Children are very vulnerable to sexual abuse. Usually, sexual abuse occurs at the hands of adults trusted by the children – and by their families. Although every child sex abuse incident is different, some of the potential harm that victims could suffer could include the following:

• Injuries to genitals
• Injuries to reproductive organs
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Physical injuries from a struggle, such as fractures, sprains, bruises, and lacerations
• Mental and emotional injuries, such as post-traumatic stress, anxiety, panic, fear, depression, and more
• Increased risk of self-harm
• Increased risk of substance abuse

Although children may experience harm immediately after the abuse has occurred, some children may suffer suppressed memories, which could come up many years after the abuse. In fact, some victims of childhood sexual abuse could suffer the consequences of the abuse for the rest of their lives; they may have issues with authority figures, with keeping a job, and with forming normal relationships, for example.

No matter the specific harm that you or a loved one suffered due to child sexual abuse at the hands of a pastor or any other church staff, it is important that you seek legal help as soon as possible. You could have the right to file a lawsuit. You could also be entitled to receive compensation.

Yes, you could have the right to file a lawsuit. When the abuse happens at a church, the church organization could be liable for all resulting harm. In general, this is due to failing to identify and address the abuse – including allowing the abuse to happen or even covering up the abuse. In the case above, it is unclear whether the abuse occurred at the church or at the pastor’s home (since the victims lived at his home with their family when the abuse happened). Still, victims and their families could have the right to file a lawsuit.

For more information about the legal options available for you and your family after pastor child sexual abuse, contact us today.

Although child sex abuse claims are different, some of the different categories of compensation available could include the following:

• Medical costs
• Lost earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium
• Punitive damages
• Treble damages
• Legal costs

Unfortunately, our team handles child sex abuse cases frequently. With each case we handle, we remain completely dedicated to fighting for the rights of their clients and getting them the maximum recovery possible. Whether our professionals have to negotiate a settlement or take your claim to court proceedings to reach a verdict, you can be certain that our team will do everything possible to secure the highest payout available for your claim.

All claims – including claims surrounding child sex abuse – are subject to a deadline (a statute of limitations. Claimants must file their claims by within the appropriate deadline to preserve their right to sue; in other words, if claimants do not file on time, they could lose their right to sue entirely. For victims of child sex abuse, these claims must be filed before the age of forty – or twenty-two years from reaching eighteen. There is also a five-year discovery rule that may apply; this gives victims of child sex abuse up to five years from the date of discovering the harm resulting from the abuse to file a claim, even past the age of forty.

For more information about the total length of time that you have to file your child sex abuse claim, contact us today.

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