Have you or someone you love been a victim of abuse? An experienced Long Beach abuse lawyer, Belal Hamideh has helped many abuse victims to be able to receive justice and compensation. In addition to criminal consequences, those who have been abused victims may also be able to receive damages by filing a civil claim against those who abused them.
Beyond receiving compensation for their abuse, filing a civil claim against an abuser can protect others. By representing clients as aggressively as possible, Belal has shown abusers that there are consequences for their actions. Regardless of where or how the abuse occurred, Belal can work with you to ensure that you receive what you deserve.
For a free case evaluation, message Belal through this site or call. Hablamos Espanol.
Abuse Cases Belal Hamideh Handles
Over the years, Belal has represented many abuse victims. They were in the exact place that you are right now: unsure about what comes next. Among the victims he has represented include those who suffered:
Sexual Abuse
Anyone who has had to deal with unwanted sexual activity very well may have been a victim of sexual abuse. If someone used force to initiate sexual activity, threaten you, or take advantage of someone who was unable to give consent, reach out.
Child Abuse
In the state of California, it is illegal to inflict physical harm on a child. If your child was physically, emotionally, or sexually abused, contact Belal.
Elder Abuse
We trust nursing homes, medical care providers, caregivers, and the like to treat our elders with the respect and care they deserve. When your loved one has been abused or neglected, we can help.
What is Sexual Abuse?
Essentially, sexual abuse is “any sexual contact that a person suffers, submits to, participates in, or performs as a result of force of violence, threats, fear, or deception or without having legally consented to the act.”
If the above happened to you, we encourage you to reach out to us. In fact, if you even believe there is a chance that the above happened to you, it’s worth it to contact Belal and our team. So often, someone isn’t 100% sure whether or not they were a victim of sexual abuse. Then, after consulting with an experienced attorney who understands the law and listens to what really happened, the abuse victim comes to understand that they were abused, they do have a case, and they deserve restitution. 
Sexual abuse isn’t something that you should just have to suffer through. Too often, people don’t speak up about their sexual abuse, whether it’s because they know their abuser, they have a relationship with them, or even that there are no obvious wounds on their body, something similar.
Attempted sexual assault is a serious crime. Most sexual abuse victims have no visible injuries. If you believe there is even the slightest chance that you have been abused sexually, it is in your best interest to reach out to an attorney who can help.
What to Do If You Have Been Sexually Abused
As difficult as it can be, your first step should be to speak up. Seek medical attention. Do so as quickly as you can. If you do not have a medical care provider (or one you can trust), Belal has a team of reliable medical professionals he’s built over the years. This collection of doctors, therapists, and others can treat you physically, emotionally, and mentally. Moreover, they do this while working on contingency, just as Belal does. So, you won’t pay anything out of pocket. Instead, their payment will come out of your eventual settlement.
If it is your child who has been sexually abused, then we recommend you do everything in your power to prioritize their safety and well-being. Beyond helping them to receive medical attention, also seek out professionals who can assist your child with their coping mechanisms. Therapy, journaling, meditation, and more – they can work with your child to help find the healthiest way of processing their experience. We can help here as well.
Remember: no matter what was going on at the time of your sexual abuse, the circumstances, or anything of that nature, it is illegal. If you didn’t give consent, it’s illegal.
Belal and the team here understand just how sensitive cases like this are. As such, we treat every aspect with the discretion, sensitivity, and professionalism that you and yours deserve.
If you have further questions about how Belal can help sexual abuse victims, please do not hesitate to reach out.
What is the Definition of Child Abuse?
Child abuse occurs in four categories. The most common is physical abuse. Regardless of anyone’s intent, if a child is injured from being physically struck, thrown, beaten, shaken, or anything of that nature, the child has been abused physically. It doesn’t matter what was going on, if a child suffers broken bones or even bruises, they have been physically abused and action must be taken.
An all-too-common type of child abuse is neglect. If a child’s basic needs aren’t met by those who are supposed to meet them, then the child is a victim of neglect. Examples of neglect include when a child isn’t properly cared for, supervised, and the like, but they also include if a child isn’t provided with education or even if they’re exposed to domestic violence.
Any use of a child for sexual gratification is considered sexual abuse. This can include indecent exposure, rape, child prostitution, or creating pornography through exploiting a child among other forms of sexual abuse. If a child has been persuaded, coerced, or induced to do anything above, then the child has been a sexual abuse victim.
Many may not realize it, but it is possible to sue for the emotional abuse of a child. Perhaps the most common type of emotional abuse is subjecting a child to an ongoing pattern of treatment which negatively impacts the child. Those ongoing patterns of treatment could include threatening the child, the withholding of affection and support, unnecessary confinement, and even excessive criticism.
If you believe that there is any chance your child was a victim of anything in this section, it’s worth it to reach out to us. In a safe environment, Belal will talk to you about your case and determine how exactly we can help.
Reporting Child Abuse
The government maintains hotlines at all times, day and night, to call if you believe a child’s safety and health are at risk. Here in California, the toll-free number is (800) 540-4000. This number is staffed by trained social workers who can direct you on what to do next. If you are outside of California, find the number for where you are right here.
Once you’ve talked to those authorities and the child has been removed from a dangerous situation, seek professional medical care for your child even if it seems like they have no external injuries. After the child is put safe, then you can reach out to us.
Who’s Liable for Child Abuse?
The perpetrator. The perpetrator can be sued. Whoever abused your child, Belal can bring a suit against them. You can do this even if, in a criminal case, the perpetrator was found “not guilty.” Belal can work with you to file a civil lawsuit for damages from the child abuse case.
That said, other parties may be liable in addition to the perpetrator. If, for example, your child was abused at church, then you could bring a suit against the church. If your child was abused at school, the school and those who should have protected your child could be sued.
When you reach out to Belal for a free case evaluation, Belal will draw upon his experience and determine all who may be liable for your child’s abuse. Then, we’ll bring a suit against all who may have been involved so that justice is done.
Signs of Elder Abuse
There are multiple types of elder abuse. Unfortunately, elders can be abused physically, emotionally, or even financially. It’s important to note that intent does not matter in terms of elder abuse. If your loved one was abused and neglected, then they were a victim of elder abuse.
Physical Elder Abuse
When your elder is abused physically, you may notice injuries, bruises that can’t be explained, sprains, and other forms of impairment. If they suddenly have new wounds or they seem like their health has dropped precipitously since moving into a nursing home/being helped by a caregiver, then they may have been physically abused.
Neglect
This is an all-too-common type of elder abuse. If the nursing home is unsanitary, unclean, or your loved one has bedsores, is constantly dehydrated, or something similar, then it’s very possible that they’re a victim of neglect.
Financial Abuse
It may be difficult to believe, but nursing home staff members have stolen elder’s belongings or even, in some cases, deceived them so as to get access to bank accounts, checks, and more. If you see that some of your loved one’s personal items have disappeared or aren’t accounted for, then it’s entirely possible that they’re a victim of financial abuse.
The same holds true if your loved one has made sudden changes to their will, title, power of attorney, or other forms of legal documentation.
Sexual Abuse
Signs of sexual abuse of the elderly include having problems sitting or walking, having sustained a pelvic injury, any kind of pain, irritation, or even bleeding of the anus and genitals, among others. Underwear that has been stained or torn could be a sign as well.
If your loved one has begun having panic attacks, withdrawn emotionally or socially, or has been engaging in unusual sexual activities, then those are behavioral signs that they may have been a victim of sexual abuse.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse of the elderly includes humiliating them, intimidating them, or even just trying to make them afraid. The staff will almost invariably, if they’re engaging in this behavior, do so when you are not around.
You may not be able to see the emotional abuse of your elder, but you very well may be able to see the signs. If your loved one has dramatic mood swings or sudden changes in behavior, then they may have been a victim of emotional abuse.
If you believe there is even the slightest chance that your loved one has had to suffer through this or anything similar, it’s worth it to reach out to Belal.
Who is Liable for the Abuse of Your Elder?
The perpetrator who abused your elder is liable. However, they may not be the only party that is liable. For example, the nursing home that hired them (or the caregiver company that did so) very well may be liable in that they hired an abuser and then let them work with your loved one.
When you schedule a free case evaluation with Belal, he’ll go over your situation from there.
Once he’s taken your case, we’ll get right into action with a full investigation. From there, we’ll determine who all is liable and then swiftly bring a case against all responsible.
How Long Do You Have to File an Abuse Case?
In regards to sexual abuse cases in California, the statute of limitation is related to the victim’s age at the time of the abuse.
If a child suffered sexual abuse, they have within five years of the discovery of the abuse or until their 40th birthday to file a civil lawsuit. In the event that the childhood abuse was covered up, then victims may have the right to claim treble damages.
However, the law does allocate a three-year window for the revival of claims that would have been barred by the statute of limitations.
A lawsuit must be commenced within three years from the date the victim discovers or reasonably should have discovered any illness resulting from the act, assault within the intent to commit an act, or attempted act of sexual assault if the victim was abused after they turned 18.
A lawsuit must be commenced within ten years from the date of the last act of sexual assault, attempted act of sexual assault, or assault with the intent to commit an act.
In an elderly abuse case, you have two years from the date of the abuse to file a suit in California.
All of the above having been said, it’s worth it to reach out to Belal as soon as you can. The sooner you reach out to an attorney who can help, the sooner you can receive justice.
What Compensation Can You and Your Family Receive in an Abuse Case?
Compensation for abuse includes economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include compensation for medical expenses that are a direct result of the abuse. This can include doctor’s visits, medications, therapy, rehab, and so forth.
This also includes any wages that the victim lost on account of being unable to work their job (or work their job in the same capacity) as a result of the abuse.
Non-economic damages include that which may not be easily quantified financially. This can include damages for emotional distress, pain, suffering, loss of quality of life, loss of consortium, and similar forms of damages.
Punitive damages are those which are designed to punish the abuser, those who are liable, to make certain that they do not do it again.
Belal and the team here will do everything in our power to help you receive all of the compensation that you deserve.
An Abuse Lawyer Who Helps Victims
Belal Hamideh is always on the side of those who have suffered abuse. As such, he and the entire team here work on contingency. You do not pay for Belal out of your pocket.
Instead, his payment comes out of your eventual settlement. Moreover, you do not pay unless we win. Belal wins 99% of the time. Now, he can put that experience to work for you.
If you or someone that you love suffered abuse, or you believe that may have happened, contact Belal for a free case evaluation through our site or by giving us a call.