Haverford Sexual Assault Lawyer

A sexual assault is a traumatic experience for the survivor. It can lead to long-lasting emotional scars that impact the survivor and their family. In the pursuit of justice and accountability, a sexual assault survivor might not always know all their legal options.

If someone sexually abused you, we want you to know that you’re not alone in this. A Haverford sexual assault lawyer is here to help you pick up the pieces.

You’ll find a supportive legal representative at Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan to speak with during a free consultation to discuss your legal options. Those options may allow you to recover a monetary settlement.

Of course, no amount of money can make up for the assault and trauma, but the compensation can help provide you with some measure of peace.

What Are the Common Forms of Sexual Abuse?

According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), 423,020 Americans 12 and over are sexually assaulted each year. Sadly, many of those victims reside right on the outskirts of Philadelphia, here in Haverford Township.

How do we know this?

Because our Haverford sexual assault attorneys represent those individuals in civil lawsuits in which they seek compensation for their incident-related losses. Abuse and assault are often used interchangeably.

When preceded by the word “sexual,” these acts refer to any unwanted, undesired sexual activity, which can include:

• Child sexual abuse
• Rape
• Clergy abuse of a sexual nature
• Inappropriate sexual remarks or touching
• Having sexually explicit photos or videos of yourself disseminated online

The list above is quite brief and far from exhaustive. In truth, any non-consensual sexually oriented activity could be added to the list above. So, if you’ve been mistreated, consider reaching out to our firm to discuss what happened and whether you have a viable civil case.

Who Commits Sexual Abuse in Pennsylvania?

A sexual assault can be perpetrated by anyone with criminal intent. An assailant is not limited to a particular age or economic status. According to data collected by RAINN, 48% of sexual assault victims were in their own home when the assault occurred, and 24% of victims were at work, school, or another activity when the assault took place.

Since our law firm’s inception, we’ve represented sexual abuse victims in civil lawsuit filings against the following defendants and others:

• Educators
• Camp counselors
• Utility company workers
• Salespersons and vendors
• Law enforcement
• Clients
• Caregivers, like daycare workers and nursing home staff members
• Health care professionals
• Members of the clergy
• Massage therapists

Sadly, sexual assault can also come from more familiar places like a spouse, friend, neighbor, someone you’re dating, or other family member. No matter who the abuser was, it’s likely that we’ve aided clients in pursuing lawsuits against them.

A Haverford sexual abuse lawyer is here to help you do the same.

What Kind of Evidence Is Needed to Prove a Sexual Assault Case?

The criminal standard of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt is inherently challenging. In a civil lawsuit, you have to prove your case by a preponderance of the evidence. In other words, based on the evidence presented, the assault is more likely to have happened than not.

With a sexual assault case, a matching DNA sample that links the assailant to the crime is an important piece of evidence to put the assailant at the scene of the crime.

However, there is more evidence that is needed to support a claim, especially when it involves third parties that you’re also holding accountable.

That potential evidence can include the following:

Surveillance Videos

Surveillance videos can demonstrate that the type of environment where the assault took place did not have adequate security measures in place, such as secure windows and doors or proper lighting.

Eyewitness Testimony

A survivor will often share their story with a friend, counselor, or medical professional immediately after the assault. That person can be called in to share what they heard and when. That can help corroborate the facts of the incident.

Police Report

A police report will provide supporting details of when and where the assault took place. It can also detail the investigation and any arrest.

Medical Records Showing Harm

When a sexual assault survivor seeks damages for the crime, it is important to have medical records that back up the severity of the physical injuries and the extent of the emotional trauma.

Financial Statements

There could be a significant amount of lost time at work and medical expenses that were the result of the assault. Financial statements that support those losses can be an important part of the evidence you need to prevail.

It might seem overwhelming to have to pull together all that evidence from so many sources. Fortunately, the attorneys at Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan can assist clients with gathering all the relevant evidence they need to support their claim.

How Does Sexual Abuse Impact Victims?

Much like any other traumatic event, a sexual assault can leave a lasting, negative impression on victims. One of the most common impacts is how such an occurrence affects a person’s mental health. It’s not uncommon for victims to receive the following diagnoses:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

Many victims may additionally pick up unhealthy habits after a sexual assault, such as overeating, drinking alcohol, doing drugs, and cutting. It’s not uncommon for those who are sexually abused to also become suicidal.

While mental health treatment can help victims, finding the right practitioner who offers the specific type of therapy that can help a victim can be costly.

This is where it can be helpful to have an experienced Haverford sexual assault attorney like you’ll find at Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan on your side to assist you in paying for this care, as well as any other damages you may have.

Work With a Trauma Informed Haverford Sexual Assault Lawyer

In the aftermath of sexual abuse, you may be expected to return to life as normal, as if nothing happened, all the while you’re hurting inside. No one should have to live like this, which is why we strongly urge you to reach out to our legal team at Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan as soon as possible after your assault.

We don’t want to add any stress on your shoulders, but instead, alleviate some of it. Contacting a Haverford sexual assault lawyer is your first step towards finding closure and holding your abuser accountable.

There will be challenges ahead, but our supportive team can provide guidance and information on how to tackle them.

Reach out to us to schedule a confidential consultation so we can share what your rights are under Pennsylvania law and what the next step could be towards finding a remedy.