Jonesboro Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Recent data shows that Arkansas ranks among the top 10 states with the highest rates of sexual harassment per capita. [1] Sexual abuse, in all its forms, can have devastating effects on survivors. If you have been a victim of any sex crime in Jonesboro, AR, you have rights.

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we are committed to supporting sexual abuse survivors, offering comprehensive legal services to help them seek justice and secure compensation for their personal injury.

Why Choose Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we treat our clients with the utmost care and compassion while ensuring you receive the highest compensation you can get from all parties involved. Our experienced legal team has a proven track record of recovering substantial settlements and verdicts in sexual abuse cases. 

We are your strongest advocate, thoroughly investigating claims to ensure all medical expenses, therapy costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering are addressed. We fight tirelessly to protect your rights and pursue justice, focusing on your financial well-being and providing the necessary resources to move forward.

Understanding Sexual Abuse and Assault

Sexual abuse is a broad term that encompasses nonconsensual sexual acts of varying severity between parties.Sexual assault is defined as sexual contact with another by forcible compulsion, with someone who is incapable of consent, or with a minor. This crime can include, but is not limited to, penetration, intercourse, fondling, and more. 

The absence of consent is a key factor in defining these sexual acts as abuse. Often, individuals in positions of power exploit their authority to commit sexual abuse or assault, further emphasizing the power imbalances in these situations.

Common Forms of Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is a broad term, and there are behaviors you may not even know are considered sexual abuse that fit within the category. Common forms include: 

• Rape: Nonconsensual penetration, often achieved through force or coercion.
• Sexual harassment: Unwanted verbal, physical, or visual sexual advances. 
• Stalking: A pattern of behavior where one individual follows and often sexually harasses another.
• Exhibitionism: Someone exposes themselves in public to others.
• Voyeurism: When someone watches another in a private setting without their knowledge or consent. 
• Child sexual abuse: The assault of a minor by an adult or another minor.
• Incest: Sexual contact between family members.

Even if no physical action has taken place, it can still be considered sexual assault. 

Institutions Where Sexual Abuse Is Most Likely to Occur

While sexual abuse can and does happen anywhere, there are some common institutions where it is more likely to occur. This harassment is due to the power dynamics in play between peers and those in charge. We cover sexual crimes in the following areas:

• Professional settings, like your workplace
• Inpatient treatment facilities, including rehab or mental health facilities 
• Criminal justice systems, like prisons, juvenile detention centers, and correction facilities
• Child services and foster care settings
• Homeless or domestic shelters
• Short- and long-term care facilities, including daycare and nursing homes
• Educational institutions, such as schools, camps, and other programs
• Religious institutions, like churches, after-school programs, and camps
• Military Institutions, such as within the armed forces, affecting both enlisted officers and civilians
• Sports clubs and athletic organizations where coaches or trainers may engage in abusive behavior
• Hospitality industry, including hotels and short-term rentals

Steps to Take If You Are a Victim

When seeking justice or filing a personal injury claim, there are steps you can take as a victim of sexual abuse.

1. Take immediate steps to ensure your safety and well-being. These actions could mean removing yourself from the situation, reporting it to the proper authorities, or seeking assistance from others. 
2. Document the abuse. Write down everything that happened, including the who, what, where, when, and why of the situation. Include any witnesses and other details that could help you through the process.
3. Seek legal representation. We can help hold perpetrators accountable by examining the details of your case and filing the appropriate charges against them, whether a civil lawsuit or criminal charges. 
4. If needed, find local resources and support groups. Sexual abuse survivors in Jonesboro, AR, can access support through organizations like the Northeast Arkansas Family Crisis Center and Northeast Arkansas Children’s Advocacy Center. Students at Arkansas State University can contact the university for sexual assault resources. 

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help you take legal action if you have faced sexual abuse or sexual assault. We will be with you every step of the way if you have questions or need additional support. 

Compensation for Sexual Abuse Victims

There are different forms of financial compensation that you can seek if you are a victim of sexual abuse. They include:

• Medical treatment expenses, including hospital and doctor bills, testing, OBGYN treatments, and more.
• Therapy, counseling, and mental health treatment
• Pain. suffering, and any other psychological harm 
• Lost wages, which can include any past, current, or future wages that were lost
• Punitive damages, which are meant to punish the offender and deter others

The amount of compensation and the type of compensation that you receive will depend on the following factors:

• Severity of abuse
• Length of abuse
• Impact of the abuse
• The age of the victim
• Evidence of the abuse

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is committed to providing you with the best legal representation in Jonesboro, Arkansas, as you seek compensation and justice. Across all our personal injury cases, we have recovered more than $450 million, a lot of which is on behalf of victims of sexual abuse. 

Liability in Sexual Abuse Cases

Liability in sexual abuse cases refers to the legal responsibility that individuals and institutions may bear for allowing abuse to occur. This responsibility can rest with an individual perpetrator, an institution, or both.

Institutions can be held liable for: 

• Negligence, or failure to prevent the abuse
• Failure to report incidents
• Inadequate responses to complaints

Examples of these behaviors could be a failure to conduct adequate background checks, poor supervision, or creating environments where abuse can thrive. Institutions can also be held vicariously liable, meaning they can be held responsible for the actions of their employees or agents. This legal principle applies when an institution’s employees commit acts of abuse within the scope of their employment. 

Additionally, Arkansas State University and other federally funded institutions in Jonesboro can be held liable under Title IX, which prohibits discrimination based on sex and other protected characteristics. This means that if a school fails to address sexual abuse, it may be legally responsible for the harm caused.

Usually, the power dynamics within these communities, such as religious institutions or hierarchical organizations, often foster situations where sexual abuse can occur.

Proving Sexual Abuse Cases

While the legal system can be complex, there are really three basic steps to proving a sexual abuse case in Jonesboro. 

1. Gather evidence. You need all the documentation that proves what you say happened and did, in fact, occur. 
2. Prove negligence or intentional misconduct. Based on the evidence, we conduct our investigation to help build a case proving it happened and could have been prevented.
3. Demonstrate a link between the abuse and the harm suffered. We prove the immense harm to your personal and emotional well-being and the subsequent trauma that you faced as a result of the abuse. Legal experts and investigators help to build a strong case by gathering evidence, working with experts to document the abuse’s impact, and developing strategies to prove negligence or misconduct. 

The Role of Jonesboro Sexual Abuse Lawyers

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers play an important role in your victim advocacy, ensuring that all those involved face appropriate consequences and are brought to justice. 

• We help you navigate the legal process, recommending the appropriate legal action based on your case.
• We investigate your claims, examining the details of the case and gathering additional documentation where needed.
• We represent you in court, acting as your voice in the Arkansas legal system. 

All survivors of sexual abuse deserve an attorney who will fight for them in the legal process and help them find peace on their healing journey.

The Time Limits for Filing a Claim in Jonesboro, AR

The time limit to file a claim depends on the type of sexual abuse that occurred and the age you were when it happened. 

Victims of child sexual abuse have until the age of 55 to file a claim under a recent law. If you were a victim of sexual abuse as an adult, the statute of limitations may vary. It could be as little as three years or longer. 

If DNA evidence is uncovered, there is no limit. Additionally, Arkansas law allows for the tolling of the statute of limitations in some instances where the victim was under duress or where the abuse was not discovered until much later.

Contact a Jonesboro Sexual Assault Lawyer Today!

Contact (888) 424-5757 or fill out this form to schedule your free consultation today. 

Resources: [1] Kait8