Special Considerations About Sexual Abuse Claims in West Virginia
Besides the highly personal, sensitive and traumatic nature of sexual abuse, a case like this has some special considerations you should know about.
For one thing, when someone attacks you sexually, it’s a crime. They could be charged with a crime, convicted, and punished like a criminal.
That process is how our community seeks justice for wrongdoing. What is the role of a personal sexual abuse lawsuit that you personally file against your attacker?
It’s your way to directly seek accountability for what the attacker did to you as an individual.
In a criminal case, with the government vs. the accused, getting a conviction requires the highest level of proof.
As a survivor of abuse, you can bring a personal injury claim under a different standard of proof—with different rules for the evidence you must present—regardless of whether state prosecutors charged the offender with a crime or if there was a conviction.
Your personal injury claim can also bring direct compensation so you can put your life back together after this shattering experience.
Another option with a sexual abuse lawsuit is holding others accountable besides the offender. Other people may share responsibility for what happened but couldn’t be charged directly for the crime.
These could include:
- Schools
- Churches
- Employers
- Hospitals
- Business Owners
- Property Owners
If people or organizations failed to maintain a safe environment, failed to prevent the abuse when they could have, or failed to act immediately when they realized something was wrong, they may be partly liable for the suffering you endured and should contribute to your recovery.
This is a difficult area of law for a lot of reasons. You deserve a Charleston sexual abuse lawyer who’s highly skilled, experienced, determined to protect your rights, and equipped to approach your case with concern and care.
We don’t charge anything to discuss the legal requirements of your case, the statute of limitations for filing a sexual abuse claim, the guidelines for how much compensation you can receive and more.
Start with a free, confidential case consultation from Shaffer & Shaffer.
Compensation You Can Seek in a Sexual Abuse Claim
No amount of money erases the trauma of sexual abuse.
The right financial compensation can help get you the tools you need to process what happened, return a sense of peace to your life, and fortify you for a better future.
You can tally some forms of compensation from your bills. Other forms don’t come with an easy price calculator, but negotiations and court proceedings handled by your lawyer determine an amount you receive.
Types of damages you could collect in a sexual abuse case include:
- Reimbursement for medical costs
- Reimbursement for therapy costs
- Future medical and therapy costs
- Payment for missed work and income
- Payment for your pain and suffering
- Payment for your emotional anguish
- Punitive damages against the abuser (in certain cases)
Shaffer & Shaffer sexual abuse attorneys know what may be available to you and how to pursue maximum compensation for your situation.
We stand with victims of sexual abuse in Charleston and West Virginia. After you were attacked, we fight for what’s right.
We fight to get you the resources and the strength you need to move forward.
Shaffer & You: Why Work with Us?
Everyday West Virginians can get legal help from one of the most established and respected law firms in the state: Shaffer & Shaffer. Our firm is over a century old and still going strong because we put the needs of our clients first—always.
West Virginia lawyers Ryan Walters and Chip Shaffer in the office at Shaffer & Shaffer.
Have a Question about Personal Injury Claims?
After a life-altering accident, you’re understandably upset, confused and full of questions. To help you get a sense of what’s next, we’ve prepared answers to common questions about personal injury claims and other legal cases.
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