San Jose Sexual Abuse Lawyer

As a survivor of sexual abuse, it may be difficult to speak out and hold your abuser accountable out of fear of retaliation. But our team of San Jose sexual abuse lawyers is here, and we believe you. We’re ready to fight for you and your rights so you can begin your healing journey.

Our San Jose personal injury lawyers at Arias Sanguinetti | Trial Lawyers work on a contingency basis, so you don’t have to worry about your financial situation being a barrier to legal help. We offer a free case evaluation so we can determine how our team can help you.

Understanding the California Child Victims Act

In 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom passed the California Child Victims Act, which expands the protections for survivors of child sex abuse. Previously, childhood sexual abuse survivors had a much shorter period to file, which led to many cases being dismissed. But now, if you’re a childhood sexual abuse survivor, the legal process now allows you to file a civil claim up until the age of 40.

And even if you’re older than 40 years old, you have five years from the time you discovered the effects of the childhood sexual abuse to file. Another way The California Child Victims Act can help you in your sexual assault case is by holding multiple parties accountable through legal action via civil lawsuit. Previously, survivors could only file against the sole perpetrator, but now, you can file claims against an institution, school district, or other liable parties for negligence, emotional damage, poor hiring practices, policy failures to prevent abuse, and several other aspects. This widens the pool of negligent parties, which can result in greater financial recovery and justice for you. Our law firm of attorneys serving Santa Clara county can help you through the process.

What to Do After You’re Sexually Abused in an Environment You Trust

When you experience sexual abuse in an institutional setting, it can be especially traumatic. Some of the sexual abuse claims our San Jose sexual abuse lawyer can help you with include:

Catholic Church Clergy

Sexual abuse within the Catholic Church clergy refers to instances where people, often children or other vulnerable individuals, have been subjected to sexual misconduct or assault by members of the clergy, such as priests or other religious officials. This abuse has caused significant harm and has exposed systemic issues within the Church.

Child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church has been a significant scandal that has shaken the trust and faith of many. People often suffer from severe emotional and psychological trauma as a result of the abuse they endured. The abuse may involve various forms of sexual misconduct, such as unwanted touching, molestation, rape, or the viewing and distribution of explicit materials.

One of the most troubling aspects of child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church is the systemic cover-up and failure to address the issue adequately. In many cases, reports of abuse were suppressed or dismissed, allowing perpetrators to continue their abusive behavior and leaving survivors without justice or support. This purposeful ignorance has a devastating effect and leaves its mark on abuse victims. From job issues, parenting issues, and family issues to mental health issues and post-traumatic stress disorder, our clergy abuse lawyers know how this sort of traumatic experience can affect many lives at once.

Public School

Sexual abuse within public schools involves instances where students have experienced sexual misconduct or assault by teachers, school staff members, or other individuals affiliated with the school. These incidents represent a breach of trust and can have severe and long-lasting effects on the survivors.

The abuse within public schools can occur in various forms, ranging from inappropriate comments and advances to non-consensual sexual acts. This is especially dangerous in college-age individuals. College campus assaults have been on the rise. The perpetrators may exploit their positions of authority/popularity and manipulate vulnerable students through physical trauma, leaving them feeling violated, traumatized, and isolated. This sort of abuse can happen in any type of school. From elementary to medical school and college, schools must be diligent in not only swiftly dealing with abuse accusations, but schools must also be proactive in preventing them from happening.

Boy Scouts

Sexual abuse within the Boy Scouts refers to cases where scouts have endured sexual misconduct or sexual violence by adult leaders, volunteers, or other individuals associated with the organization. These incidents have highlighted the need for increased vigilance and safeguarding measures to protect the well-being of scouts.

One of the concerning aspects of the sexual abuse within the Boy Scouts is the failure to address and prevent these incidents adequately. There have been allegations that the organization was aware of the abuse but failed to take appropriate action, allowing the responsible parties to continue their abusive behavior and putting more scouts at risk.

After you’ve experienced sexual abuse, reach out to a trusted family member or mandatory reporter that you feel comfortable telling your story. Then, you should get in touch with our team of sexual assault lawyers in San Jose.

San Jose Sexual Abuse Lawyer Near Me 310-844-9696

What Damages Can You Recover as a Survivor of Sexual Abuse?

As a survivor of sexual abuse, our San Jose sexual abuse attorney at Arias Sanguinetti | Trial Lawyers is ready to help you get compensation for your losses and hold the abusers accountable. We understand that these types of abuse can impact your daily life. From life challenges like complex trauma, mood disorders, and life transitions, abuse can weave itself into every area of your life. It’s a long-term healing process that we’re ready to help you through. Our advocacy for victims is known. However, you must have the financial support you need to accomplish emotional recovery and physical recovery. Some of the economic and non-economic civil damages you can recover include:

• Medical expenses: You can seek monetary damages for any medical expenses you’ve incurred due to abuse. You can also seek compensation for the cost of mental health struggles, which can include services like art therapy, counseling, psychological needs, and other healthcare services related to the abuse. This includes both past and future expenses necessary for your physical and mental well-being.
• Pain and suffering: Damages for pain and suffering aim to reflect the emotional distress, trauma, and psychological impact caused by the abuse. It encompasses the mental anguish, anxiety, depression, and other negative effects you have experienced as a result of the abuse.
• Lost income and earning capacity: If the abuse has caused you to miss work, go to career counseling, lose job opportunities, or experience a diminished earning capacity, you may be eligible to seek compensation for job struggles you’ve faced or income you will continue to lose in the future.
• Rehabilitation and rehabilitation services: In cases where the abuse has resulted in physical or cognitive impairments, you may be entitled to damages to cover the costs of rehabilitation services, assistive devices, and necessary accommodations to aid in your recovery and daily functioning.
• Punitive damages: In some instances, punitive damages may be awarded in addition to compensatory damages. These damages serve as a form of punishment for the abuser or institution responsible for the abuse and are meant to deter similar misconduct in the future.

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Contact Us for Support and Legal Representation After Sexual Abuse in San Jose

At Arias Sanguinetti | Trial Lawyers, our award-winning San Jose sexual abuse attorneys will work with you to take action against perpetrators and support you emotionally along the way. We never pressure you because this is your journey to healing. We are focused on providing assistance to victims, and forming meaningful relationships with our clients.