The impact of childhood sexual abuse may continue into adulthood, affecting mental health, daily life, and personal relationships. While financial compensation cannot undo the harm, filing a civil lawsuit may support your recovery and hold the responsible parties accountable. A San Diego child sexual abuse lawyer can help you file.
With over 300 years of combined experience, the team at Arias Sanguinetti is proud to stand alongside survivors as they seek justice. Our San Diego sexual abuse lawyers are committed to offering legal representation designed to prioritize your safety, dignity, and emotional well-being. If you or a loved one were sexually abused as a child, contact us today for a free case review.
Advocating for Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse in San Diego
Arias Sanguinetti has spent years fighting for survivors throughout San Diego County and beyond. We’ve represented individuals who bravely came forward after experiencing abuse by trusted adults such as educators, clergy, and coaches.
In many cases, this abuse occurred in environments meant to protect children, like classrooms, churches, and youth programs. When those responsible fail to act on warning signs, survivors may have a civil claim.
In California, school and medical staff are mandatory reporters. Failing to report suspected abuse may create liability for institutions.
At Arias Sanguinetti, we believe every survivor’s story matters. Whether the abuse occurred decades ago or more recently, your experience is valid and deserves to be heard. Our San Diego personal injury lawyers handle a broad spectrum of child sexual abuse cases, including:
- Abuse by trusted figures: We represent clients who were harmed by authority figures such as teachers, coaches, doctors, therapists, foster parents, and clergy members.
- Institutional negligence: Schools, churches, camps, and athletic organizations can be held civilly liable if they ignored warning signs, enabled abusers, or failed to implement proper safety measures.
- Foster care and group home abuse: Children in state care are especially vulnerable to exploitation. We pursue claims against government agencies and private contractors who failed to protect these children.
- Sexual exploitation and statutory rape: California law forbids sexual activity with minors. We hold perpetrators accountable for any form of manipulation, coercion, or exploitation.
- Delayed reporting and adult survivors: Many survivors wait years to disclose what happened, often not until adulthood. We help ensure their right to take legal action is preserved under California law.
We handle every child sexual abuse case with discretion, respect, and an unwavering commitment to putting the survivor’s needs first.
How Our Sexual Abuse Lawyers in San Diego Support Survivors
Filing a civil lawsuit after surviving childhood sexual abuse can be an emotional and overwhelming process. To ease the burden you face, we approach each case with a survivor-centered philosophy. That means we adapt our legal strategy to meet your needs, your pace, and your comfort level.
Thorough Investigation
Even in cases where evidence is decades old or difficult to uncover, Arias Sanguinetti leaves no stone unturned. We work with forensic specialists, trauma-informed psychologists, and investigative experts to build strong, evidence-backed cases.
We rely on institutional records, witness testimony, behavioral evidence, and expert evaluations to support your claim, even in the absence of physical evidence.
Decades of Experience in Civil Sexual Abuse Litigation
Our attorneys have decades of combined experience successfully taking on religious organizations, public school systems, medical facilities, youth organizations, and government agencies. We understand the strategies these entities use to deny responsibility or intimidate survivors, and we know how to hold them accountable in court.
Survivor-Focused Representation
As we handle your case, you remain in control of the legal process. We will never pressure you to move forward before you’re ready, nor will we make decisions without your input. Our mission is to empower you, not retraumatize you, by ensuring you feel supported, informed, and respected every step of the way.
Personalized Attention
We never pass our clients off to junior staff, as is common with many other law firms. Instead, our child sexual abuse attorneys serving San Diego maintain a direct relationship with every survivor we represent. We take on a limited number of cases to ensure we can devote the time and attention your case deserves.
Skilled Negotiation and Representation in Court
We prepare every case for trial and pursue the outcome that best supports your recovery, whether through verdict or settlement.
We have recovered substantial verdicts and settlements in child sexual abuse cases, and our reputation as skilled litigators often leads to better outcomes at the negotiating table.
San Diego Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer Near Me 310-844-9696
Compensation Survivors Can Claim After Suffering Child Sexual Abuse
Survivors of child sexual abuse may be eligible for various types of damages. Identifying the specific damages you are eligible to recover is critical for ensuring you receive the full value of your claim.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover direct financial losses related to the abuse, and may include:
- Psychological counseling and therapy
- Medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Loss of income
- Diminished earning potential
- Educational disruption and associated costs
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages compensate for the intangible yet profound emotional and psychological harm caused by abuse, and may include:
- Pain and suffering, including mental anguish and emotional distress
- Permanent disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship or support
Punitive Damages
In cases where the perpetrator’s behavior was especially egregious, courts may award punitive damages. These damages are meant to punish the wrongdoer and deter future misconduct by others.
We work with a network of mental health professionals, vocational consultants, and economists to present a clear and compelling picture of the long-term harm caused by the abuse and its impact on your life.
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Time Limits for Filing a Child Sexual Abuse Lawsuit in California
California law has made significant strides in supporting survivors of child sexual abuse by expanding the timeframes available for filing civil claims. Understanding the statute of limitations for these cases is critical, as missing these deadlines could prevent you from pursuing your case.
Under Assembly Bill 218, survivors have until age 40, or within five years of discovering that what they experienced was sexual abuse, to file a civil lawsuit.
In addition, Assembly Bill 452 (AB 452) removes the statute of limitations for certain cases of childhood sexual abuse. However, this removal applies only to abuse that occurred on or after January 1, 2024. For incidents prior to 2024, the earlier time limits still apply.
Survivors pursuing a government claim typically have just six months to file under California law.
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Speak With a Child Sexual Abuse Attorney in San Diego Today
At Arias Sanguinetti, we are passionate about helping survivors take back their power and find justice on their own terms. We recognize the strength it takes to come forward and are here to stand with you, offering legal knowledge and personal support. If you’re considering your legal options or ready to take action, we are ready to help.
Since opening our doors over 40 years ago, we have been obtaining meaningful results in sexual abuse cases, and we’re prepared to fight for you. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation. When you’re ready to speak, we’re ready to listen.
Call or text 310-844-9696 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
