When Your Child Has Been Sexually Abused

When your child has been sexually abused, you can bring a civil lawsuit against the abuser as well as report the behavior as a crime. "Sexual abuse" is a term used when there is unlawful sexual contact or other kinds of sex-related impropriety between a child and an adult, or a young child and a much older child.

While a child is still a minor (usually under 18 years of age), the child's parent or guardian must bring a lawsuit on the child's behalf. After a child becomes an adult, the adult child may bring the lawsuit.

Many states have special rules for lawsuits brought by adults who suffered sexual abuse as a child. Sometimes, state laws extend the time period during which an adult can bring such a lawsuit (called a "statute of limitations").

It is often difficult to win such cases, as any evidence of the incident(s) and damages has faded during the time the child is growing up.

Child abuse laws in most states require people who learn of child abuse to report the abuse to authorities. Teachers, doctors and police are usually required by law to report evidence of child abuse. A person violating these laws and failing to report the sexual abuse of a child may also be liable to the child for the injuries suffered by the child.

If you or your child have been sexually abused, it's important to talk to a qualified personal injury lawyer right away. Lawyers.com provides a free service called Lawyer Locator to help you find a lawyer in any city or state in the United States.

Related Web Links:

Info On Sexual Abuse

Sherrie Bennett, with over 15 years of law practice, is the former director of Student Legal Services at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Personal Injury Message Board for more help