If you have experienced sexual abuse, you may have struggled to understand and accept what happened to you. It may have taken you years to connect problems in your life with the abuse you suffered, especially if you were a child when the incident occurred.
If you want to pursue justice for what happened to you, it is a good idea to speak with an attorney. The Rhode Island sexual abuse lawyers at Phillips Law Group will work to hold your abusers financially accountable and potentially pursue compensation from the institutions that did not protect you.
Survivors often require years to feel ready to seek justice. Unfortunately, a survivor who experienced sexual abuse as an adult has only three years from the date of the incident to file a lawsuit, which means many adult survivors have no path to justice. In contrast, the law allows survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file lawsuits well into adulthood.
Rhode Island General Laws § 9-1-51 permits someone who suffered sexual abuse as a minor to file a lawsuit up to 35 years after their 18th birthday, or until they reach age 53. If the statute of limitations had already expired for a survivor when this law went into effect in 2019, they can sue only the individual perpetrator. Before the new law passed, the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse was seven years from the date of the survivor’s 18th birthday or the date they discovered the injury, whichever was later.
If the statute of limitations for a particular sexual abuse claim had expired by July 1, 2019, a survivor under age 53 has a new opportunity to sue the individual perpetrators but cannot sue an institution such as a church or school. If the statute of limitations had not expired by that date, a survivor under age 53 can sue both the individual perpetrators and an organization that failed to protect them from abuse. Any childhood sexual abuse survivor in Rhode Island who is unsure of their right to sue should speak with an attorney at Phillips Law Group.
The idea of filing a lawsuit can be daunting. Having to retell the specifics of childhood sexual abuse can deter some people from bringing claims. However, many people find it empowering to own their history and force their abusers to own it too.
A survivor must tell their story and provide any evidence that they have. Depending on the circumstances, legal professionals may be able to corroborate a survivor’s story by subpoenaing records and interviewing others who knew the survivor at the relevant time.
There is no need for a criminal charge to precede a civil lawsuit. The attorneys at Phillips Law Group can proceed with a civil sexual abuse claim against a Rhode Island perpetrator and the institution that employed or supervised them even if the survivor never reported the abuse before now.
Many survivors of sex abuse feel the repercussions for the rest of their life. They may have difficulty in school even if they were formerly good students. Career success may be elusive, and survivors often have difficulty with interpersonal relationships.
Bringing a lawsuit cannot change these facts, but survivors may receive financial compensation for the damage the abuse caused. They can claim money for lost employment opportunities, psychological therapy and medication expenses, and other verifiable financial losses.
Survivors can also claim money for pain and suffering. A Rhode Island attorney from Phillips Law Group can present evidence linking challenges a survivor faced to their history of sexual abuse. In many cases, pain and suffering damages are the most substantial portion of a survivor’s financial recovery.
Seeking justice for sexual abuse is a brave action to take, but you may also find it to be very difficult. The Rhode Island sexual abuse lawyers at Phillips Law Group recognize how hard it can be and will respect your boundaries and privacy.
If you are considering legal action against the people and institutions who harmed you, contact Phillips Law Group and schedule a free consultation to explore your options for pursuing compensation.
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