Washington DC Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Injuries affecting children are the worst kind of injuries. If children become victims of sexual assault and abuse, the first thing we want to do is finding out exactly who’s responsible. A person that perpetrates such an injury must be held accountable.

Oftentimes, such crimes are committed by people trusted by your children. It can be family members, mentors, teachers, or even priests. If this ever happens to your child, it is important that you get in touch with a Washington DC sexual abuse lawyer.

The problem with sexual abuse is that it does more than simply leaving physical scars. It also leaves emotional and mental scars and the injuries may last a lifetime. Contact us to consult with a DC sexual abuse lawyer today.

Rueb Stoller Daniel has a team of skilled mass tort attorneys in Washington DC who are committed to ensuring that justice is served for sexual abuse victims. They will ensure that those responsible are held accountable. We will fight to ensure that your family gets the compensation that it deserves.

Call us today at 1-866-CALL-RSD or complete the online consultation form provided to get started. We respect our clients’ right to privacy. You can be sure that your information will remain strictly confidential.

Table of Contents

What Are Common Forms Of Sexual Abuse?

Sexual abuse may come in several different form and isn’t always easy to detect. The victim is usually abused by somebody they trust. So, they often fear to report the abuse, even to their parents.

From a legal standpoint, sexual abuse refers to any unwanted sexual contact that may involve any of the following:

  • Sexual abuse covers a wide variety of behaviors that include:
  • Touching and fondling of a sexual nature
  • Exposing children to sexually charged language
  • Showing explicit images to children
  • Exposing children to pornography
  • Revealing one’s private parts to a child
  • Requesting a minor to send videos or pictures of themselves in an appropriate manner
  • Taking inappropriate photos of a child for distribution or personal use
  • Penetration
  • Oral sex

DC sexual abuse lawyer

Sexual abuse, unfortunately, usually involves an individual in a position of authority or power. Such a person may use his/her power to take advantage of the victim. Some of the elements of sexual abuse may include the following:

Authority

A person with authority over the victim can easily take advantage of them. It can be a relative, teacher, or even a member of the clergy.

Age

The person abusing the victim is often much older. Adults often take advantage of children. They might be sick and engage in unwanted sexual advances towards an adolescent or child.

Given the young age, sexual abuse victims often suffer from the following issues related to their mental health:

  • Personality disorders
  • Substance abuse problems
  • Anxiety
  • Depression

Physical Size

Most adult victims tend to be female. Given their smaller size, they are simply unable to overcome a man that’s trying to abuse them.

Coercion

Sexual predators usually choose their victims carefully. They purposefully select those they know will fear to report the abuse to someone else.

Our Washington DC class action lawyers are ready to handle all these types of cases. They will strive to ensure that you and your loved ones get the justice that you deserve. Feel free to reach out if you have been wronged to a DC sexual abuse lawyer.

What Are Some of the Warning Signs of Sexual Abuse?

Victims of sexual abuse suffer in many ways: physically, mentally, and emotionally. They often fear to report the abuse, which can be just as harmful as the actual abuse. After keeping the secret for so long, they find themselves feeling fearful, depressed, and anxious.

Sexual abuse involves many different warning signs, which include:

  • Low self-esteem and depression
  • Grades suffer and the person no longer participates in class as he/she previously did
  • Sudden changes in behavior i.e. in school, at home, and socially
  • Low sense of self-worth
  • Obsession with sex i.e. movies, reading material, etc.
  • Unhealthy attitudes towards sex
  • Promiscuity

A lawyer meeting with a client to discuss a sexual abuse lawsuit.

If you notice your child exhibiting any of these symptoms or signs, you need to report it to a doctor. Other medical professionals are also required to report suspected abuse. Such professionals include:

  • Law enforcement
  • Social workers
  • School employees
  • Teachers
  • Police
  • Health professionals

Unfortunately, not everybody takes this duty seriously. Sexual abuse attorneys have handled many cases where children were not protected as they should be. Speak with a DC sexual abuse lawyer at Rueb Stoller Daniel to see if we can assist you.

What is Sexual Assault?

Sexual assault differs slightly from sexual abuse. It involves much more than simply unwanted sexual contact. It includes all acts of molestation as well as unwanted sexual advances.

It includes but is not limited to the acts below:

  • Forcible sodomy
  • Attempted rape
  • Fondling
  • Incest
  • Forced sexual intercourse
  • Child molestation

woman in need of DC sexual abuse lawyer

Many victims of sexual assault never report the abuse. There are several reasons why this is the case, including:

  • They are embarrassed
  • The entire situation makes them uncomfortable
  • They don’t believe that their accusations will be taken seriously
  • They are afraid that people will not believe them
  • They fear retaliation
  • They are in denial

Sexual assault victims are entitled to justice. The experienced personal injury attorneys at Rueb Stoller Daniel will treat you with the respect that you deserve. They will go after the perpetrators and demand that they be held accountable.

Sexual Abuse and Assault Statistics

Sexual abuse and assault statistics in the United States are staggering. It is hard to imagine who would wish to hurt a child or other victims of sexual assault, but it happens fairly often. Some of the disturbing statistics include the following:

  • 93% of juvenile victims know the perpetrator
  • 17 percent of boys and 25% of girls will be abused sexually before reaching age 18 according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
  • Sexual abuse victims are more likely to suffer from suicidal thoughts and depression
  • Close to 40 percent of sexual abuse victims are likely to have problems forming as well as maintaining relationships later in their lives
  • The United States Department of Justice’s National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) reports that just 30 percent of sexual assaults are ever reported to authorities
  • The National Crime Victimization Survey released in 2017 by the Department of Justice revealed that a person is assaulted sexually every 98 seconds somewhere in the United States.

Get in Touch with Our Washington DC Sexual Abuse Lawyers For A Free Consultation!

If your child or loved one has become the victim of sexual assault or abuse, you need to speak with an experienced DC Sexual abuse lawyer at Rueb Stoller Daniel. We will review your case and answer any questions that you might have.

Our compassionate lawyers will listen to your story and keep your information confidential. Get in touch with our sexual abuse law firm in Washington D.C. at 1-866-CALL-RSD today to schedule your free initial consultation.

You are owed justice and Rueb Stoller Daniel will ensure that the guilty are held responsible.