Sexual abuse, including child sexual abuse, can cause physical and emotional injuries that impact a sexual abuse survivor’s relationships, employment, and health. Many survivors feel helpless. They believe they can’t hold their abusers accountable. However, through a sexual abuse lawsuit, a survivor can seek compensation for the harm they have suffered.
At Jainchill & Beckert, LLC, we have over 55 years of combined legal experience. We have handled a range of cases, including sexual abuse, personal injury, workers’ compensation, and more. Over the years, we’ve developed a reputation for tirelessly pursuing results and building strong relationships with our clients.
Contact us today to learn more about filing a sexual abuse lawsuit in Connecticut. We can provide a free, confidential consultation.
What Is the Definition of Sexual Abuse in Connecticut?
Connecticut law does not formally define sexual abuse as a single act. Instead, it is an umbrella term. It encompasses many types of non-consensual sexual acts, including rape, sexual assault, molestation, sexual harassment, and sexual exploitation. It includes acts involving minors and other vulnerable individuals. Criminal and civil law provide routes to justice.
How Is Sexual Abuse Different from Sexual Assault?
In Connecticut, sexual abuse is different from sexual assault. Sexual assault describes a specific criminal offense. Sexual abuse refers to a type of conduct that civil actions, or sexual abuse lawsuits, seek to address.
For instance, sexual assault in the first degree is a specific offense in Connecticut. If convicted, a person faces criminal punishment for committing a felony. However, even if the person was acquitted of sexual assault, they could still be held liable in a civil claim for sexual abuse. In other words, a civil action can proceed regardless of whether the abuser is convicted (or faces any criminal prosecution).
What Are Some Signs of Sex Abuse?
People who survive sexual abuse can display a range of behavioral, emotional, and physical signs. Family members and other trusted adults like teachers and medical professionals should look out for the following signs of potential sexual abuse:
Behavioral
- Sudden changes in behavior
- Fear of certain individuals
- Fear of physical contact
- Children drawing sexual content
Emotional
- Nightmares resulting from anxiety
- Depression and frequent crying
- Increased irritability and anger
Physical
- Increased frequency of bedwetting
- Trouble sleeping
- Genital pain or itching
What Are Some of the Symptoms of Sexual Abuse?
Sexual abuse can cause physical injuries such as bruises, cuts, and genital or rectal bleeding. However, they are not the only symptoms of sexual abuse.
Many survivors suffer psychological injuries. They may develop anxiety disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the trauma they experience. Survivors can also suffer from depression, leading to self-harm and thoughts of suicide for years or decades after their abuse. Their recovery may require ongoing therapy and counseling.
The impacts of sexual abuse are far-reaching. However, as a survivor, you can seek compensation for how your abuse has affected you and continues to impact your life. An attorney with experience working with sexual abuse victims, including survivors of child sex abuse and sexual crimes, can help you to seek the justice and compensation you deserve.
What Evidence Is Needed to Prove a Sexual Abuse Charge?
Proving liability in a sexual abuse case involves gathering evidence that may include the following:
- DNA evidence, such as from a rape kit, showing the abuser had sexual contact with you.
- Photographs of your physical injuries, including bruises and cuts.
- Testimony from you as the victim and others who may have witnessed the abuse, including siblings or staff members where the abuse took place.
- Testimony from medical and psychological professionals about the extent of your injuries and their impact on your life.
- Your medical record showing the injuries you suffered and the treatments you underwent for them.
- The criminal record of your abuser if they were convicted of sexually assaulting or otherwise abusing you.
An experienced personal injury lawyer will know how to preserve, gather, and review this evidence. While your lawyer works hard to meet all deadlines, you can focus on your recovery and peace of mind.
Can You Seek Compensation from the Sexual Abuser?
You can seek compensation for the physical and emotional injuries that you suffered as a result of sexual abuse. This compensation can cover your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
To seek compensation, you must identify the liable party. In some cases, multiple parties may share liability. The following are parties who could be liable for sexual abuse in Connecticut:
- Clergy members and religious institutions
- Boy Scout and Girl Scout troop leaders
- Teachers, daycare workers, and their employers
- Nursing home and hospital staff and their employers
- Prison staff and their employers.
Children, older adults, prison inmates, and other vulnerable populations face a high risk of sexual abuse. However, sexual abuse can happen to anyone.
What Is the Statute of Limitations in Connecticut for Sexual Abuse?
In Connecticut, sexual abuse survivors have 30 years to file lawsuits against their abusers. If your sexual abuse occurred when you were younger than 21, you have thirty years from your 21st birthday to file a lawsuit.
The primary exception to this 30-year deadline is if the abuser was convicted of a sexual assault crime. In that case, no time limit applies.
Contact a Connecticut Sexual Abuse Lawyer
If you or a family member are a victim of sexual abuse in Connecticut, contact Jainchill & Beckert, LLC, for a free, confidential consultation with one of our skilled lawyers. Our law firm has more than 55 years of combined legal experience. We are trusted throughout the state for providing legal representation to hard-working clients, including in personal injury cases involving sex abuse. Give us a call or contact us online to discuss how our law firm can help.
