Stamford Sexual Abuse Lawyer

In recent years, state legislators in Connecticut and the rest of the United States have acted to significantly expand the rights that sexual abuse victims have to file civil suit against their abuser and anyone who enabled the abuse. While this is certainly a positive development for survivors of sexual assault and molestation, the prospect of taking legal action against your abuser can be intimidating, especially if you try to do it alone.

Working closely with a Stamford sexual abuse lawyer can be key to not just achieving the best possible resolution to your lawsuit or settlement demand, but to maintaining your well-being and peace of mind. A compassionate personal injury attorney from Berkowitz and Hanna can provide you with the custom-tailored legal guidance and emotional support needed to protect your best interests from the start to the finish of your case.

Damages Available Through Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Of course, money alone cannot make up for the immense physical and psychological trauma that being the target of someone’s sexual misconduct can cause. With that said, seeking fair financial recovery from those who hold civil liability for sexual abuse injuries—potentially including organizations like churches, school systems, and healthcare facilities—can be crucial to minimizing the long-term impacts and improving a sexual abuse victim’s overall quality of life.

Specific “compensable damages” that often play a role in cases of this nature include but are not limited to:

• Costs of all medical care made necessary by sexual abuse, including things like counseling, prescription medications, and expected future medical expenses
• Lost working and earning capacity caused by physical and/or psychological trauma
• Physical pain and discomfort
• Emotional anguish and suffering
• Decline in enjoyment of life

Depending on the circumstances, a Stamford sexual abuse attorney may also encourage a court to impose additional “punitive damages” against the defendant(s) in this sort of claim.

What Time Limits Apply to Sexual Abuse Litigation?

One of the biggest legal changes to sexual abuse claims in Connecticut in recent years is a substantial expansion and, in some cases outright elimination, of the “statute of limitations.”. As per Connecticut General Statutes §52-577e, if someone is convicted in criminal court on charges of first-degree sexual assault or first-degree aggravated sexual assault, there is no statutory filing deadline whatsoever for a personal injury lawsuit.

Furthermore, C.G.S. §52-577d allows people who were harmed by sexual abuse while under the age of 21 to file a civil suit over that abuse at any point prior to their 51st birthday. However, for people who were sexually abused while under the age of 18 and before October 1, 2019, the now-outdated deadline of their 48th birthday may still apply. A sexual abuse lawyer in Stamford can discuss what filing time limits may apply to your particular case in more detail during a confidential consultation.

Consider Working with a Stamford Sexual Abuse Attorney

Enforcing your right to civil recovery after being physically harmed through another person’s negligence can be hard enough, but filing the same kind of lawsuit over intentional sexual abuse can be incredibly difficult. Fortunately, you have support available from dedicated legal professionals and a law firm that has recovered more than $400 million in verdicts and settlements for past clients.

A conversation with a Stamford sexual abuse lawyer from Berkowitz and Hanna, LLC will answer your questions and give you clarity about the next steps you should take. Call today to set up your free confidential consultation.