Edwardsville, IL Sexual Abuse Lawyer

You deserve the chance to hold an abuser responsible for all the wrongs done to you under their care. Fortunately, you don’t have to do this hard work alone. You can collaborate with a sexual abuse lawyer in Edwardsville, IL, to take an abuser to a civil trial. Your efforts can go on to secure total compensation for losses sustained due to an abuser’s mistreatment.

Morelli Law Firm and its personal injury lawyers in Edwardsville, IL, have years of experience helping survivors navigate the civil system. We understand your fears and work to mitigate them as we fight for your right to support. You can book a free case evaluation with our team today to learn more about how our services might benefit you.

Distinguishing Between Sexual Abuse, Assault, and Harassment

How can you tell the difference between sexual abuse, assault, and harassment? First thing first: if you think you’re dealing with any of these three forms of mistreatment, reach out to an attorney without trying to classify the misconduct. At the end of the day, you have an obligation to your own safety.

A sexual abuse lawyer in Edwardsville, IL, can then step in and help classify the personal injury case you want to bring forward. We break down these categories of mistreatment as follows:

• Sexual assault – non-consensual sexual misconduct, verbal or physical, involving two or more parties above the age of consent in Illinois.
• Sexual harassment – non-consensual and verbal sexual misconduct involving two or more parties.
• Sexual abuse – non-consensual physical or verbal misconduct involving at least one party under the age of consent in Illinois.

Notably, Illinois does not have a “Romeo and Juliet” law established in its state statutes. This means that the state’s courts do not make exceptions when prosecuting young people with minimal age gaps for sexual abuse.

Illinois’s statutes do, however, establish that any party that endures sexual abuse in Illinois has the right to pursue a personal injury claim while the state initiates a criminal investigation. Working with a sexual abuse attorney can help you take advantage of your state-assigned rights without compounding your stress or trauma.

Criminal Action Versus Civil Action After Sexual Abuse

As mentioned, sexual abuse constitutes a criminal offense as well as a civil offense. Only the state may initiate a criminal investigation into allegations of abuse, though. You cannot initiate an investigation as a private citizen, nor should you. 

Experienced attorneys and law enforcement representatives have the experience to build these cases against offending parties while also protecting you from further harm. 

If the state does initiate a criminal investigation into your sexual abuse, consider asking your personal injury attorney to keep an ear out for new developments in that case. If Illinois’s criminal courts convict your liable party of sexual abuse, you can bring that conviction to a civil judge’s attention.

A sexual abuse conviction does not win you a civil case outright. That said, a criminal conviction does keep you safe from retaliation while also serving as proof of negligence in a civil case. You can work with our team to determine what specific impact a relevant conviction may have on your right to support moving forward.

When to Call a Sexual Abuse Lawyer in Edwardsville

It’s in your best interest to contact an Edwardsville, IL, sexual abuse attorney as soon as you can after the offending incident. Firstly, contacting an attorney allows you to immediately start exploring your means of protecting yourself. Our team may recommend that you file a protective order while you begin compiling your case.

Secondly, sexual abuse cases must reach the appropriate parties within Illinois’s personal injury statute of limitations. This means that if you want to secure loss-based damages, you must bring forward enough evidence to meet Illinois’s burden of proof within three years of a specific instance of abuse.

How to Secure Financial Aid in a Sexual Abuse Case

Personal injury claims give you the right to demand loss-based damages from the party responsible for your sexual abuse. This means that you can request financial support based on the value of losses like the following:

• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering
• Emergency medical care
• Physical therapy
• Psychological therapy
• Long-term medical treatments
• Loss of income
• Loss of the ability to work

You don’t have to come into contact with your abuser to win this support. Our attorneys can interface with a liable party on your behalf. While you may retain the option to negotiate for a settlement after you file a personal injury claim, you do not have to. You can request that an attorney take your case to trial.

At the same time, we can help you file a protective order against an offending party. Morelli Law Firm will always prioritize your safety in a sexual abuse case.

You Can Work With Attorneys to Take Back Your Life

No one should have to overcome the trauma of sexual abuse alone. If you want to hold an abuser financially accountable for the losses you or a loved one endured at their hands, you can. Morelli Law Firm can connect you with a sexual abuse lawyer in Edwardsville who can represent you as you fight for the support you need to recover.

You have a limited amount of time to connect with an attorney after an instance of sexual abuse. You can contact us ASAP to secure consummate representation and discuss how our team can help you take back control of your life.