Doral Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Child sexual abuse is undoubtedly one of the most despicable acts. Such a crime can result in trauma and long-lasting injuries throughout the victim's life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in every four girls and one in every thirteen boys experience child sexual abuse in their lives.

If someone sexually abused you or your child, you can file a lawsuit against the perpetrator and recover compensation for all damages. Consul a Doral child sexual abuse lawyer at Dolman Law Group to navigate the entire legal process.

Why Choose Our Doral Child Sexual Abuse Lawyers?

Choosing Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, for your Doral child sexual abuse case ensures you have a compassionate and experienced legal team by your side. Here are key reasons to trust Dolman Law Group with such sensitive matters:

Experience in sexual abuse cases: Dolman Law Group has a proven track record in handling sexual abuse cases, with a deep understanding of the legal intricacies involved in these sensitive matters.

Compassionate approach: The team at Dolman Law Group approaches each case with empathy and compassion, recognizing the emotional trauma that survivors endure. They create a supportive environment for survivors throughout the legal process.

Client-centered representation: Dolman Law Group prioritizes the well-being of survivors, ensuring that legal strategies align with their clients' best interests. They provide personalized attention, making clients an integral part of the legal process.

Investigative resources: The legal team conducts thorough investigations, gathering evidence, and working with experts to strengthen the case. This commitment to detail enhances the chances of a favorable outcome.

Negotiation and litigation skills: Dolman Law Group is skilled in negotiating settlements but is also prepared to litigate aggressively if necessary. Their attorneys are adept at navigating the complexities of both negotiation and courtroom advocacy.

Transparent communication: Open and transparent communication is a cornerstone of Dolman Law Group's client relationships. Clients are kept informed at every stage of the legal process, fostering trust and confidence.

Proven results: Dolman Law Group has achieved notable results in child sexual abuse cases, securing justice for survivors and holding perpetrators accountable. This history of success demonstrates their commitment to achieving favorable outcomes.

When facing the legal and emotional challenges of a Doral child sexual abuse case, Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, stands out as a reliable and compassionate legal partner dedicated to seeking justice for survivors. Consult our legal team today. All case evaluations are confidential.

How Can a Doral Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer on Our Team Help?

Law enforcement agencies and prosecutors usually prioritize all sexual abuse crimes. However, sexual abuse involving children is particularly heinous, raising public demand for action. All cases involving child sexual abuse in Florida may lead to severe punishment. Even though taking legal action against child sexual abuse perpetrators doesn't erase the trauma the victim and their families experienced, it does bring justice.

If you believe that your child has suffered sexual abuse, don't hesitate to come forward and have your voice heard. We understand that you may be concerned about your child reliving such a horrific experience. That's why you may want a child sexual abuse lawyer to represent you throughout the case.

A Doral child sexual abuse lawyer on our team will do the following to help your case:

• Advise you on the most appropriate legal route to take
• Conduct a thorough investigation and gather enough evidence to connect the perpetrator to the crime
• Handle all legal paperwork required in the case on your behalf
• Call upon critical witnesses to testify on your child's behalf
• File a lawsuit against the perpetrator on time
• Take your case to trial and seek closure in court

What Qualifies as Child Sexual Abuse in Doral?

Child sexual abuse may involve various physical and non-physical actions. In many cases, child sexual abuse involves the manipulation and coercion of a minor for the perpetrator's sexual gratification. Child sexual abuse can happen once, or it can recur over many years. Sometimes, the victims may not even understand their sexual abuse until years later.

The following are some behaviors that qualify as child sexual abuse:

• Exposing one's genitals to a minor
• Rape
• Inappropriate touching
• Sexual interaction with a child over the phone or the internet
• Using children to create pornography
• Forcing a child to watch pornography
• Psychological pressure to have sexual intercourse

Child sexual abuse doesn't always involve violent behavior and force. Sometimes, it takes the shape of lying to or manipulating a minor to engage in sexual activity. Under Florida Statutes § 794.05, no minor under the age of 16 can give consent to sexual activity. Therefore, regardless of how the abuser initiated the sexual activity, any sexual misconduct against a minor is punishable by law. It may lead to heavy fines, jail time, or both.

Our Doral Sexual Abuse Lawyers Are Here For Your Family

Child sexual abuse and molestation do not only harm the child, but they can affect entire families. As parents face the costs of medical and psychological treatment for their child and witness the effects the abuse has on their child’s life, they often wonder about legal options. Can they hold the abuser civilly liable for their losses? Will any organization that enabled the abuse also be liable?

Dolman Law Group makes it our mission to help families struggling with sexual violence. We know you want your voice heard and justice for these heinous actions. For many years, abusers have escaped punishment for these crimes because organizations silenced survivors or threatened them to the point where they chose not to speak up.

Our child sexual abuse lawyer in Doral has experience providing support for families and holding perpetrators financially responsible for the harm they cause. We also hold third parties accountable for covering up, failing to report, or enabling sexual abuse in their institution. We work with community organizations and can help with resources for families suffering financial and personal difficulties related to the abuse.

Common Occurrences of Child Sexual Abuse

Children are trusting and vulnerable, and, unfortunately, sexual abuse happens in situations where you think your child will be safest. Sex abuse can often happen in the following instances:

• Boy or Girl Scouts
• Foster care abuse
• Clergy sexual abuse
• Sports teams
• School
• Daycare

Sexual abuse of children can happen nearly anywhere, but in many cases, it happens with someone the child trusts or knows. Many children do not understand what is happening or are too scared to tell their parents. Parents should always look for signs of possible abuse or changes in the child that can indicate they experienced something harmful. As a parent, if you suspect abuse, remove the child from the situation, report your suspicions to authorities, and call our Doral child sexual abuse lawyer.

In a previous year, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement reported that there were 8,404 sexual assault cases statewide. These are only the reported ones, which makes this number much higher when considering the unreported incidents. Regardless of the area's demographics or location, the abuse can happen anywhere. The higher the population in the county, the more sexual abuse crime occurred. The numbers break down as follows:

• 1,187 cases in Miami-Dade
• 723 cases in Broward County
• 510 case in Duval County
• 501 cases in Orange County

Doral is in Miami-Dade County, which means there can be a higher propensity for sexual abuse occurrences in the area.

Dolman Law Group's location near CityPlace Doral is convenient for families to seek legal help. We are familiar with local organizations and are not hesitant to hold them accountable for any harm to your child.

Who Can You File a Child Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against?

There are various parties you can file a child sexual abuse lawsuit against on behalf of a victim, including:

• A person who's known to the victim
• Employers of the perpetrator
• Foster parents of the victim
• The management of a children's home or school
• Government agencies
• Charitable foundations
• Social services department in charge of caring for the child
• A religious institution

Dangers of Child Sexual Abuse to Victims

Experiencing sexual abuse can have long-term physical and psychological problems for a child. These victims usually endure a difficult childhood, affecting how they interact with other people in general.

Here are other effects of child sexual abuse:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Unwanted pregnancies
• Bruising and force injuries
• Anxiety and depression
• Restraint injuries
• Sexually transmitted infections, such as herpes, syphilis, and gonorrhea
• Persistent feelings of shame and guilt
• Relationship and intimacy issues later in life
• Substance abuse
• Sleeping disorders
• Dissociative patterns
• Eating disorders

Many victims hesitate to come forward or are unaware that anything wrong occurred. Parents and loved ones should stay alert for any changes. The most common changes you may see include the following:

• Emotional withdrawal happens when your child distances themselves from loved ones. They can begin to avoid interacting with others or become secretive. This is their way of protecting themselves.
• Sleep disturbances may happen because of flashbacks or insomnia. In some instances, the child will begin to sleep more than usual. Night sweats and panic attacks are also common.
• Fear of specific people or places is a significant sign of something amiss. It can manifest as anxiety around particular situations, people, or places. It can manifest around the abuser or where the abuse happened, or even around people who are similar to the abuser.
• Changes in personal appearance that happen suddenly and without reason. That can manifest as the person wearing baggy clothing or wanting to hide their body. Other victims change their appearance as a coping mechanism to give them power back over their bodies.

If a loved one exhibits these signs, you should be supportive but try to delve deeper into why these issues are happening. If you find it is child sexual abuse, then you should speak to a Doral child sexual abuse attorney.

Why do Victims Take Longer to Come Forward?

Many child sexual abuse victims don't come forward to seek justice until they become adults. Per the Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, various factors influence the decision to disclose child sexual abuse later in life. They include:

• Being scared that no one will believe them
• Repressed memories of the abuse
• Failure to understand that what they went through was child sexual abuse and it was wrong
• Feeling ashamed and embarrassed of their experiences
• Trying to protect their families or the perpetrators
• Being scared of the perpetrator's power and level of influence in the society
• Struggling with the psychological effects of the abuse
• Being in love with the perpetrator and fearing that they'll lose them
• Not having the right words to describe the abuse

Differences Between a Civil Lawsuit and Criminal Prosecution

If someone suffers from sexual abuse, there can be two legal paths. The state handles a criminal case to punish the abuser for their actions. They can face fines, jail time, and more. You can file a civil sexual abuse lawsuit simultaneously with a criminal case.

The standard of proof will be different in each case. In criminal cases, plaintiffs must prove beyond a reasonable doubt, but a civil case involves a preponderance of evidence, which is a lower standard of proof.

A criminal conviction can often bolster your civil claim, but a conviction is also not necessary to succeed in civil court. You must have a Doral child sexual abuse lawyer who understands the intersection of criminal and civil actions against an abuser.

Victims of child sexual abuse can file civil legal claims to seek justice in the form of compensation. You might have the right to file a lawsuit, even after years have passed since your abuse. Never hesitate to speak to a Doral child sexual abuse attorney who can assess your options and review any criminal action against the abuser.

Civil claims can provide critical support for struggling sexual abuse victims or their families. These claims can allow you to recover compensation for any financial losses you incurred from the abuse, plus emotional distress. It will also account for ongoing pain and trauma due to the abuse. Criminal convictions do not adequately compensate victims for their pain and losses, so exploring your civil options is important.

Recoverable Damages in Child Sexual Abuse Cases

Child sexual abuse results in unparalleled trauma that victims may never recover from. Even though these cases are not about money, a Doral child abuse lawyer on our team can recover financial compensation to cover damages like:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Diminished life quality
• Punitive damages

Punitive Damages Can Be Available

These damages apply in exceptional circumstances involving egregious conduct, and sexual abuse regularly qualifies. In addition to your compensatory damages, these awards aim to punish the offender further for unacceptable behavior. For your claim to qualify for punitive damages, you must fall into the following circumstances:

• The person must have acted intentionally or with gross negligence. This element is usually satisfied in sexual abuse claims, as abuse is inherently intentional.
• Your attorney must prove the intentional conduct or gross negligence using clear and convincing evidence. This is a lower standard than for criminal cases but higher than the usual civil burden of proof.

One caveat is that the perpetrator's employer cannot be liable for paying punitive damages even if they are responsible for monetary compensation.

Our Doral sexual abuse lawyers can determine whether it is wise to take your case to court to seek punitive damages.

Where Does Compensation Come From?

When a child suffers sexual abuse, parents can pursue all available legal options. Many abusers do not have the funds to cover a civil judgment, so our Doral sexual abuse attorneys explore every option for compensation, including non-profits, churches, schools, and other organizations.

Additional liable parties can help garner full compensation. We might file a claim against:

• An establishment or organization that failed to provide security or that knowingly facilitated the assault 
• An employer if the perpetrator was within the scope of their employment when the assault happened. This often applies if a daycare employee molests your child.

Part of the evaluation and building your case is determining where the money will come from if you win a favorable settlement. This is one of the reasons victims and families should contact our team at Dolman Law Group.

The Statute of Limitations on Sexual Abuse Cases in Florida

Florida has different statutes of limitations for sexual abuse cases based on the type of crime that occurred. It can be difficult to identify the deadline that applies to you. So, you may want to speak to a Doral child sexual abuse lawyer to guide you on how to file a lawsuit as you focus on making a complete physical and mental recovery.

Sexual abuse cases have different deadlines depending on individual factors. Missing a deadline can result in losing your right to obtain compensation. Some statutes to be aware of include:

• Any individual sexually abused as a child can file a lawsuit until they reach the age of 25.
• If the victim was financially dependent on the abuser, they have four years after their dependency ends to file a lawsuit.
• If there are repressed memories, the person has up to four years after the memories return to take action.

Children who were under 16 when the abuse happened have no statute of limitations. However, you still should never wait to take legal action. The sooner you begin, the stronger the evidence.

Child sexual abuse cases are very traumatic, and it can take children longer to process and prepare to give their side of the story in a legal claim. However, parents who learn of the abuse can consult our Doral sexual abuse lawyers. We can bear the stress of the legal process for you and your child.

Contact Dolman Law Group for Your Free Case Review

To start pursuing justice for a child sexually abused, it may be best to speak to a Doral personal injury lawyer at Dolman Law Group. Our team will do everything possible to ensure that the perpetrator is held accountable for their crimes and that you get closure. Call us at (305) 930-7688 for your free case review.