Are you a victim of sexual abuse? Has someone you love been abused sexually? Belal Hamideh can help. As an experienced Long Beach sexual abuse attorney, he has been able to help victims receive justice. Sexual abuse is intolerable and must be dealt with properly. In addition to criminal law, those who have been abused may be able to receive damages for filing a civil claim against their abusers.
Taking legal action against an abuser can make it possible to receive compensation for what you’ve had to suffer, yes. But, it also can protect others from dealing with the threat of abuse from the sexual offender. No matter where the abuse took place or how it occurred, Belal Hamideh can represent you aggressively to help you receive the compensation you deserve. For a free consultation, contact Belal today.
What is a Legal Definition of Sexual Abuse?
In legal terms, “sexual abuse” is defined as “the use, persuasion, inducement, enticement, or coercion of any child to engage in, or assist any other person to engage in, any sexually explicit conduct or any simulation of such conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such conduct; or rape, and in cases of the caretaker or inter-familial relationships, statutory rape, molestation, prostitution, or another form of sexual exploitation of children, or incest with children.”
If any of the above has occurred, we can help. That said, sexual abuse, unfortunately, affects more than just children. It can also affect adults and people of any age, from any walk of life, in any environment. We believe that clients have a case when they have to deal with any unwanted sexual activity. It could be that perpetrators use force to initiate sexual activity, make threats, or just take advantage of a sexual abuse victim who isn’t able to give consent.
You shouldn’t have to just suffer through the affect effects of sexual abuse. We can represent you as aggressively as possible, in pursuit of the damages you should receive for everything you’ve had to deal with.
What Can I Do If I Suffered Sexual Abuse?
Unfortunately, sexual abuse can have many negative side effects, on not just your health but your quality of life as well. Belal Hamideh can represent you, to help you receive the compensation you deserve, yes, but we can also help our clients to heal as well. We can do that in a variety of ways.
Over the years, Belal has been able to put together a network of medical professionals he can trust. Doctors, psychologists, therapists, and others – treat our clients, helping them to heal physically, mentally, and emotionally. Now, they can do the same for you. Moreover, they also can treat you without any out-of-pocket costs, receiving their payment from your eventual settlement.
The first course of action, difficult as it may be, is to speak up. Seeking medical attention, whether through us or at your local hospital/care center is crucially important. Reaching out for support can help you as well as those you love.
Should you be dealing with the sexual abuse of your child, you want to prioritize their safety and well-being through coping mechanisms. That includes processing their experience in a manner that they prefer, which could be journaling, therapy, meditation, and more. We understand how sensitive these cases are. So, we know how to handle every aspect in a manner that’s discreet and professional, always operating with the utmost sensitivity.
Reaching out to our tried and true Long Beach sexual abuse attorney can help. As difficult as it can be, the sooner you do so, the sooner an attorney can assist with every step of the process. Should you or someone you know have been victimized by a sexual abuse crime, reaching out to an attorney is an important step.
How Long Do I Have to File a Sexual Abuse Claim in California?
In the state of California, the victim’s age at the time of the abuse is related to the time limit. As of this writing, childhood victims of sexual assault have within five years of the discovery of the abuse or until their 40th birthday to file a civil lawsuit. Victims may have the right to claim treble damages if the childhood abuse was covered up. Additionally, for claims that would have been barred by the statute of limitations, the law does allocate a three-year window for the revival of those claims.
For victims who were abused after they turned 18, a lawsuit must be commenced within three years from the date the victim discovers or reasonably should have discovered any illness or injury resulting from the act, assault within the intent to commit an act, or attempted act of sexual assault.
Additionally, a lawsuit must be commenced within ten years from the date of the last act, assault with the intent to commit an act, or attempted act of sexual assault. In cases of this nature, the sooner you reach out to an attorney about how they can help, the better.
Why Victims Sometimes Don’t Report Sexual Abuse
Unfortunately, many find it challenging to report sexual assault. Being concerned reporting it is common for sexual assault victims from all walks of life. The most common reason for this is, perhaps, that they know the perpetrator. Two out of three sexual abuse victims know their abusers. That doesn’t make the abuse OK or legal.
They may have been in a relationship with the perpetrator or are in a relationship with them right now. Remember: consent is always required, in every situation, no matter how much you know someone or how sexually engaged you are with them. If you gave consent over the weekend, consent will still be necessary on Monday. You can absolutely bring a sexual abuse claim against someone you are in a relationship with.
Some are reluctant to come forward because the perpetrator stopped before finishing the assault or they just ran away. Attempted rape is still illegal. Just because a perpetrator stopped and left, that does not make their actions legal or acceptable. Such a person should still have claims brought against them. This is also true if you do not suffer any physical injuries.
Just because there are no visible, obvious injuries on your body, that does not mean you are precluded from having a sexual abuse case. Far from it. Indeed, a majority of victims suffer no visible injuries from sexual abuse. It’s crucial to get medical attention after abuse because many of the injuries you may have suffered may not be visible but rather are internal.
This leads to another reason that many don’t report their sexual assault: they’re afraid that law enforcement professionals won’t believe them. Remember: law enforcement professionals have taken a pledge to protect the public. They have a duty to listen to every complaint before them, transcribe it, take it seriously, and investigate it comprehensively. You can and should bring sexual abuse cases to law enforcement.
So many who have suffered sexual abuse don’t speak up because they fear that they themselves will get in trouble. Whether it’s from their parents, law enforcement, their significant other, boss, or someone else, they fear reprisal for reporting abuse. It’s natural to be reticent if you were underage drinking or engaged in sexual activity with someone who is not your partner or spouse. However, sexual assault is always a crime.
No matter what you were doing at the time of the sexual assault, no matter the circumstances, it’s a crime. No action you did take or, consequently, did not take, ever makes sexual assault legal if you never gave consent. An experienced sexual abuse attorney can treat your case with the sensitivity and discretion it deserves, helping you to receive a desired outcome.
What Happens if I Was Abused at Work or Church? Are They Liable?
When pursuing a lawsuit against a sexual abuse perpetrator, there are often multiple options. The perpetrator is, of course, liable for their abusive actions. However, often, they aren’t the only party that’s liable. For example, it could be that institutions such as your work or the church are also liable. They put your abuser in the position they were in. Often, unfortunately, they may have “looked the other way,” ignored complaints, and so forth.
Over the years, many different institutions have been found to be liable for sexual abuse (in addition to the individual perpetrators). Businesses of all kinds have, as have organizations such as schools, daycares, churches, youth organizations, and hospitals. This story contains an example of the last, where a hospital was held responsible for sexual abuse.
Each of those institutions has a duty of care. Specifically, they have a duty of care to children. They’re supposed to safeguard and protect children. When children are abused by members of those institutions, then those institutions may be liable. Whether this duty of care was breached by negligence or recklessness, when a minor is abused, they may be held liable for it.
Contact an Experienced Long Beach Sexual Abuse Attorney
A case involving sexual abuse is different than other cases. These cases have legal challenges that require an attorney with experience. That way, you and your case always receive the care, discretion, sensitivity, respect, and attention that it deserves. Sexual abuse is a serious crime. It must be responded to and legal action must be taken.
Whoever was responsible for the harm that you or your loved ones have had to suffer must answer for it. Moreover, they should absolutely have to pay compensation, for all of the damages that you and yours have had to suffer. The repercussions from these cases can be dire indeed, with serious ramifications for your future. While it can seem like no amount of compensation can make up for the crime, it can help to start the healing process.
That’s one more way that we can help. When you reach out to us, we can sit down with you for a free consultation. From there, we can figure out the next course of action. If you or a member of your family requires a doctor, psychologist, therapist, or any other kind of medical professional, we can help you to procure that.
By that same token, we can take your case and get started as quickly as possible. We can do a thorough investigation to gather all of the necessary evidence to help you receive everything that you deserve. We can help you to receive compensation for medical treatment, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and potentially many other kinds of damages. We have a proven track record of helping folks who have been in the exact position you are right now.
Se Habla Espanol. To schedule a free consultation with Belal Hamideh, Long Beach sexual abuse attorney with experience, through our site or calling.