual harassment and abuse. We’ll work with survivors within the military to get them the compensation they deserve.

Hotels and Short-Term Rentals

Since these have a more transient environment, sexual abuse and assault are more common. We’ll bring the perpetrator to justice and hold the institution liable.

Shelters

People in shelters should feel safe there, but that’s not always the case. We’ll provide legal counsel to those abused in shelters and hold the shelter liable if necessary.

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What Should You Do After Child Molestation or Sexual Assault?

If you’ve been a victim of sexual violence, your safety and well-being are a top priority. If a child is a victim, their safety is always the top priority. You should follow these same steps, but always report the crime to the proper authorities, such as child protective services. These are some immediate steps to take afterward:

Get yourself to a safe place away from your abuser.
Call the local police and report the abuse.
Seek medical attention, even if your injuries aren’t visible.
Consider a sexual assault forensic exam to preserve evidence when you’re ready to pursue a sexual abuse lawsuit.
You can seek support from trusted individuals or local programs, such as YWCA Greater Los Angeles Sexual Assault Crisis Services.
Document everything you can remember about when and where the abuse occurred, including earlier sexual grooming or even a text about sexual arousal.
Call an experienced sexual abuse attorney to help protect your rights.

What Damages Can You Recover Through the Legal Process?

No amount of money can erase what happened to you, but compensation, thanks to civil litigation, can help with the healing process. Compensation that’s available to sexual abuse survivors includes:

Medical expenses
Therapy and counseling expenses
Emotional distress
Pain and suffering
Lost wages
Loss of enjoyment of life

How much you’ll receive in a civil case settlement varies. Factors that influence the total compensation you might receive are:

The severity of the abuse or assault
The strength of the evidence provided
The duration of the abuse
The overall impact on the survivor’s life
Legal representation

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Civil Lawsuit?

Liability in sexual abuse cases often extends beyond the individual perpetrator to include institutions that may have facilitated or failed to prevent the abuse. Institutions can be held legally responsible under certain circumstances:

Negligent hiring practices
Negligent retention
Failure to report
Inadequate training on spotting the signs of sexual assault

Legal principles, such as vicarious liability, hold institutions accountable for their employees’ actions in civil cases. Title IX regulations mandate that educational institutions take specific steps to prevent and respond to sexual assault. Religious organizations and other entities may also be held liable for creating environments where abuse can occur due to poor supervision or power dynamics.

How Can a Law Firm Prove Sexual Assault Happened?

When it comes to proving assault in sexual assault cases, there needs to be a careful and thorough approach. Legal experts and investigators are vital in helping prove sexual assault or abuse in civil claims by:

Gathering evidence
Proving negligence or intentional misconduct
Demonstrating the link between the abuse and the harm suffered
Providing expert testimony
Investigating the sexual assault claim

Consult a Los Angeles sexual abuse lawyer

How Our Los Angeles Sexual Assault Attorneys Can Help

You must choose a legal team with experience representing victims and an understanding of the sensitive nature of these cases. Injury Lawyer Team is a trusted law firm when it comes to these violent crimes. We can help you by:

Giving you a confidential space to talk about what happened to you
Thoroughly investigating your sexual abuse claim
Gathering evidence to build a strong case
Identifying all liable parties
Dealing with insurance companies
Working with experts to gather testimonies to strengthen your case
Negotiating a settlement that is fair compared to what occurred
Protecting your rights inside the courtroom and out

What’s the Statute of Limitations for Civil Claims Under California Law?

There is a statute of limitations for a sexual assault victim to file a civil claim in Los Angeles. Right now, adults who have survived child abuse have until they turn 40 years old or within five years of discovering the sexual abuse to file a civil lawsuit for sexual abuse cases that happened before 2024.

Additional legislation ensures victims of childhood sexual abuse can seek justice. California law AB250 temporarily lets sexual violence survivors file sexual assault claims that were previously barred due to the old statute of limitations. The lookback window lets sexual violence victims file claims in 2026-2027.

Another law, AB2777, creates another lookback window until 2027 that lets survivors file a civil sexual abuse claim against institutions that helped cover up the crime. Cover-ups are common when it comes to institutionalized sexual abuse, such as sexual contact between a priest in charge of youth organizations or a teacher and a child. An institution can also be held liable in a Los Angeles civil sexual abuse claim if it is found negligent.

AB452 eliminates the statute for children to file sexual assault claims, provided they happened after 2024. However, it’s important to note that the law specifies sexual assault. Crimes like sexual harassment may have a shorter statute of limitations.

What is the Average Sexual Abuse Settlement in Los Angeles County?

Los Angeles sexual abuse lawyers continue to win large settlements for victims, leading to an average settlement amount of approximately $3 million. However, your individual settlement will depend on various factors, such as:

The amount of lost wages you can prove
How much physical pain and emotional damage was suffered
Whether you’re awarded punitive damages
If the physical pain impacts you for the rest of your life
Legal strategies used by your Los Angeles sexual abuse lawyer
How old you were when you were sexually assaulted
The nature of the crime, such as whether it involved sexual intercourse, involved physical contact, or whether it was attempted or completed rape
Medical expenses
If the perpetrator was a person of authority, such as a legal guardian, who was supposed to protect victims

Seeking compensation with a civil lawsuit is a deeply personal decision. We understand that dealing with this civil procedure can be stressful. Our team of sexual abuse attorneys will help you file a sexual abuse lawsuit and navigate the legal system to get the justice you deserve.

Example Cases Filed in Los Angeles County

The Superior Court of Los Angeles County awarded multiple plaintiffs who suffered sexual abuse an astounding $48 million verdict. Sexual assault lawyers helped the plaintiffs file a civil suit against the school district for negligent supervision because a teacher assaulted multiple students over a ten-year period. The sexually assaulted victims turned to the legal system for compensation for emotional harm already suffered, such as PTSD, and future emotional harm.

Pomona Unified School District was slammed with a sexual abuse lawsuit and a $35 million verdict for the abuse survivors. They suffered sex abuse at the hands of a track coach, Herman Hopson. Plaintiffs said that they were among a group of teenagers who suffered sex abuse at school, in the gym, and at track meets supervised by a group of coaches who would give them drugs and alcohol.

The school district was negligent regarding supervision. They also retained Hopson as a coach despite reports of sexual misconduct. The adult survivor, who is now in her 40s, continues to live with the damage caused by the abuse. She sued for emotional trauma, not physical injuries.

The Pasadena School District was at the receiving end of a civil laws uit regarding a special needs student who was sexually assaulted. The 11-year-old student was supposed to be supervised by a teacher’s aide, but was left alone. During that time, the student was assaulted. The emotional distress was so severe that the plaintiff had to be institutionalized and could not testify at trial.

Although there was no criminal prosecution, the plaintiff was awarded $26 million thanks to the civil justice system.

Working with an experienced attorney is critical as you navigate the legal process. We can help you seek compensation through the civil justice system, explain how the legal process works, and more.

Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation

Whether you’ve endured prolonged sexual abuse or a single traumatic incident, Injury Lawyer Team is here to protect your rights by taking civil action. We offer comprehensive legal support, conduct thorough investigations, and handle all negotiations to secure the settlement you deserve. Let us help you seek justice and begin the healing process.

If you’re ready to take the next step, fill out our online form to schedule your free consultation.

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All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.