Whether you are a teenager in Saginaw struggling to speak out after experiencing abuse by a family friend or an adult survivor ready to come forward years later after discovering that the person who harmed you was protected by a trusted institution, a powerful legal advocate may be able to help you through these difficult times.
Seeking compassionate legal advocacy is one of the best ways for victims of sexual abuse to move beyond their suffering and build the future they deserve. Fortunately, our team is here to help you find the courage to demand justice.
Your dedicated Saginaw sexual abuse lawyer with White Law PLLC offers a no-win, no-fee guarantee, allowing you to pursue justice without being held back by financial worries.
Your Saginaw personal injury lawyer from our firm is here to provide the compassionate representation you need. Contact us to request your confidential consultation and explore your opportunities for legal recourse.
Sexual Abuse Survivors Experience Long-Lasting Trauma
Sexual abuse often leaves survivors with emotional, physical, and psychological scars that affect every aspect of their lives. These effects may last for years, creating challenges in relationships, careers, and mental health. Some of the most common ways sexual abuse impacts survivors include:
Emotional and Psychological Impact
Survivors often experience anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of the abuse they have endured. These conditions can make it difficult to maintain relationships, focus at work, or engage in daily activities.
Therapy and counseling can help you manage these effects, but the journey to recovery may still be long.
Emotional trauma often extends to feelings of shame, guilt, or self-blame, even though you are not at fault. These emotions could prevent you from seeking help or coming forward. Fortunately, with a strong support system, you can still get the justice you deserve.
Physical Health Issues
Sexual abuse often leads to physical injuries, including chronic pain or damage to sensitive areas. Survivors may also face long-term health issues, such as migraines, gastrointestinal disorders, or complications from untreated injuries. These conditions require ongoing medical care, which can create financial strain.
Disruption to Personal Relationships
You may struggle to trust others, making it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. These challenges often extend to romantic, family, and professional connections. You may feel isolated or withdrawn, further compounding their emotional distress.
Educational and Career Challenges
Survivors who experienced abuse during childhood or adolescence may face difficulties completing their education. Missed school days, difficulty concentrating, and emotional distress can disrupt academic progress.
These challenges often continue into adulthood, which is why it is so important to understand the importance of trauma-informed representation in sexual abuse cases.
Your Fight Is Our Fight
How You Can Make Your Abuser Pay
The legal options for survivors of child sexual abuse give you an opportunity to ensure your abuser and anyone else who shares responsibility for the abuse is held accountable across every avenue.
While each option may not be available for every case, we will know more after reviewing the specific circumstances of your situation. Some of the potential legal options that may be available to you and your family include the following:
Filing a Criminal Complaint
If you file a report with law enforcement officials, you can initiate a criminal investigation, which may result in charges against the abuser. Police and prosecutors gather evidence to build a case and seek justice on behalf of survivors.
You may also be able to apply for an order of protection if you have concerns about further contact with the individual who abused you with help from your Saginaw sexual abuse attorney.
Filing a Civil Lawsuit
Civil lawsuits allow you to hold your abuser and any enabling institutions accountable for the harm you suffered. With civil claims, you may be entitled to specific damages such as medical expenses, emotional trauma, and lost income. Pursuing a lawsuit gives you an opportunity to seek the justice you deserve.
When you file a personal injury claim for sexual abuse, you can expect your legal team to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and build a compelling case on your behalf.
We will represent you during negotiations with the defendant or their legal team. If your case goes to trial, you can expect us to advocate for you and present compelling supporting evidence in your favor.
Pursuing Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are awarded in cases where the defendant’s conduct was intentional or egregious under MCL Section 445.911. These damages serve to punish the abuser and deter others from similar behavior. Survivors must present clear evidence of the defendant’s malicious actions to secure punitive damages.
Punitive damages are not automatically awarded in every case and require careful legal strategy. Your sexual abuse lawyer in Saginaw, MI, from White Law PLLC, can help you determine whether punitive damages are appropriate in your claim.
Seeking these damages can provide you with a sense of closure, knowing you did everything you could to hold your abuser accountable.
We know how to get our clients the results they need in the toughest legal arenas.
The Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse Claims Is Complex
Michigan law requires survivors to file a sexual abuse claim within three years of the abuse or before their 28th birthday under MCL Section 600.5805.
These time limits can prevent you from pursuing legal action if you are unaware of your rights or discover the abuse later in life. If you are a victim of sexual abuse and the statute of limitations has expired, contact our legal team, as we may still be able to help you pursue your claim.
Exceptions to the statute of limitations may apply in cases involving suppressed memories or delayed discovery of the abuse. For example, if you recently uncovered evidence or recalled suppressed memories of the incident, you may still be eligible to file a claim.
In some cases, new evidence or legislative changes can create opportunities to file a claim beyond the standard timeframe, so do not hesitate to contact us for the clarity you need when you need it most.
We know how to get our clients the results they need in the toughest legal arenas.
Meet with a Highly Experienced Sexual Abuse Lawyer in Saginaw for Help Today
Sexual abuse can leave you feeling uncertain about your future and struggling with the lasting effects of trauma. But with your sexual abuse attorney in Saginaw, MI, from White Law PLLC, committed to helping you hold your abuser accountable, you can rest easier knowing our team will fight tirelessly to make them pay.
Contact our office by phone or through our secured contact form to schedule your 100% free consultation as soon as today.
We’re Experienced. We Care.
We Exceed Client Expectations.
