Sydney Sexual Abuse Lawyer
For survivors of sexual abuse, the pursuit of justice, accountability, and restitution can be en emotionally challenging one. Often, people who have experienced abuse develop serious mental health issues as a result of the trauma they have endured. This is especially true for people who were abused as children, young people, or adolescents, who may rely on self-destructive coping mechanisms to try overcoming the events of the past.
Criminals who commit sexual abuse may cause their victims a lifetime’s worth of emotional and psychological damage, which may 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.
In addition to causing their victims significant emotional and psychological trauma, perpetrators of sexual abuse are often directly responsible for burdening their victims with substantial financial losses. Survivors of sexual abuse often go to great expense to receive necessary psychiatric treatment, psychological counselling, or other important services related to their mental health. Furthermore, if survivors are unable to complete their education or vocational training because of the mental health issues they have acquired as a result of their abuse, they may sustain financial losses as a result of their reduced earning capacities.
Sexual abuse often occurs when an adult takes advantage of an imbalance of power between themself and a young or vulnerable individual in their care in order to engage in non-consensual sexual activity. Perpetrators of sexual abuse often hold positions of authority (e.g. religious leaders, juvenile detention centre guards, etc.) or trust (e.g. schoolteachers, camp counsellors, etc.), or they are adults upon whom a younger person is dependent (e.g. foster parents, family members, etc). Sexual abuse is, therefore, frequently committed against children, members of vulnerable populations, and teenagers.
Even if a teenager has reached the age of consent, they are not legally capable of giving informed consent to an adult upon whom they are dependent, or who holds a position of authority or trust. For example, if an adult high school teacher takes advantage of their position to coerce a student who has reached the age of consent into participating in sexual activities, the teacher has committed a form of sexual abuse known as sexual exploitation.
Our sexual abuse lawyers serving Sydney are passionate about bringing abusers in the local community to justice. While no amount of money will be able to change the past or truly right the wrongs of a sexual predator, by working with our Sydney sexual abuse lawyers, abuse survivors may be able to receive financial compensation for damages they have incurred as a result of their trauma. Depending on the circumstances of your case, if you are the survivor of sexual abuse, you may be able to pursue a civil claim for damages from both your abuser and their employer or the entity/organization that introduced you to your abuser.
That is because sexual abuse often takes place within the framework of a large institution. In many cases, these institutions are, ironically, designed to keep young or vulnerable people safe from harm. Common examples of organizations that may employ sexual abusers include:
- Schools
- Religious organizations
- Sports leagues
- Camps
- Extra-curricular programmes
- Juvenile detention centres
- Psychiatric hospitals
- And more
If an organization’s leaders learn that one of its employees or volunteers has committed abuse, but fails to report the crime to the proper authorities, they may be considered negligent. By turning a blind eye to abuse within their organization, an institution may allow a cycle of abuse to continue perpetuating itself, putting more children and vulnerable people at risk of being abused by the very staff an organization employs. When an organization is found to be guilty of institutional or systemic sexual abuse, they may be responsible for providing the victims who suffered under their care with financial compensation for damages they have sustained.
To discuss your situation with our sensitive, compassionate, and discrete sexual abuse lawyers serving Sydney and learn about options that may be available to you, contact Preszler Injury Lawyers for a free initial consultation.
Free Consultation for Sydney Residents – We Don’t Get Paid Unless We Win
There is no statute of limitations on sexual abuse claims in Sydney. That means, regardless of how far in the past your abuse occurred, you have the right to seek the justice you deserve.
To learn more about how our Preszler Injury Lawyers may be able to help with your case, schedule your cost-free, no-obligation initial meeting with our Sydney sexual abuse lawyers today.
