D.Miller & Associates, PLLC® can help you seek justice for damages caused by sexual abuse. You have been through enough, and you should not have to suffer further because of expenses resulting from sexual violence. Let our sexual abuse lawyer serving Austin stand up for you and fight for fair recovery for your medical bills and other losses.
Sexual Abuse Is Any Nonconsensual Sexual Activity
Sexual abuse is any type of sexual contact or activity that occurs without consent or under force, coercion, or threat, including:
- Sexual assault
- Sexual violence
- Attempted rape
- Rape
- Marital and intimate partner rape
- Sexual harassment
- Unwanted touching
- Forced oral sex
- Child sexual abuse
- Sex trafficking and forced sex work
Sadly, sexual abuse is all too prevalent in the United States. Psychology Today reports that, according to the National Institutes of Health, one in three women and one in four men will experience sexual violence during their lifetime. In Texas, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) received reports of more than 18,000 sexual assault incidents in 2017.
Help for Survivors
If you or someone you love has experienced sexual abuse, assault, or violence, you can reach out to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) for 24/7 confidential support and services. Call RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 or chat online at online.rainn.org.
Additionally, our sexual abuse lawyers serving Austin can advise you of your options for taking civil action to recover financial damages. We can guide you through the process of pursuing a claim or personal injury lawsuit and fight to hold your abuser accountable.
Sexual Abuse Can Cause Physical Injury, Mental and Emotional Trauma, and Financial Losses
Sexual abuse can have a lasting effect on survivors. Sexual violence can cause acute physical injuries, long-term medical issues, and mental and emotional health problems. According to RAINN, side effects of sexual abuse may include:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Panic attacks
- Flashbacks
- Depression
- Fear and anxiety
- Eating disorders
- Substance abuse issues
- Sleep disorders
- Dissociative disorders
- Sexually transmitted diseases and infections
- Unplanned pregnancy
- Self-injury and suicidal ideation
Sexual abuse can also affect survivors financially. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), individual survivors of sexual violence can amass more than $120,000 in average lifetime costs connected to their abuse, including medical expenses, lost wages, and property damages. In addition, abuse may also cause some survivors to lose career and educational opportunities.
Our Sexual Abuse Lawyers Can Seek the Recovery You Deserve
We understand that no amount of financial recovery can erase your experiences or excuse the actions of your abuser. However, civil awards can provide you with a measure of justice and ensure you do not suffer further because of the economic burden of your injuries.
Our sexual assault lawyers serving Austin will identify your losses and help you pursue:
- Medical damages. We can recover the costs of medical treatment associated with your abuse, including emergency services, hospitalizations, medical testing, medical procedures, prescription drugs, physical therapy, and mental health care.
- Pain and suffering damages. Pain and suffering damages provide monetary awards for intangible losses caused by physical injuries and emotional and mental anguish. For example, you may qualify for pain and suffering awards for depression, anxiety, severe or permanent injuries, lost opportunities for career, personal, and educational advancement, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Lost income. We can seek back pay for time lost at work due to sexual abuse. Damages may include lost wages, bonuses, tips, and health and retirement benefits. We may also pursue awards for your lost earning potential.
- Miscellaneous expenses. Our lawyers can seek recovery for various other losses, including the value of alternative transportation, housing relocation, household services, and personal property damages.
Our Attorneys Will Work Tirelessly to Hold Perpetrators Accountable
Psychology Today reports that about 80 percent of sexual assault survivors know their perpetrator. Abusers may include romantic partners, family members, friends, colleagues, or teachers. Sometimes, perpetrators are aided in their actions by institutions or people in power who fail to safeguard individuals from abuse or turn a blind eye to wrongful actions.
Our sexual abuse attorneys serving Austin will work tirelessly to hold all those who harmed you accountable for their actions. Financially liable parties may include your abuser but also:
- Schools, colleges, and universities
- School administrators
- Churches and religious organizations
- Religious leaders
- Landlords
- Commercial and residential property owners
- Bars and nightclubs
- Hotels and motels
- Security firms
- Employers, managers, and supervisors
We Will Do the Work Necessary to Build a Robust Case
Since 2002, our firm has helped clients in Texas pursue financial recovery. We know what it takes to prove that another party behaved negligently or wrongfully and owes you damages. We will file your claims or lawsuits and collect evidence to support your case, including:
- Medical records
- Police reports
- School or workplace incident reports
- Eyewitness accounts
- Surveillance video
- Physical evidence
- Bills, receipts, wage records, and other proof of financial losses
We Will Act as Your Advocate and Ally
The last thing we want to do is add additional stress or worry to an already challenging time. Our lawyers will handle every detail of your case, including communicating with involved parties on your behalf. Representation can protect you from saying or doing something that could hurt your case and may prevent you from having to give multiple accounts of your abuse.
Texas’s Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations
Texas law allows survivors of adult sexual abuse up to five years to pursue civil action for sexual assault, trafficking, and forced sexual labor. Survivors of child sexual abuse have up to 30 years from when the abuse occurred to file a lawsuit. This extended deadline recognizes the challenges child sexual abuse survivors face when coming forward. Our lawyers can help you get started on your case today.
Contact D. Miller & Associates, PLLC® Today
D. Miller & Associates, PLLC® serves clients with dignity, compassion, and respect. If you or your loved one experienced sexual abuse, we want to help you get justice and secure the financial recovery you need to move forward with your life.
Contact us to take advantage of a free case evaluation and learn more about how our lawyers serving Austin can fight for you.
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