Rochester Hills Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Victims of sexual abuse often hide their trauma. They may have been threatened into silence or have buried their experiences as a means of self-preservation. But the effects of sexual abuse do not just “go away,” and abusers do not stop unless they are stopped. 

If you are a victim of sexual abuse, a Rochester Hills personal injury lawyer is here to help you retake control of your life by holding your abuser accountable.

The thought of speaking out may be intimidating, but a Rochester Hills sexual abuse lawyer from our team will be by your side, protecting and supporting you as you demand the justice you deserve. White Law PLLC is proud of its successful record but even more proud of how we care about people–our clients–first.

The Effects of Sexual Abuse

Victims of sexual abuse suffer trauma in the moments of their abuse and long after. There are physical effects, as abuse is often violent, and even if there are no outward bruises or broken bones, victims can sustain internal damage or contract sexually transmitted diseases. Along with physical consequences, the  Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) describes potential psychological and emotional effects of sexual abuse:

• Eating Disorders: Sexual abusers take away their victims’ sense of autonomy and control. Eating disorders are one way survivors seek to regain control of some part of their lives
• Substance Abuse Disorder: To ease the pain of their trauma or even forget it for a while, some victims turn to addictive substances
• Self-Harm: By inflicting physical pain on themselves, victims stop themselves from experiencing their emotional pain
• Panic or Anxiety Attacks or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Victims of abuse or other trauma often experience overwhelming fear, increased heart rate, flashbacks, or other symptoms long after the actual trauma ends
• Sleep Disorders: Nightmares and night terrors, trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or sleeping too long are all potential effects of abuse
• Suicidal Ideation: Some victims see no escape from their pain other than by ending their lives

Sexual abuse is never the victim’s fault, and yet these–and other–effects of abuse prevent survivors from living the healthy, contented lives they deserve.

Their physical well-being, their ability to succeed in school or work, have satisfying relationships, and reach their full potential can be severely compromised if not destroyed. The team at White Law PLLC is here to hold abusers accountable for their actions and help victims find relief from their suffering.

Getting Justice Matters

Your abuser may face criminal charges. If convicted, they will face criminal responsibility for their actions. A conviction may bring you some satisfaction, but not a sense of “personal” justice.

For a crime as violating as sexual abuse, victims deserve a sense of personal justice. They deserve to see their abuser held accountable for their–the victim’s–suffering and losses, and a Rochester Hills sexual abuse attorney can help that happen.  Through a personal injury claim, victims may secure financial compensation for and acknowledgment of:

• Counseling costs
• Related medical expenses
• Emotional and psychological suffering
• Lost wages for missing work during crises and recovery times
• Diminished quality of life

Additional benefits and healing come when sexual abuse victims pursue a personal injury case:

• Exposing their abuser’s behavior publicly
• Protecting others from abuser’s potential to cause harm
• Deterring potential abusers
• Speaking out and demanding attention be paid to this devastating societal problem

You Will Not Fight Alone

Holding your abuser accountable may seem like a scary proposition. We understand that. But we can also assure of constant support, loyalty, and insightful legal guidance from a sexual abuse lawyer in Rochester Hills.

Your attorney will prepare you to answer hard questions and remain by your side every step of the way so you do not ever feel “blindsided” or alone. You can also trust your sexual abuse attorney in Rochester to speak passionately on your behalf. Our team has three main goals: to protect you, to hold your abuser accountable, and to get you justice.

You can expect your attorney to listen to your story with compassion and respect–and to believe you. We will investigate your situation thoroughly, gathering evidence from every available source to support your claim. While we will work to settle your case through negotiation, our team of skilled, aggressive, successful trial lawyers will also be ready to take your case to court.

Sexual Abuse Victims Must Be Heard

The statistics on sexual abuse show the range of victims–all ages and genders are affected–and emphasize the importance of taking all measures to expose abusers and prevent these tragic violations. Your decision to hold your abuser accountable helps with that fight. Sexual abuse happens:

• At home–children are abused by parents, and one adult partner can inflict abuse on the other
• At school or daycare
• At summer camp
• On dates
• On Michigan college campuses
• At workplaces
• In professional situations
• In nursing homes
• By clergy members 
• At the hands of strangers

Sadly, the possibilities are limitless, and according to RAINN, a sexual abuse event occurs every 68 seconds nationwide. In its statistics on perpetrators, RAINN reports that for eight of every ten rapes, victims know their attacker, and in 93% of reported juvenile sexual abuse cases, victims knew their abuser.

Identifying Abusers

Abusers themselves are responsible for their actions, but they may not be the only culpable parties. In investigating your case, your sexual abuse attorney in Rochester may discover third parties whose negligence or complicity contributed to your abuse. Third parties may include:

• School employees and other mandatory reporters who failed to report signs of sexual abuse.
• Companies or employers who did not act on reports of abuse failed to carry out proper background checks on those they hired or who allowed unsafe working environments to grow and create the opportunity for abuse.
• Landlords or business owners who failed to implement adequate security measures on their properties.
• Religious institutions who have ignored or hid allegations of abuse, allowing clergy sex abuse to continue.

If you or a loved one has suffered abuse at the hands of a clergy member, our compassionate Rochester Hills clergy sex abuse lawyer can help you take the next steps to heal and hold the responsible parties accountable. 

You Deserve Justice

The team at White Law PLLC is dedicated to getting you and other sexual abuse victims the justice you deserve. We cannot change what happened, but we can fight to get your pain acknowledged, your losses covered, and your abuser held accountable so you can work on healing and moving forward. A Rochester Hills sexual abuse lawyer from our team is ready to listen and ready to fight for you.