People who have experienced the horrors of sexual abuse are left feeling depressed, anxious, detached, and empty. The recovery process can be a long and exhausting one, but when survivors begin to rebuild their lives, they ignite a path to empowered.
Many sexual abuse survivors find a sense of healing in being able to bring their abuser to justice. If you or someone you love has been victimized, you may be feeling as though you’re ready to stand up and fight to hold your abuser accountable.
One of the best ways you could accomplish this goal is by pursuing a civil lawsuit against your abuser and anyone else who might have contributed to what’s happened to you.
But sexual abuse lawsuits can be far more complex than you might think. Read on to learn more about some of the things you might not have known about filing a sexual abuse claim in Chicago.
Every type of personal injury claim, whether it be injuries caused by a motor vehicle accident, medical malpractice, or sexual abuse, has a statute of limitations. In Illinois, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is two years.
However, due to the complexity of sexual abuse cases, it may be difficult to determine when the statute of limitations has or will expire for your civil claim. For this reason, it may be in your best interests to discuss your legal options with a sexual abuse lawyer.
Filing a civil claim is not the same thing as the criminal charges that may or may not be filed against the person or persons responsible for the abuse you endured.
In a civil lawsuit, you’re seeking compensation for what you’ve been through and victims usually file their claim with the help of a personal injury lawyer. But criminal charges are filed by the state’s prosecutor and seek criminal penalties such as prison time and fines.
Your abuser and those responsible for the abuse you endured should be ordered to compensate you for every way your life has been affected. This doesn’t just include your financial expenses such as your medical bills, costs of mental health counseling, lost wages, and other costs.
You should also be paid restitution for the emotional and physical trauma you endured. Things like damaged relationships with your family and friends, lost quality of life, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and more should all be accounted for to ensure you are getting the most out of your lawsuit.
If you are ready to take back control of your life but you aren’t sure where to turn for help with a civil lawsuit, reach out to a compassionate Chicago sexual abuse attorney at Lane & Lane, LLC.
Our firm is proud to offer victims of sexual abuse free claim reviews where we can further evaluate the individual details of their case. Take advantage of this opportunity and call our office at 312-332-1400 or find us online where you can fill out our quick contact form.
At the personal injury law firm of Lane & Lane, LLC, we live by the ideal of doing the right thing. Our attorneys represent plaintiffs who have been injured by acts of negligence—whether that takes the form of a car accident, medical malpractice, or a slip-and-fall, we strive to achieve justice for our clients through obtaining financial compensation to cover their damages and losses. We believe in doing what’s right, and that motivates everything we do. Our Chicago personal injury lawyers take care of their clients. Working with our firm means that you’ll never have to question the motives of your attorney. We’re here to help you recover the most compensation possible—because... View full business profile here: Lane & Lane LLC
