Morelli Law Firm has over 40 years of combined experience handling sexual abuse cases, and we can help you. Our St. Peters, MO, personal injury lawyers can help fight for the compensation you qualify for.
What Compensation Can You Recover for Sexual Abuse?
When you survive sexual abuse, you may be eligible to recover compensation for your losses. The two types of damages you can recover include:
Economic Damages
These damages are what you can recover for any costs associated with your injuries or losses from the abuse. Our team at Morelli Law Firm can help you recover the following damages:
- Medical expenses: Compensation for the costs of medical treatments, surgeries, medications, and other healthcare-related expenses resulting from the abuse.
- Therapy costs: Reimbursement for the expenses associated with therapy sessions, counseling, and mental health support to aid in your recovery.
- Rehabilitation fees: Compensation for the costs of rehabilitative services, such as physical therapy or occupational therapy, if required due to the abuse.
- Lost wages: Reimbursement for the income you have lost due to the abuse, including missed work days, decreased work hours, or inability to pursue employment opportunities.
- Loss of earning capacity: Compensation for the long-term impact on your ability to earn income or advance in your career due to the abuse.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic losses are long-term effects that the abuse causes. Even though these effects don’t impact your financial situation, you can still recover compensation for:
- Pain and suffering: You can recover compensation for the physical harm and mental health effects the abuse caused.
- Emotional distress: Reimbursement for the psychological harm, anxiety, depression, and trauma experienced due to the abuse.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Compensation for the diminished ability to enjoy and engage in activities you once found pleasure in due to the abuse.
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877-751-9800What Evidence Can a St. Peters, MO, Sexual Abuse Lawyer Gather?
When handling sexual abuse cases, our dedicated team of St. Peters, MO, sexual abuse lawyers is committed to gathering comprehensive evidence to support your claims. Here are key types of evidence we can collect on your behalf:
- Testimony and statements: We will conduct interviews to gather detailed accounts from you, the survivor, as well as any witnesses who can provide relevant information or corroborate your story.
- Medical records and forensic evidence: We will collect your medical records, including examinations and treatments related to the abuse. Additionally, we may work with forensic experts to analyze physical evidence, such as DNA samples or photographs.
- Documentation and records: We will gather police reports, incident records, and any relevant documents from schools, organizations, or workplaces where the abuse occurred to establish a timeline and support your claims.
- Expert witness testimony: We may engage the services of expert witnesses, such as medical professionals or psychologists, to provide professional opinions regarding the physical and psychological impact of the abuse.
- Surveillance footage or digital evidence: If available, we will seek surveillance footage or digital evidence, such as text messages, emails, or social media posts, that can provide additional context or support your claims.
Do You Have a Valid Sexual Abuse Case?
Determining the validity of a sexual abuse case requires careful evaluation of the circumstances and legal factors involved. Our sexual abuse lawyers can help assess the strength of your case based on the following considerations:
Consent and Lack of Consent
Sexual abuse cases often hinge on the issue of consent. If you were subjected to sexual acts without your consent or if you were unable to provide informed consent due to factors such as age, mental capacity, or coercion, it may indicate a valid case of sexual abuse.
Statute of Limitations
Understanding the statute of limitations is crucial in determining the viability of your case. If the sexual abuse took place when you were 18 years old or older, the statute of limitations is shorter.
In such cases, you have five years from the date of the abuse to file a claim. It’s important to consult with a sexual abuse lawyer to ensure you are aware of the specific time limitations that apply to your case. On the other hand, if the sexual abuse occurred when you were a child, Missouri law allows you to file a claim until 10 years after you turn 18.
This means that once you reach the age of 18, you have a period of 10 years to bring legal action for the abuse you experienced during your childhood. However, certain circumstances, such as delayed discovery or if you were a minor at the time of the abuse, may extend or remove the statute of limitations. If you have any questions about how long you have to file, our sexual abuse attorneys in St. Peters, MO, can answer them.
Evidence and Witnesses
The availability and strength of evidence play a vital role in establishing the validity of a sexual abuse case. This includes testimonies from you and any witnesses, medical records documenting injuries or trauma, forensic evidence, and any other relevant documentation that supports your claims.
Credibility and Corroboration
The credibility of your account and any corroborating evidence are essential factors in determining the validity of a sexual abuse case. Our experienced legal team can help assess the credibility of your claims and work to gather additional evidence or witnesses that support your version of events.
Contact our St. Peters Personal Injury Lawyers today
877-751-9800Contact Our St. Peters, MO, Sexual Abuse Attorneys Today
If you’ve been sexually abused, our team at Morelli Law Firm can help you recover compensation for your losses. Our St. Peters, MO, sexual abuse lawyers are ready to help you understand the legal process and recover compensation.
Contact us for a free consultation.
Call or text 877-751-9800 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
