Aurora Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Cases of sexual assault are a sad reality in Aurora, IL. Sexual violence is traumatizing physically, emotionally, and psychologically. This makes it imperative for you to find the right legal assistance that understands the sensitivity surrounding these cases and the ins and outs of the law.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers will never stop standing up for sexual abuse survivors while they heal by providing the justice they deserve. We will stand by our clients’ side with a deep understanding of such sensitive cases to ensure their voices are heard and their rights are well-protected.

Why Choose Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we are committed to securing the maximum compensation for survivors of sexual assault. During our years of practice, we have won substantial settlements and verdicts for each client based on a deep understanding of the subtleties involved in these cases. 

Our experience in handling sexual abuse cases gives us a unique advantage in that we investigate each claim with the utmost attention to detail. This ensures accountability for all aspects of the survivor’s suffering: medical expenses, therapy costs, lost wages, and emotional distress.

We understand the impact sexual abuse has on the individual, not to mention the family. This is why we, as sexual abuse lawyers, fight relentlessly to protect your rights through unwavering support and expert legal representation. 

Understanding Sexual Abuse and Assault

Sexual abuse is any unwanted sexual activity where consent is not given or cannot be given, from inappropriate touching to rape. It often involves manipulation, coercion, or exploitation of power. 

Sexual assault is a specific type of abuse, covering a wide range of non-consensual sexual acts designed to dominate, harm, or control the victim. 

Both sexual abuse and assault are grave violations that cause profound emotional, psychological, and physical harm.

Common Forms of Sexual Abuse

• Rape: Non-consensual sexual intercourse, typically involving force or the threat of force.
• Sexual Assault: Any form of unwanted sexual contact that is less serious than rape but which nonetheless violates the survivor’s physical freedom.
• Incest: Illegal sexual activity between family members or close relatives is considered severe abuse. 
• Child Sexual Abuse: The involvement of a child in sexual activity, including fondling, pornographic exposure, and sexual acts.
• Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome advances of a sexual nature, requests for favors of a sexual implication, and other verbal or physical conduct taking place in a location of employment or another professional setting.
• Sexual Exploitation: Forcing or manipulating someone into sexual activity for profit, including trafficking or forced participation in pornography.
• Grooming: The manipulative process by which the abuser acts to gain the trust of a child or any other person for further abuse.

Institutions Where Sexual Abuse Is Most Likely to Occur

• Workplace: Workplace abuse can be sexual, such as when a supervisor insists on sex for a promotion or when a person uses their position to coerce a subordinate.
• Inpatient Treatment Facilities include psychiatric hospitals and rehabilitation centers where patients are vulnerable due to their situation. 
• Prisons and Correctional Facilities: Inmates are most predisposed to sexual abuse at the hands of fellow inmates or correctional officers. 
• Foster Care: Children can experience sexual assault by the foster parents or other older children in the home. 
• Daycare Facilities and Nursing Homes: In daycare, young children could be easy prey for abuse at the hands of those who are entrusted with their care. 
• Educational Institutions: At schools or universities, abusers can be teachers, coaches, or even other students who use their power or authority over peers. 
• Religious Institutions: Religious leaders and clergy members may exploit their positions of trust and authority to commit sexual abuse. Clergy abuse, in particular, has been a significant issue, with numerous cases of clergy members molesting children in their congregations. Thousands of cases have been reported across various religious institutions.

• Sports Clubs: The coaches and trainers are often the perpetrators within the sports facilities and use their presence and influence to abuse young athletes. 
• Military institutions: The strict hierarchy and culture of silence within military environments help further sexual assault in this setting. 
• Hotels and Short-Term Rentals: The anonymity of most hotels and rentals can be exploited as a tool by perpetrators of sexual misconduct. 
• Shelters: Residents, such as female domestic violence victims, can easily fall prey to shelter workers or other tenants of the facility. 

Steps to Take If You Are a Victim of Sexual Assault

1. Get to Safety: Move to a safe place immediately. If in danger, call 911. Seek support from a trusted friend or family member.
2. Document the Abuse: As soon as you’re safe, document everything. Write down details, take photos of injuries, and preserve any physical evidence, including communications from the perpetrator.
3. Seek Medical Attention: Visit a hospital promptly for treatment and to collect forensic evidence (rape kit), even if you have no visible injuries.
4. Report the Assault: Consider reporting to Aurora law enforcement. This step helps prevent further harm and secures legal protection. You can also report to your employer or school if needed.
5. Seek Legal Help: Consult a sexual abuse lawyer to guide you through your options, including criminal charges, restraining orders, or filing a civil lawsuit. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers provide a free consultation.
6. Access to Local Resources and Support Groups: Survivors in Aurora, IL, can access support through organizations like the Aurora Police Department and local crisis hotlines. They are adept at providing support services and counseling services, among other vital resources.
7. Be Ready to Pursue a Legal Case: If you decide to pursue a case, be ready for statements, depositions, and hearings. Your sexual abuse lawyer will protect your rights throughout the process, including a trial if necessary.

Compensation for Sexual Abuse Victims

Survivors of sexual assault can receive compensation for various damages, including medical expenses, therapy costs, lost wages, and emotional trauma. 

The amount awarded depends on factors such as the severity of the abuse, its impact on the survivor’s life, and the level of negligence or misconduct by those responsible.

Liability in Sexual Abuse Cases

Liability in cases of sexual abuse in Aurora, Illinois, often extends to institutions in charge of the care of victims. Through legal principles, institutions can be held liable on grounds such as negligence, vicarious liability, and failure to prevent or address abuse.

• Negligence: Liability can extend to schools, workplaces, or treatment centers that have not exercised due care in conducting adequate background checks, ensuring proper supervision, and investigating complaints—omissions with a direct relationship between them and the harm caused to the victim.
• Vicarious Liability: Institutions can be liable for abuse committed by employees or agents where the abuse occurs within the scope of their employment, such as a coach or teacher abusing a position or power.
• Failure to Act: If institutions ignore reports, fail to investigate, or allow perpetrators to continue their employment, liability for ongoing abuse may follow. Organizations and institutions that allow persons to be abused can be liable under the law.  This liability creates an avenue for survivors of abuse to seek justice not only against perpetrators but also against the very organizations that failed them. 

How to Prove a Sexual Abuse Case

• Gathering Evidence: Collecting physical evidence, such as medical reports, forensic reports, communication records, and testimony from survivors and eyewitnesses, becomes essential.
• Proof of Negligence: It must be established the institution was aware or ought to have been aware of the possibility of abuse and failed to take measures to assist. 
• Connecting The Abuse To Harm: Relate the abuse to physical, emotional, and psychological hurts for each survivor. This can be established through medical records, expert testimony, and personally written impact statements.
• Expert Testimony: Whether in medicine, forensics, or law, an expert gives needed clarity to support the case and confirm the survivor’s narrative.
• Proof of Intent or Gross Negligence: This may sometimes be required to prove that the abuse took place either with intent or gross negligence. 
• Countering Defenses: Be ready to respond to any type of defense that would attack a survivor’s credibility and move blame by offering solid evidence and expert opinion.

How Our Aurora Sexual Abuse Attorneys Can Help

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we represent sexual assault survivors. Our sexual abuse lawyers will walk you through the legal processes involved and clearly spell out your options so the pursuit of justice and compensation becomes clearer.

Our firm is dedicated to thoroughly investigating injury cases, gathering necessary evidence, and identifying parties liable. We take care of all your procedures in filing claims, ensuring your case in court is very strong and compelling. 

Our lawyers seek maximum compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other emotional distress through negotiation or litigation. We believe in protecting your rights and holding these perpetrators accountable. Our sexual abuse lawyers in Aurora, IL, stand with you to ensure you get justice.

The Time Limits for Filing a Claim in Aurora, IL

There is no time limit for survivors of sexual assault in Aurora, IL, taking place after January 1, 2014. For child assault taking place before this date, the victim has up to 20 years from their 18th birthday to file a civil lawsuit. 

If the abuse took place after the age of 18, the deadline to file a claim could be as soon as two years from the date of the abuse. However, specific circumstances can alter such deadlines, so it’s best to consult with an attorney for the timeframe that applies to your situation. 

Contact Our Aurora Sexual Abuse Lawyers Today!

To learn more about how we can help you in Aurora, IL, feel free to contact us today for a free consultation. Let us help you start down the path toward justice and healing.