Florida Sex Abuse Lawyer

Survivors of sex abuse often endure lasting physical and emotional damage, but filing a civil sex abuse lawsuit for damages may allow the survivor to obtain justice and financial compensation. If you or a loved one are a survivor of sex abuse, contact the Florida sex abuse lawyers of Edwards Pottinger today for a free legal consultation.

What is Sex Abuse or Assault?

Sex abuse or assault are blanket terms for unwanted sexual contact. Statistics show that sexual abuse is highly prevalent, happening as often as once every 68 seconds in the USA. Anyone can become the victim of sex abuse or sexual misconduct, but women are most commonly targeted, with 1 in 5 women experiencing rape or attempted rape in their lifetime. Most acts of sexual assault are unfortunately committed by someone the survivor knows or is acquaintances with. Types of sexual abuse include:

• Rape or attempted rape
• Molestation
• Sending sexually explicit texts, emails, messages, or pictures to a child
• Sexual harassment including physical, verbal, or written sexual misconduct
• Using coercion to make someone engage in sexual activity
• Non-consensual sexual touching
• Engaging in sexual activities while someone is unable to give consent
• Showing a child pornographic material
• Sex trafficking

Where Does Sex Abuse Most Commonly Occur?

In the same way that anyone could potentially be subjected to sex abuse, sex abuse can and does happen anywhere. According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), sexual assault most commonly occurs at the survivor’s home or close to it. Other common places where sexual assault could occur include the survivor’s place of work, school or university, at or near a relative’s home, and even in public places.

Can I File a Florida Sex Abuse Lawsuit Against My Attacker?

In sex assault cases, both civil and criminal law provide means for survivors to pursue justice and punish their attackers. A criminal case would entail a prosecutor deciding whether the attacker should be charged with a sex crime, and a conviction may impost penalties such as jail time, probation, and fines. On the other hand, civil claims allow sexual abuse survivors to seek compensation for the damages they incurred due to the attack.

Whether or not a civil lawsuit is filed against the attacker is up to the survivor. If they choose to pursue a civil lawsuit, they may be able to file several different claims against the defendant for damages resulting from battery, stalking, false imprisonment, and the negligent transmission of STDs.

If you have questions about bringing a civil sex abuse lawsuit against your attacker, contact Edwards Pottinger to speak with a qualified Florida sex abuse attorney. Our sex assault law firm is nationally recognized for its efforts in advocating on behalf of the abused and achieving justice for sex abuse survivors.

What Compensation is Available for Florida Sex Abuse Survivors?

While financial compensation cannot undo the devastation that sexual assault causes, it can be instrumental for a survivor looking to heal physically and mentally from the trauma of sexual abuse. The compensation awarded in a successful sexual assault lawsuit depends on the circumstances of the case, but a qualified sex abuse law firm will pursue all damages, including:

• All past, present, and future medical bills relating to the attack, including emergency care, doctors visits, and the cost of prescriptions
• The cost of psychological counseling or mental health services
• Lost wages if the survivor missed time at work due to the attack
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Loss of earning capacity

Who Can Be Held Liable for Sexual Assault?

In addition to holding the attacker accountable, sexual assault survivors may also be able to hold third parties liable whose negligent actions enabled or contributed to the attack. For example, businesses and organizations have a duty to hire workers responsibly, which includes performing background checks and adequately vetting potential new hires. When they fail to do so and sexual abuse occurs, they could be held liable for negligent hiring practices.

Common third party defendants that may be held liable for sexual abuse include:

• Churches and other religious institutions
• Schools and universities
• Property owners, such as hotel or apartment owners
• Sports teams
• Summer camps
• Youth organizations like the Boy Scouts
• Daycares and preschools

How Can a Sex Abuse Lawyer Help Me?

While sex abuse survivors do not need lawyers for the criminal aspect of the case, it is advisable to reach out to an experienced sex assault attorney if they wish to pursue a civil lawsuit for financial compensation against their attackers. A qualified sex abuse lawyer in Florida will explain a survivor’s rights, their options for legal recourse, and will evaluate the facts of the attack in order to determine whether the survivor has a valid claim. A local attorney will also act as the sex abuse survivor’s legal advocate throughout this difficult time and fight to make sure they are fairly compensated for what they have been through. Most sex assault lawyers also work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning their work is free unless you receive a settlement.

Contact Our Florida Sex Abuse Attorneys Today

At Edwards Pottinger, our sex abuse law firm is nationally recognized for our efforts to achieve justice on behalf of sex assault victims and has won some of the largest settlements in U.S. history on behalf of sex crimes survivors, including a $71 million jury settlement on a yacht rape case. Our attorneys understand how traumatizing sex abuse can be and are dedicated advocates of sex abuse survivors.

If you were sexually abused in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, or anywhere else in Florida, our firm is here for you. If you or a loved one were exposed to sexual misconduct, call the Florida sex abuse lawyers of Edwards Pottinger for a free case consultation.

Edwards Pottinger is a nationally-recognized powerhouse litigation firm, dedicated to providing its clients with the highest quality legal services and, at the same time, making substantial, positive changes for the common good.

We are skilled litigators and experienced trial attorneys who have effectively pursued civil lawsuits against some of the most powerful individuals, organizations and big businesses on behalf of people, victims and small businesses. In fact, we specialize in handling cases where the power differential is greatest and we can use our experience and resources to even the playing field. Our recent trial results speak for themselves.