At Arias Sanguinetti, we understand the courage it takes for survivors to seek justice for sexual abuse. No two sexual abuse cases are the same. Regardless of the circumstances, your experience matters, and you deserve to be heard.
Our Santa Clara sexual abuse lawyers are here to provide compassionate support and strong legal advocacy, helping you seek accountability and the resources needed to move forward. Our team brings decades of experience, including obtaining justice for hundreds of survivors of USC OB/GYN George Tyndall.
When you are ready to reach out to us, our Santa Clara personal injury lawyers will listen to your story and help you seek justice.
Our Santa Clara Lawyers Represent Survivors in a Variety of Sexual Abuse Cases
Our Santa Clara sexual abuse attorneys are committed to representing survivors in a wide range of cases, regardless of the circumstances or perpetrators involved. Sexual abuse can happen in many settings and take many forms, each with devastating consequences.
Our team of lawyers has helped survivors seek the justice and compensation they deserve in the following cases.
Institutional Sexual Abuse
Institutional sexual abuse occurs in environments where organizations have a responsibility to protect individuals under their care, such as schools, churches, workplaces, sports organizations, or foster care systems.
Perpetrators may include authority figures like teachers, clergy, coaches, or supervisors. Institutions that fail to prevent or address abuse may also bear responsibility.
Child Sexual Abuse
Child sexual abuse involves any sexual act or exploitation of a minor. This can occur in settings like schools, youth programs, religious institutions, or even within the home.
Perpetrators may include family members, authority figures, or trusted adults. These cases often involve long-term trauma, and survivors deserve justice no matter how much time has passed.
Rape
Rape is non-consensual sexual intercourse, often involving coercion, force, or intimidation. It can happen in any setting, including homes, workplaces, public spaces, or social gatherings. Perpetrators may include strangers, acquaintances, coworkers, or even friends and family members. Survivors have the right to seek justice regardless of the circumstances.
Statutory Rape
Statutory rape occurs when an adult engages in sexual activity with a minor who cannot legally consent, even if the act appears consensual. These cases often involve authority figures, older individuals in a position of power, or predatory adults exploiting a minor’s vulnerability.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment involves unwelcome sexual advances, comments, or conduct that create a hostile environment. It frequently occurs in workplaces but can also happen in schools or other professional settings.
Perpetrators often include supervisors, coworkers, or others in positions of influence. Survivors can hold both the harasser and, in some cases, the employer accountable.
How Our Santa Clara Sexual Abuse Attorneys Can Help
No matter the type of sexual abuse, our Santa Clara, CA, sexual abuse lawyers are dedicated to standing by survivors and fighting for justice. We handle these cases with compassion and sensitivity while pursuing accountability against perpetrators and the institutions that enabled abuse.
Our team at Arias Sanguinetti has over 300 years of combined experience, with partners practicing nationally since the 1980s. As experienced trial lawyers, we have successfully litigated class actions against large corporations, institutions, and government entities, including high-profile cases involving USC and UCLA.
You deserve justice, safety, and the resources to heal, and we are here to help you every step of the way.
Santa Clara Sexual Abuse Lawyer Near Me 310-844-9696
Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse Survivors
Understanding the statute of limitations is critical for survivors of sexual abuse seeking justice. California law provides specific deadlines for filing lawsuits, but recent legislative changes have significantly expanded opportunities for survivors to come forward.
For incidents of childhood sexual assault occurring on or after January 1, 2024, there is no statute of limitations. Survivors can file civil claims at any time, as California has eliminated time limits for these cases.
For incidents that occurred before January 1, 2024, survivors must file claims by their 40th birthday or within five years of discovering the psychological injury caused by the abuse, whichever is later, under California Code of Civil Procedure § 340.1.
Additionally, Assembly Bill 218 temporarily opened a three–year lookback window in California from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022, allowing survivors of all ages to file claims even if their cases were previously time-barred.
If you have questions about your rights or the timelines for filing a claim, our experienced sexual abuse attorneys can help you understand your options and seek justice.
For Adult Survivors
Adult survivors of sexual abuse in California generally have 10 years from the date of the abuse or three years from the date they discovered the abuse caused them harm to file a lawsuit, whichever is later.
This extended timeline under California Code of Civil Procedure § 340.16 recognizes the complexity of processing trauma and gives survivors more time to pursue justice.
For Child Survivors
For survivors of childhood sexual abuse:
- For incidents occurring before January 1, 2024: Survivors can file a lawsuit until they reach 40 years of age or within five years from the date they discovered the abuse caused them harm, whichever is later, under California Code of Civil Procedure § 340.1.
- For incidents occurring on or after January 1, 2024: California law has removed the statute of limitations entirely, allowing survivors to file lawsuits at any time, regardless of their age or when the abuse occurred.
Click to contact our Santa Clara Personal Injury Lawyers today
How Our Santa Clara, CA, Sexual Abuse Attorney Can Help You Secure Justice and Compensation
Filing a civil lawsuit is not just about holding the perpetrator accountable—it’s about helping survivors access the resources they need to heal and rebuild their lives.
Our team is dedicated to pursuing justice and financial compensation for the damages caused by sexual abuse. We can help you recover:
- Therapy and counseling costs: Therapy can support your emotional healing and long-term recovery.
- Medical expenses: We can seek damages for any physical injuries or treatments related to the abuse.
- Lost wages or income: if the abuse affected your ability to work or caused career setbacks, we can seek recovery for this loss of income.
- Pain and suffering damages: This non-economic compensation can address the emotional distress and trauma you’ve experienced and continue to endure.
- Punitive damages: By seeking these damages, we can work to hold the perpetrator accountable and prevent future harm to others.
Pursuing a civil suit can open doors to the financial and emotional resources you need to move forward.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Contact Our Santa Clara Sexual Abuse Lawyer Today
Taking the step to seek justice after sexual abuse is an act of courage. At Arias Sanguinetti, we will stand by your side, offering compassionate support and advocacy to hold the perpetrator accountable.
Our experienced attorneys have helped survivors secure the resources they need to heal, including compensation for therapy, medical care, and other damages. We work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing upfront, and we only take a percentage of your potential compensation.
Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation. Let our Santa Clara sexual abuse attorney help you take the first step toward justice and healing.
Call or text 310-844-9696 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
