There’s nothing worse than an injury that has been inflicted on an innocent child. Identifying the culprit is the first thing that comes to mind when a child has been on the receiving end of assault or sexual abuse. The guilty party must answer for their crimes. One of the children’s trusted people is usually the one who commits these crimes. Priests, mentors, teachers, and even family members can be guilty of doing it. If your child is the victim of sexual abuse, you should get in touch with a Phoenix sexual abuse lawyer immediately.
The scars left behind by sexual abuse are more than just physical ones. The victim has to deal with emotional and mental scars, and they may be stuck with them for the rest of their life.
Justice is required for sexual abuse victims, and Rueb Stoller Daniel has mass tort lawyers that are trained to handle these situations. We’ll make sure the perpetrators pay for the crimes they’ve committed, and that you’ll get the necessary compensation. In order to get on the path to justice, apply for consultation through our online form or call our Phoenix mass tort attorneys at 1-866-CALL-RSD. The privacy of our clients is important to us, and any information you present will be kept between us.
How is Sexual Abuse Defined?
There are many ways that sexual abuse can present itself, but noticing it can be difficult. A trusted person is usually the one who performs the abuse, so the victim may be too afraid to report an incident. They may even have difficulty telling their parents about it.
Legally, sexual abuse is defined as sexual contact that is unwanted. The following things can be considered sexual abuse:
- Sexual touching and fondling
- Presenting explicit images to children
- Using language that is sexually charged around children
- Showing children pornography
- Photographing children inappropriately and distributing the photographs or using them personally
- Inappropriate requests for minors to send their videos or pictures
- Showing a child one’s private parts
- Performing oral sex
- Performing penetration
An individual with authority or power is usually the one doing the sexual abuse. The victim is taken advantage of the person who is exercising their power and authority. Common elements of sexual abuse can include:
Authority
Relatives, teachers, and members of the clergy are all examples of people with authority. They will use the authority to their advantage to harm the victim.
Age
An older person is the abuser in the majority of sexual abuse cases. These mental health issues are commonly found in young sexual abuse victims:
- Problems with substance abuse
- Personality disorders
- Anxiety
- Depression
Physical size
Adult victims of sexual abuse tend to be female. They often find it impossible to fight off men who attempt abuse because they’re smaller than them.
Coercion
When looking for someone to victimize, a sexual predator will choose carefully. A person who will be too afraid to say anything is their prime target.
Regardless of the case type, the attorneys are experts that can take them on. Getting justice for your loved ones and you is their ultimate goal.
What Effects Do Sexual Abuse Victims Face?
There are a number of ways in which a sexual abuse victim can suffer: physical suffering is the most obvious, but mental and emotional suffering also exist. Fear can be a deterrent that prevents the abuse from being reported, and it can also be harmful to the victim. Feeling of fear, depression, and anxiety can come from keeping the abuse a secret for long periods of time.
The warning signs of sexual abuse are:
- Behavioral changes at school, home, and with peers
- Reduction of class participation and a drop in grades
- Self-esteem issues and depression
- Self-worth is low
- Attitudes about sex are unhealthy
- Promiscuous behavior
- A sexual obsession through different forms of media
Contact a doctor if your child starts showing these symptoms. The doctor is required to report any cases of abuse that they suspect. The following are other individuals who will report abuse cases:
- Health professionals
- Police officers
- School teachers
- Other employees at school
- Social Workers
- Members of law enforcement
Even though this is a serious duty, there are some who don’t treat it that way. In incidents where children aren’t given the protection they deserve, sexual abuse lawyers will intervene.
What counts as Sexual Assault?
There is a difference between sexual abuse and sexual assault. While unwanted sexual acts occur with sexual assault, there’s more to it than that. Sexual advances that aren’t wanted and even molestation are sexual assaults. The following are also sexual assault:
- Rape attempts
- Incest
- Forcible sodomy
- Fondling
- Forced sexual intercourse
- Child molestation
Victims of sexual assault will often suffer without reporting what they’ve experienced. The following are possible reasons for not reporting sexual assault:
- The fear of not being believed
- The possibility of not being taken seriously
- Being uncomfortable mentioning the situation
- Embarrassment
- Denial about whether it happened
- Being scared of potential retaliation by the one who committed the assault
Justice is what sexual assault survivors deserve. Rueb Stoller Daniel has lawyers that have experience with these types of cases and know how to respect the victims. The ones who committed the heinous act against your loved ones will face justice at the hands of these lawyers.
The Statistics About Sexual Assault and Abuse
There are shocking statistics about sexual assault and abuse. The thought of someone wanting to sexually assault someone, especially a child, is unimaginable. Yet, each day these terrible acts still happen. The following statistics are really eye-opening:
- According to data by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, before boys and girls reach 18, 17% and 25% of them respectively will face sexual abuse.
- The attacker is known by 93% of victims that are juveniles
- 30% of cases are reported to the proper authorities, according to the National Sex Offender Public Website run by the Department of Justice.
- The ability to form relationships is negatively affected for 40% of those who face sexual abuse.
- Suicidal thoughts and depression are common among those who face sexual abuse
- Every 98 seconds, someone will be sexually assaulted, according to data presented in 2017 by the National Crime Victimization Survey from the DOJ.
Learn How Our Phoenix Sexual Abuse Lawyers Can Help You.
You need to talk to a Rueb Stoller Daniel lawyer if your loved ones or children have been sexually abused or assaulted. They can answer any questions you may have and look at your case.
Your story and information will be kept confidential by our attorneys who understand what you’re going through. Our sexual abuse law firm in Phoenix is waiting for your call at 1-866-CALL-RSD, and we can provide you with a consultation for free. Justice is due, and Rueb Stoller Daniel will provide it. The abuser or assaulter will pay for what they’ve done.
