Child sexual abuse can have devastating effects, such as PTSD, depression, and substance abuse, on children and families. To help you get justice and aid your child's mental health recovery, a San Antonio child sexual abuse lawyer from Dolman Law Group can advocate for you and your family.
Potential Signs of Child Sexual Abuse
If you believe your child is a victim of sexual abuse, you may see the following signs:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Outburst of anger
- Self-harm
- Feelings of guilt, shame, or even blame
- Eating disorders
- Bedwetting
- Sleep disorders
- Inability to create and keep healthy relationships
- Avoidance changing clothes or bathing in front of other people
While this list is far from exhaustive, these signs may be a good indication or starting place for a conversation with your child. The sooner you notice them, the sooner your child can get the aid they need following the sexual abuse.
Potential Injuries from Child Sexual Abuse
Physical abuse can accompany sexual abuse. Possible injuries from sexual abuse may include:
- Soft tissue injuries such as bruises
- Genital injuries
- Nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain
- Sexually transmitted infections
Forms of Compensation You Can Seek in Your Child Sexual Abuse Case
Recovering from sexual abuse is unlike any other accident or injury. Complete healing will take time and substantial effort on the part of the child and their support system. When filing a legal claim for compensation following child sexual abuse, you may be able to seek a financial recovery for the following expenses:
- Past and future medical expenses, including prescriptions, therapy, ambulance rides, etc.
- Pain and suffering, including discomfort from injuries, PTSD, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, etc.
Each child sexual abuse case is unique, and there may be several types of expenses you can claim as part of your legal claim. A San Antonio child sexual abuse lawyer from Dolman Law Group will be able to include all costs to help earn you the highest compensation package possible.
The Texas Statute of Limitations on Child Sexual Abuse Cases
When it comes to child sexual abuse cases, victims need help moving forward, and a good way to do that is to seek justice. However, for your attorney to be effective, they must be familiar with Texas laws and procedures, such as the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations determines how long a victim has to file a sexual abuse lawsuit.
The deadline varies depending on the type of offense. In some cases, the claimant has 30 years from the victim's 18th birthday to file a civil lawsuit, per Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.0045. In other instances, there is no statute of limitations. In any case, it's best to contact our firm as soon as possible to avoid missing the deadline. Failure to comply could jeopardize your right to recover compensation.
Many victims do not realize they were abused or are too scared to share the abuse until a much later time in their life. At Dolman Law Group, we encourage all victims of sexual abuse to come forward and share their stories; not only do you deserve to be heard, but you may be due compensation for your injuries and suffering.
What a Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer on Our Team Serving San Antonio Can Do
You can choose to file a civil or criminal case against the abuser on your own, but be prepared to have a legal fight like no other. When you hire a lawyer from our team, you automatically have someone fighting for you and not against you.
When you are a survivor of sexual abuse or the parent/guardian of a survivor, you do not need to investigate the details of the abuse and the life of the abuser. Focus on your recovery and leave the legal legwork to us.
Services Your Lawyer Can Provide
When you find out your child has suffered sexual abuse, you may not know what to do next. We encourage you to contact our San Antonio office and allow us to handle the difficult legal tasks so you can support and aid your child at home. At Dolman Law Group, your San Antonio child sexual abuse lawyer will do the following:
- Investigate the sexual abuse claim
- Gather evidence of sexual abuse
- Communicate with the abuser and their lawyer about possible compensation packages
- File all legal paperwork
- Speak with experts regarding the long-term effects of the abuse
- Communicate with you and your family on case proceedings
- Speak with medical experts regarding the injuries
- Attend negotiations and work towards a settlement
- Represent you in court, if necessary
The Cost of a San Antonio Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer on Our Team
The last thing that you want to worry about when seeking legal aid is how you will pay for your lawyer's services. At Dolman Law Group, our firm works on a contingency basis. A contingency basis allows clients to keep their money by not paying upfront legal fees or high hourly costs. We will only accept payment if we win or settle your case.
We understand that seeking justice is important to your recovery, and we do not want legal fees to stand in the way of your possible compensation package.
Dolman Law Group Is Ready to Represent You During Your Sexual Abuse Case
If you suspect that your child has been a victim of sexual abuse, or if you are a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, do not hesitate to contact Dolman Law Group for a free case review.
We will discuss your case, answer your questions, and establish a game plan moving forward. By the end of the consultation, we hope you will be confident in our San Antonio child sexual abuse lawyer and our approach to seeking justice for your child and family.
San Antonio Office
921 S St Mary's St #2
San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: (210) 361-2039