San Francisco Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Sexual abuse and assault are sex crimes known to impact the survivor for the rest of their lives. From physical pain and emotional distress to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), those who are sexually abused will have to live with what happened forever. A San Francisco sexual abuse lawyer can help survivors seek justice. 

Injury Lawyer Team is dedicated to helping individuals who have been sexually assaulted or abused bring their abuser(s) to justice and get them a settlement that can financially help with the healing process. Whenever you’re ready to discuss your experience, we’ll investigate and protect your rights.

At Injury Lawyer Team, our top priority is securing the maximum settlement for many survivors of sexual abuse. With a proven track record of substantial settlements and verdicts, we ensure all aspects of your claim—medical expenses, therapy costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering—are thoroughly addressed.

Whether clients are ready to file immediately or need time, a sexual assault attorney from our law firm will support you every step of the way. Our experience handling sensitive cases enables us to protect your rights while you focus on your healing and financial recovery.

What is Sexual Assault and Abuse?

Sexual assault and abuse are broad terms that encompass different sex crimes. With such a wide spectrum, it’s not surprising that some people don’t realize what happened to them is sexual abuse or assault.

Any unwanted and non-consensual acts, comments, touching, or behaviors fall under sex crimes. Generally, sexual abuse refers to sexual acts and behavior that happen more than once and over time, while sexual assault refers to specific incidents generally.

What makes any sexual act abusive is the lack of consent and, often, power imbalances. Consent needs to be freely given, ongoing, and enthusiastic. Consent can be withdrawn at any time. Power imbalances typically involve an adult and a child, or anyone with power over the other.

What are the Most Common Forms of Sexual Violence?

Sexual assault and abuse can happen in various ways. Common forms of sexual abuse or assault include:

• Childhood Sexual Abuse: Any sexual misconduct between an adult and a minor. Usually, this involves authority figures taking advantage of a child or grooming them.
• Statutory Rape: Acts between a minor and an adult where the minor gives “consent.” While they believe they’ve given consent, their age precludes valid consent. This act typically happens between a teenager and an adult.
• Rape and Sexual Assault: Non-consensual sexual intercourse or penetration of any kind. It usually involves excessive force and sometimes drugs and alcohol.
• Incest: Sexual conduct between family members. It often is between an adult and a child, but it can be between any family member.
• Digital Sexual Exploitation: Sharing intimate videos and photos of someone online without their knowledge or consent.
• Voyeurism: Watching someone undress without their knowledge or consent.
• Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome sexual touches. This often happens in the workplace and includes asking for sexual favors or making sexual comments that make the other person uncomfortable.

Where Does Most San Francisco Sexual Assault Happen?

Sexual assault can happen anywhere, but some institutions may see higher rates of sexual violence due to them serving a vulnerable population or providing the privacy that predators want.

Shelters

Those in shelters are there to stay safe, but if sexual assault happens, we’ll be there to hold the perpetrator and the institution liable.

Sports Clubs

It’s well-known that athletes are sometimes abused by their team doctors, coaches, and other team members. Regardless of the team or perpetrator, we’ll protect the victim’s interests.

Military Institutions

Abuse and assault in the military are often swept under the rug, but we’ll bring your case to light to help you and other survivors.

Hotels and Short-Term Rentals

Hotels and short-term rentals are transient, and we’ll do everything in our power to support you as you file your claim of assault in one of these institutions.

Foster Care

We’ll work to protect the rights of any minor in the foster care system if they’re sexually abused or assaulted by foster parents, other foster placements, or employees.

Daycare Facilities

We have experience negotiating claims for children who have been abused in their daycare facilities by employees or other children.

Nursing Homes

Elderly abuse is a concern in California nursing homes. If sexual abuse or assault happens, we’ll be there to protect you or your loved one’s rights.

Workplace

Many people have to deal with sexual harassment or abuse within the workplace, but we’ll work to bring the perpetrator to justice and change workplace practices.

Inpatient Treatment Facilities

For those sexually assaulted in inpatient treatment facilities by other patients or employees, we’ll help hold the institution liable and get clients the compensation they deserve.

Prisons and Correctional Facilities

Whether the abuse is from another inmate or a correctional officer, we’re prepared to take on these sexual abuse cases.

Religious Institutions

Many children deal with clergy abuse in a place where they’re supposed to feel safe. If applicable, we’ll help bring the clergy member to justice and hold the religious institution accountable.

Educational Institutions

From elementary schools to college campuses, we’ll defend you and hold all those responsible for the abuse suffered.

What Should You Do After Sexual Abuse Happens?

If you’ve been assaulted or abused, your safety is the first thing that needs to be on your mind before anything else. Some steps to take immediately after a sexual assault are:

• Find a safe place to go so you’re not near the person who hurt you.
• Call the local police department to report the assault or abuse.
• Visit a hospital or other medical facility regardless of whether your injuries are visible.
• Preserve as much evidence as you can, like the clothing you were wearing, and ask medical professionals for a sexual assault forensic exam (rape kit).
• Seek support from those you trust and from resources like San Francisco Women Against Rape (SFWAR).
• Contact an experienced attorney, like those at Injury Lawyer Team, to guide you through the process of bringing your abuser to justice.

What Damages Can San Francisco Sexual Assault Victims Recover in the Bay Area?

There isn’t any amount of money in this world that will make what happened okay or make it like it never happened. That doesn’t mean receiving financial compensation can’t benefit your overall healing journey.

There are several types of compensation you might be awarded for your civil lawsuit:

• Therapy and medical expenses
• Emotional distress
• Lost income or wages
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Punitive damages

An important point about compensation is that the amount of your settlement will vary. What the total amount will be depends on:

• The duration of the abuse
• The strength of the evidence
• The severity of the abuse 
• The impact the abuse has had on the survivor’s life

Who is Held Responsible When Obtaining Justice?

In some sexual assault cases, it’s not just the single perpetrator who can be held accountable. Depending on where the abuse happened, it’s possible to hold the institution liable, too. We can help sexual abuse survivors by holding institutions liable on the grounds of:

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

Legal principles like vicarious liability, Title IX regulations, and power dynamics within religious communities can further establish institutional responsibility. For example, Title IX mandates additional protections and accountability for educational institutions, ensuring they take active steps to prevent and respond to sexual abuse.

Institutions can be complicit by creating environments where abuse can occur, such as poor supervision or ignoring complaints. As your experienced sexual abuse lawyer, we utilize these principles to hold institutions accountable and seek a settlement for survivors.

How Can a Law Firm Help Victims Seek Justice?

While we believe everything you tell us about your sexual assault, we’ll still need to prove it to the courts when seeking justice. We take a comprehensive approach to all sexual assault cases to make sure we are fully protecting your rights. Our attorneys work with other legal experts to build a strong case by:

• Gathering as much evidence as possible
• Establishing who the liable parties are
• Demonstrating the harm done to the survivor
• Providing expert testimony supporting the claim
• Thoroughly investigating the sexual abuse claim

How Our San Francisco Sexual Abuse Attorneys Can Help

Choosing the right sexual abuse attorneys can make or break your civil claim. Injury Lawyer Team encompasses experienced and compassionate attorneys and legal professionals who will fight tirelessly to get the help you deserve and bring your abuser to justice. We can help those who have been sexually abused by:

• Providing you with a confidential and safe space to share your story.
• Investigating your claim.
• Gathering as much evidence as possible to build a strong case.
• Identifying all the parties liable for your sexual abuse.
• Dealing with any insurance companies and opposing counsel.
• Partnering with experts to gather testimony that will help strengthen your civil claim.
• Negotiating with opposing counsel to come to a settlement outside the courtroom.
• Fighting your case while protecting your rights in court if a settlement can’t be reached in litigation or arbitration.

Our team can provide the legal assistance you need, including explaining your legal options. Our firm is committed to helping you get the closure you need. 

What is the Statute of Limitations for Filing a Claim in San Francisco?

After dealing with abusive behavior, psychological trauma can cause people not to realize that what happened to them is sexual abuse, or just not being ready to file a claim. There are statutes of limitations on crimes nationwide, but understanding the statute of limitations is vital if you’ve been sexually abused.

As of now, the statute of limitations for someone abused in childhood is until they turn 40 years old or within five years of discovering the abuse if the event happened before 2024. Those who suffered sexual abuse or sexual assault in adulthood have ten years from the date of the last incident or three years after discovering the abuse to file a lawsuit.

New legislation extends the statute of limitations for filing a civil lawsuit to cases occurring after 2024. Newsom signed AB250 into law, letting survivors file sexual assault claims that were previously barred due to the old statute of limitations. The lookback window allows victims to pursue legal action, either through the criminal justice system or by filing a civil lawsuit, in 2026-2027. 

California law AB2777 creates another lookback window until 2027 that lets child abuse survivors file a civil lawsuit 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 and a child. These institutions can be held liable in sexual abuse claims. 

AB452 eliminates the statute for children to file sexual assault claims, provided they happened after 2024. This includes victims who want to pursue claims against an institution. 

Working with an experienced legal team committed to helping you is essential for adult victims and children seeking civil justice. Our legal team can provide the assistance you need, including an explanation of how the legal process works and how the statute of limitations will affect your claim. 

What is the Average Sexual Abuse Settlement in San Francisco, California?

The average settlement is typically more than $100,000, with some cases resulting in million- or billion-dollar payouts. Several things impact how big your settlement will be when it comes to the legal system, such as: 

• How many victims are involved in the civil case
• The level of medical care needed to recover
• Whether criminal charges were filed
• If institutions, such as daycare centers, took reasonable steps to protect victims
• Whether the suit is against a religious leader (dioceses often settle for higher amounts to get the legal case over with as soon as possible)
• The impact on your well-being
• How long the victims endured abuse

Whether victims work with experienced abuse attorneys can significantly impact the case. Abuse is one of our main practice areas. We are committed to working tirelessly to fight for victims, ensuring every victim has an opportunity to seek compensation while sending a clear message that harm is never okay. 

Example Cases Filed in San Francisco County

Survivors have been awarded millions of dollars in settlements as they continue to step forward to hold institutions accountable for the harm they caused. 

Five victims were awarded $5,780,000 in a case against the San Francisco Archdiocese. All victims, including one who is only referred to as John Doe, suffered severe psychological harm. The victims were molested for years in the 1970s, leading some to turn to drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism. 

The Superior Court awarded Annisa Mayor over $4 million in damages in a civil suit against CSC Consulting, Inc. She alleged this is how much money she would have made if not working for CSC Consulting, Inc. 

The civil suit sought wrongful termination; she alleged she was fired for reporting that the company had breached its ethical standards. It also involves sexual harassment and discrimination. Supervisors repeatedly made sexual advances and remarks, including calling her “client bait.” $1.5 million of the award was allocated for damages due to sexual harassment. 

Another plaintiff sued a nonprofit where she previously worked and was awarded $450,000. The plaintiff described her supervisor as taking on a fatherly role, which is common when grooming someone for sexual abuse. She told a coworker about the incident, which prompted an investigation. The plaintiff, who is listed as confidential instead of Jane Doe, was subjected to sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. She suffered severe PTSD as a result. 

Our attorneys have worked with numerous clients to secure justice, and we can do the same for you. 

Contact Us for a Free Consultation

If you or a loved one needs a sexual abuse lawyer, Injury Lawyer Team is prepared to assist. We have extensive experience with sexual assault and abuse cases. We’ll investigate your claim and handle negotiations or trials to ensure you get the financial compensation you deserve.

Contact us today at 866-757-6452 or fill out this contact form.

Related Practice Areas

Fresno Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Los Angeles Sexual Abuse Lawyer
San Diego Sexual Abuse Lawyer
San Jose Sexual Abuse Lawyer

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.