Savannah Sexual Abuse Lawyer

If you or a loved one has experienced sexual abuse, speaking up can be extremely brave and may benefit a lot of people. Reach out to a sexual abuse attorney in Savannah for help holding your abuser legally responsible.

It can be difficult to speak up about sexual abuse, but doing so can help you heal in many ways. It can also prevent further sexual abuse from happening to other victims. Pressing criminal charges against your assailant will ensure that they pay the proper penalties for their crimes to the state; however, what about the penalties they deserve to pay to you personally?

Most sexual abuse victims aren’t aware that they have a right to file a civil claim against their abusers. Once a criminal case has been settled, seeking compensation in a Savannah civil lawsuit can ensure that your abuser is punished in every way possible. At The Nye Law Group, a Savannah personal injury lawyer can guide you through the legal process and work to get you the settlement you deserve.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?

Depending on where your sexual abuse took place, it may be possible to hold more than just your abuser liable in a civil lawsuit. Schools, jails, employers, churches, hospitals, or nursing homes may be held liable as well, because these organizations have an obligation to keep their residents or visitors safe when in their care.

Your sexual abuse lawyer in Savannah will do a deep investigation of your case to determine where the abuse happened, how it happened, and whether negligence took place on behalf of anyone other than the abuser. When your claim is filed, it’ll be important to hold all negligent parties liable in order to maximize your claim value.

Proving Sexual Abuse Took Place

If a criminal case took place against your abuser before your civil case, then it’s possible to use the evidence from the criminal case in order to prove sexual abuse in your civil case. This can make the civil case go smoothly.

However, even if a criminal case never took place, sexual abuse can be proved in civil court in many ways. Civil courts don’t require as much evidence as criminal courts for sexual abuse cases. Once liability can be proven and the defendant is effectively named, your claim value will be calculated.

Recovery of Damages

Both compensatory damages and punitive damages can usually be recovered against a sexual abuse defendant. Compensatory damages will include both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are financial losses you’ve experienced from the abuse, such as medical expenses and loss of income from being out of work.

Non-economic damages will be especially significant, because these are ways in which the sexual abuse has affected your lifestyle. These damages can include emotional distress, loss of consortium, and pain and suffering.

Punitive damages can only be awarded by a judge, but they’re awarded when the defendant has willfully acted negligent or caused harm on purpose. A sexual abuse case is a great example of when punitive damages can be warranted.

Contact a Savannah Sexual Abuse Attorney

No one should have to go through the trauma of sexual abuse, but when abuse happens, you deserve financial compensation from your assailant on top of any criminal charges they’re facing. By filing a civil lawsuit, you can help see that your abuser will face the maximum penalty.

At The Nye Law Group, a Savannah sexual abuse lawyer can help you seek the settlement you deserve. Call 912-200-5230 or fill out the contact form below to schedule a free consultation.