Sexual abuse occurs when there is undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. It often happens by taking advantage or using force on another. When force is of short duration or immediate, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault.

In recent years there have been many sexual abuse allegations against teachers, professors, administrators, coaches, members of the Catholic Church, and others in a position of power within organizations and institutions.

A victim of sexual assault endures injury, pain, and suffering well beyond the physical effects of the attack. Profound emotional wounds haunt such victims for the rest of their lives. The criminal justice system can punish attackers for their crimes, but the financial restitution for victims lies in the hands of civil courts.

Sexual assault comprises many types of actions. All types, however, hold one thing in common: they happen against the victim's will or without their consent. Sexual assault also covers actions that occur when an individual is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, disabled, or below the age of consent in the state where the assault transpired. These actions may or may not involve the use of actual force, weapons, threats of force, intimidation, coercion, or pressure.

The following activities are some examples of forms of sexual assault when they happen in the above circumstance:

• Verbal abuse
• Inappropriate touching
• Requesting personal favors for "rewards"
• Derogatory, sexual, or racist comments
• Unnecessary photographing
• Verbal or physical threats
• And more...

Although it may seem impossible to attach a monetary value to the damages inflicted from a sexual assault, one must consider that such an event does wield an economic impact on the victim - the cost of medical and psychological treatment and the inability to work now or in the future, for example. Legal mesaures do exist for recovering some of these damages in civil court. In many cases, the liability for a sexual assault extends beyond the perpetrator - perhaps to an organization or institution - increasing the likelihood that the victim can recover damages.

What Should I Do If I Or A Loved One Suffered From Sexual Abuse?

If the abuse is recent, contact the police as soon as possible. Law enforcement can investigate the accusations, but there are limits to how long they have to do this. If the statute of limitations, the legal limit to filing lawsuits and investigating crimes, runs out, then it may not be possible to hold your abuser responsible.

If your sexual abuse was caused by teachers, professors, coworkers, hospitals, administrators, coaches, members of the Catholic Church, and others in a position of power within organizations and institutions, you have a right to hold them accountable. For many men, women, and children who have been sexually abused, they were likely not their predator's only victim. With the help of a law firm, survivors might stop a cycle of abuse and keep their abusers from finding new victims.

If you or a loved one suffered from sexual abuse, you may be entitled to compensation through the help of a law firm. The compensation that you can recover may help with your treatment expenses. Partnering with a lawyer can give you the chance to work out the details of your case and determine which legal steps, if any, are in your best interest. It can also help with the legal process so that you can focus on your recovery.

What Do You Need To Do To Claim It?

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