We all carry a lot of memories from our childhood into adulthood. Those memories shape our personalities and perspectives. Unfortunately, some of those memories can include trauma, which can be extremely detrimental. This is especially true with survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Many survivors of incidents of childhood sexual abuse find themselves dealing with emotional struggles such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Those feelings can manifest in eating disorders, substance abuse, and other forms of self-inflicted punishment.
These are the kinds of issues often associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
If you were the victim of sexual abuse when you were a minor, you might feel as though you have no recourse to seek justice or compensation for your suffering. There may be options to pursue that can help you find closure and support the healing process.
The attorneys at Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan have years of experience helping clients who are adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Our compassionate sexual assault lawyers can provide guidance and information about what might be available in your situation.
Deciding to pursue a claim is a big step. It will help you understand what challenges you might face and what legal limitations there might be with reporting the incident.
Statute of Limitations in Philadelphia
Historical sexual abuse is a term used to describe an incident of sexual assault that happened in the distant past of an adult. This would apply to any incident that occurred to an individual under 18.
In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for a personal injury lawsuit is two years from the date of the incident.
That would apply to an adult who was the victim of assault. However, there are exceptions with historical sexual abuse.
The Pennsylvania Office of Victim Advocate explains the limitations with the following exceptions:
- For Civil – Childhood Sexual Abuse: Civil statute of limitations is capped at the age of adulthood plus 12 years, i.e. age 30 for most.
- Criminal – Childhood Sexual Abuse: Criminal statute of limitations is capped at the age of adulthood plus 32 years. i.e., age 50 for most
- Criminal – Adult Major Sexual Offenses: Criminal statute of limitations for adults is capped at 12 years after the offense was committed.
- Civil – Adult Major Sexual Offenses: Civil statute of limitations for adults is capped at 2 years after the offense was committed.
To break it down, if you were the victim of sexual abuse as a child, you have 12 years past the time when you turn 18 to file a lawsuit. To file criminal charges, you have 32 years after you turned 18 to report the incident.
Types of Sexual Abuse
It is important to remember that the abuse you suffered as a child was not your fault. It is also understandable that you might struggle with processing what happened to you. Filing a claim and reporting the incident will mean reliving the trauma.
As far as the courts and authorities are concerned, in addition to non-consensual physical contact, sexual abuse can also include any form of unwanted non-physical interaction.
For a minor, that can involve having an adult show them pornography or engage in exhibitionism.
Sadly, there have been many instances of childhood sexual abuse involving the clergy. Other forms can have taken place in the following environments:
- Daycare and after-school care
- Little League
- Boy and Girl Scouts
- Foster care
- Summer camp
Too often, the victims of this abuse were groomed by their abuser to keep what happened a secret to avoid shame and embarrassment. However, many supportive therapies encourage survivors to confront what happened by sharing the story with the authorities.
Reporting the Crime and Filing the Claim
When you’re ready to move forward, the attorneys at Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan can provide information about how to report the crime. This is a matter that the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office will investigate.
The further from the date of the incident, the more challenging it might be to prosecute, but that should not dissuade you from seeking justice.
Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan can also help with the personal injury lawsuit aspect. In addition to holding the perpetrator criminally accountable, you can seek compensation in the form of economic and non-economic damages. These can cover any medical bills for counseling you have incurred. You can also seek damages for the emotional trauma you’ve endured.
In addition to the abuser, other entities might be held liable, such as the organization that hired the individual. That can include churches, sports leagues, or school districts.
The information we can provide begins at our first consultation.
Call to schedule that talk today, and let’s help you move forward.