Restigouche County Sexual Abuse Lawyer
The survivors of sexual abuse often feel the impact of their trauma in all aspects of their lives. It is not uncommon for the survivors of sexual abuse to experience emotional, psychological, and financial repercussions as a result of their past abuse. For those victims who were abused or exploited as children or teenagers, the effects of their trauma may take decades to overcome. While struggling to grapple with their history of abuse, survivors often develop destructive coping mechanisms that could have far-reaching effects on their lives and their livelihoods.
Survivors of sexual abuse commonly experience symptoms of severe mental health issues. Often debilitating in nature, the mental health conditions acquired by survivors of sexual abuse may prevent them from completing educational opportunities or performing the duties of their jobs. 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
- Self-harm
- Attempted or completed suicide
- And possibly more
If you are in distress, contact the Canada Suicide Prevention Service at 833-456-4566.
Sexual abuse occurs when adults take advantage of an imbalance of power to engage in sexual activity with underage children, or with other non-consenting adults over whom they have authority. If a young person has reached the age of consent, they are still not capable of giving informed consent to an adult who holds a position of trust, dependence, or authority. Adults who exploit their power and influence over a young person in order to engage in sexual activity with them have committed a form of sexual abuse referred to as sexual exploitation. Common examples of adults who use their positions of authority, trust, or dependence to abuse the people in their care include:
- Teachers
- Religious figures
- Sports coaches
- Camp counsellors
- Foster parents
- Juvenile detention centre guards
- Psychiatric hospital staff
- Extra-curricular programme staff
- And more
If an adult takes advantage of a young person’s dependence on them, exploits their trust, or abuses their position of authority over a young person to engage in non-consensual sexual activity, they may cause their victim a lifetime of psychological turmoil and emotional anguish. As a result of these acquired mental health issues, survivors frequently incur financial losses related to psychiatric treatment, psychological counselling, and other medical expenses, as well as reduced future earning capacities because the issues stemming from their abuse made it impossible for them to pursue educational opportunities.
There is no statute of limitations on sexual abuse claims in Restigouche County. No matter how far in the past your abuse occurred, you have the right to pursue financial compensation for the damages you incurred as a result of your trauma. By working with our compassionate sexual abuse lawyers serving Restigouche County, you may be able to recover economic and non-economic damages from your abuser and, depending on the circumstances of your case, from the entity that employed them or introduced you to them.
Sexual abuse often occurs within the framework of a larger institution or organization. Schools, churches, summer camps, sports leagues, juvenile detention centres, and other institutions that cater to young, vulnerable minors can, in fact, foster the ideal conditions for abusers to prey on the very children they have been hired to watch over.
If the organization becomes aware that one of its employees has committed abuse but fails to report the crime to the authorities and remove the perpetrator from their staff, they may be considered complicit. Through their inactions, the leadership of these complicit organizations may be perpetuating a cycle of systemic, institutional abuse. In doing so, they effectively allow this reprehensible behaviour to continue in a consequence-free environment, exposing more and more vulnerable young people to abuse, and emotional repercussions that could have lifelong impacts.
In these situations, our sexual abuse lawyers serving Restigouche County may be able to help the victims of institutional abuse recover financial compensation for damages they have incurred from the organizations whose negligence facilitated these crimes against them. To learn how our Restigouche County sexual abuse lawyers may be able to help with your case, schedule a free initial consultation with Preszler Injury Lawyers today.
Free Consultation for Restigouche County Residents – We Don’t Get Paid Unless We Win
Our sexual abuse lawyers serving Restigouche County offer a free, initial consultation to all prospective clients. To discuss your case and learn about options that may be available to you, call Preszler Injury Lawyers for your cost-free no-obligation first meeting with our Restigouche County sexual abuse lawyers.
