Quispamsis Sexual Abuse Lawyer

The emotional and psychological repercussions of enduring sexual abuse can plague survivors for their entire lifetimes. Survivors of sexual abuse often develop self-destructive coping mechanisms to try wrestling with the trauma of their past and the debilitating mental health issues they have developed as the direct result of their abuse.

While the perpetrators of sexual abuse may be able to carry on with their lives without giving their past crimes a second thought, survivors of their abuse may carry the weight of their trauma for the rest of their lives. Often, the psychological toll of surviving sexual abuse impacts important areas of a victim’s life, including their ability to develop and maintain romantic relationships, as well as their ability to pursue educational opportunities or vocational training. This may be especially true for sexual abuse survivors who were exploited as children as teenagers and develop disabling mental health conditions as a result.

Common mental health conditions experienced by survivors of sexual abuse include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Shame
• Low self-esteem
• Lack of self-worth

These overwhelming emotions and severe mental health issues can have real-world consequences. Sexual assault survivors often exhibit addictive behaviours, engage in self-harm, and in many truly unfortunate circumstances, attempt or complete suicide.

If you are in distress, contact the Canada Suicide Prevention Service at 833-456-4566.

For those survivors of sexual abuse who have the opportunity, means, wherewithal, and emotional fortitude to seek help, the road to psychological recovery can be an extremely expensive one. Many sexual abuse survivors may be required to pay for psychological counselling, psychiatric treatment, prescription medications, and other medical expenses.

Additionally, if the mental health issues they developed in response to their abuse made it impossible for sexual abuse victims to pursue higher educational opportunities, they may sustain financial losses related to their reduced earning capabilities. Because of the immoral actions of a reprehensible criminal, sexual abuse victims could fail to reach their full potential and experience financial precariousness.

When an adult takes advantage of an imbalance of power between themselves and their victim to engage in sexual activity, they have committed sexual abuse. Their victims are often children or teenagers, or members of vulnerable communities including psychiatric patients, incarcerated individuals, and people with disabilities. Perpetrators of sexual abuse often exploit a victim’s trust in them, use the authority they hold over their victim to compel them to engage in sexual activity, or take advantage of their victim’s dependence upon them to coerce and manipulate them. Most victims of sexual abuse have a pre-existing relationshop with their abusers. Common examples of authority figures who may take advantage of their positions to engage in non-consensual sexual activity with a young or vulnerable person include:

• Teachers
• Religious figures
• Sports coaches
• Family members
• Foster parents
• Juvenile detention center guards
• Camp counsellors
• Staff at psychiatric facilities
• And more

If sexual abuse takes place within the framework of a larger organization or institution, its leadership is responsible for taking necessary actions to stop it from occurring. These actions include alerting the authorities and removing the perpetrator from their position. If an organization’s leadership becomes aware of abuse taking place under its auspices but fails to take action, they essentially put other potential victims in harm’s way, allowing the perpetrator’s criminal behaviour to continue in a consequence-free environment. This is referred to as systemic or institutional sexual abuse.

There is no statute of limitation on sexual abuse cases. Our sexual abuse lawyers serving Quispamsis appreciate how difficult it can be to discuss trauma from the past. However, we are committed to helping bring abusers in our community to justice. Regardless of how far in the past your abuse took place, you may be eligible to pursue a civil claim to recover financial compensation from your abuser and, in certain situations, from their employer.  To learn more, book a free initial consultation with our Quispamsis sexual abuse lawyers.

Free Consultation for Quispamsis Residents – We Don’t Get Paid Unless We Win

By working with our sexual abuse lawyers serving Quispamsis, local survivors of sexual abuse may be able to recover financial compensation for damages they incurred as a result of their abuse, as well as damages they may incur in the future. Our Quispamsis sexual abuse lawyers are standing by to listen to your story, and provide you with legal advice about options that may be available to you.

Contact Preszler Injury Lawyers for your free initial consultation with our sexual abuse lawyers serving Quispamsis.