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Detroit Sexual Abuse Lawyer

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$450+ Million Recovered



Legally Reviewed by:

Jonathan Rosenfeld

J.D

  • Over $450 Million worth of case results

  • Awarded The Best Lawyer in 2024 by U.S. News

  • Nationally Recognized in Legal Community

Sexual abuse is far more common than many understand. Every year in Detroit, there are thousands of victims of sexual abuse and assault, many of whom don’t know where to turn for answers. 

In 2021 alone, there were 795 reported incidents of sexual assault in Detroit [1], which doesn’t include the countless others that went unreported that year. 

Victims who have been sexually abused or assaulted can seek legal assistance to file civil lawsuits against their abusers. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is a law firm that supports survivors throughout the city of Detroit, helping them pursue compensation for legal damages suffered because of sexual abuse or assault. 

Our commitment is to support these survivors through the claims process so they stand a better chance of financial recovery. 

WE ARE ONLY ACCEPTING SEXUAL ABUSE CASES INVOLVING INSTITUTIONS.

IF YOU HAVE A MATTER INVOLVING A RELATIVE OR ACQUAINTANCE, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL BAR ASSOCIATION

Why Choose Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, seeking compensation for our clients is our top priority. However, we also understand the importance of demonstrating compassion to those who have been sexually abused. Your Detroit sexual abuse lawyer will handle the heavy lifting of your civil lawsuit so you can focus on healing physically and emotionally. 

$21 Million

Hotel sexual assault case

$15 Million

Coach grooming and abuse

$6.5 Million

Cruise ship rape settlement

$6.3 Million

Negligent security assault

$6 Million

Child sexual abuse lawsuit

$5 Million

Therapist sexual abuse  settlement

Our law firm has a proven track record of winning settlements for those who have experienced sexual trauma. During the legal process, we will investigate your claim thoroughly, assess all legal damages to determine a fair settlement amount and protect your rights under Michigan law. We will fight relentlessly on your behalf to hold either individuals or institutions accountable for your suffering. 

Understanding Sexual Abuse and Assault

Sexual abuse is defined as a person forcing or pressuring someone else into sexual contact. This is a slightly more broad definition that covers many forms of abuse. Sexual assault has a similar meaning but with the added characteristic of penetration. 

The critical element in both definitions is that they occur without the victim’s consent. This includes people who are forced into something through violence or threats and people who are unable to give legal consent, such as minors. Additionally, sexual abuse and assault typically occur when there are power imbalances between the two parties. 

Common Forms of Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse can have long-lasting effects on victims, but it does not always look the same. Here are some common forms of abuse you may experience that could result in a civil claim:

  • Sexual intercourse – Penetrative sexual intercourse, which can include sexual oral contact, is considered assault when the victim does not give their consent or is unable to do so.
  • Sexual exposure – Exposing someone to sexual imagery, such as photos or flashing, can be classified as abuse if it is done without their permission.
  • Sexual exploitation – Those who have earned trust or power over others sometimes take advantage of more vulnerable individuals to abuse or assault them.
  • Child sexual abuse – A child is unable to give legal consent, so any form of sexual contact or pressure is considered abuse.
  • Unwanted physical contact – Touching someone in a sexual manner, with either a body part or object, could fall under the category of sexual abuse or assault.
  • Incest – Sexual contact between family members who are legally forbidden to marry, such as between a parent and child or siblings.
  • Clergy sexual abuse – Abuse perpetrated by religious leaders or clergy members, often exploiting their position of trust and authority over congregants, including adults and minors.

Institutions Where Sexual Abuse Is Most Likely to Occur

Sexual abuse cases occur in many different locations. Unfortunately, some of these attacks occur in institutions where people are supposed to be safe. Based on the cases we’ve handled, here are some institutions where you may experience sexual abuse or assault. 

Workplaces

The workplace is one of the most common locations for sexual harassment or abuse. Often, these situations occur because of the power dynamics between managers or employers and employees. 

Inpatient Treatment Facilities

Clinics where patients can stay overnight for treatment are considered inpatient facilities. If patients are physically vulnerable, they could easily be sexually abused or assaulted by staff or other individuals in the clinic. 

Correctional Facilities

Prisons feature intense power dynamics among inmates, guards, and other staff. As a result, sexual assault and abuse are common in correctional facilities and often get swept under the rug. 

Foster Care

Foster families are tasked with caring for children who do not have safe homes to live in. However, vetting processes are imperfect, so a child could be placed in a house with an abuser. 

Daycare Facilities

Daycare centers are supposed to be positive experiences for children, allowing parents to work while their kids are cared for. If some of the staff are bad apples, they might abuse a child by taking advantage of their authority over them. 

Educational Institutions

Academic facilities like schools involve many relationships between students, teachers, and administrators. The differences in authority create opportunities for abusers to behave inappropriately toward those under their power. 

Religious Institutions

Many of our past clients have experienced abuse at religious institutions. Clergy abuse is unfortunately common because of the amount of trust that religious leaders often hold. This can cause members or participants in those organizations to be put in vulnerable positions. 

Nursing Homes

Nursing homes are rampant with abuse of all kinds, including sexual. Elderly individuals may not be capable of defending or advocating for themselves when abuse occurs, so abusive staff members or residents may take advantage. 

Sports Clubs

In highly competitive environments, athletes may learn to trust their coaches or trainers too much. If these individuals with authority are abusive, they can use their relationships with young athletes to commit assault or abuse. 

Military Institutions

The military has a long history of struggling to report and respond to instances of sexual abuse. Often, these incidents are swept under the rug to protect those in authority, placing others in even more vulnerable positions where they are afraid to speak up. 

Hotels and Short-Term Rentals

Many sex abuse victims were assaulted or treated inappropriately while they stayed in hotels or other short-term accommodations. You never know what staff may have access to room keys in these locations. 

Shelters

Shelters are meant to be refuges for those suffering in different areas of life. Unfortunately, these people are already highly vulnerable. When you add the lack of supervision and security in shelters to the mix, the opportunities for sexual abuse are numerous.

Steps to Take If You Are a Victim of Sexual Assault

If you are the victim of sexual abuse or assault, you must take the proper steps in the aftermath of the event. 

Your first action should be ensuring your safety and seeking immediate medical attention, especially if you have significant injuries. Not only should you prioritize your health, but your treatment could play a role in your legal claim. 

Next, you should report the sexual abuse or assault to local authorities, such as the Detroit Police Department. If you are not comfortable doing so, you could call the National Sexual Assault Hotline instead (800-656-4673). 

Then, begin documenting all relevant information about your abuse. What happened in the lead-up to the actual abuse? What communications may have occurred between you and the perpetrator? What happened during and after the abuse? This information could also become essential in your lawsuit. 

Contacting a Detroit sexual abuse lawyer should be the next step. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help you build a solid case to increase your chances of winning a fair settlement. You can start with a free consultation to ask questions about the claims process within the state’s legal system. 

Lastly, you should look into support services for survivors of sexual abuse and assault. If one-on-one counseling with a professional would be helpful, then look up Detroit sexual abuse therapists. If you prefer other services like support groups, you can connect to an organization like First Step

Compensation for Sexual Abuse Victims

An experienced attorney from our law firm will help you pursue compensation for your legal damages. There are three types of damages you could claim in a sexual abuse case: Economic, non-economic, and punitive. 

Economic damages include lost wages, medical expenses, future medical expenses, and therapy bills. Non-economic damages can include emotional distress, physical pain and suffering, post-traumatic stress disorder, and loss of enjoyment of life. 

Punitive damages are only awarded in cases of malicious intent or extreme recklessness. 

Several factors will also impact the settlement amount you can win. The severity of your injuries, the extent of your losses, the amount of evidence in the case, and the skill of your lawyer can all influence how much money you win during the legal process. 

If you seek legal advice on your case, you can hardly do better than Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers. Our law firm has worked with numerous clients who have experienced sexual trauma, winning settlements on their behalf. 

We understand that money cannot reverse the pain in your body and mind, but it can help secure your future as you focus on healing physically and emotionally.

Liability in Sexual Abuse Cases

Establishing liability is a critical element in any personal injury lawsuit. To hold an individual or institution accountable for your damages, you must first prove their liability. Our experienced attorneys will guide you through the process, ensuring you take the right approach to secure the justice you deserve.

For example, you may plan to hold an institution accountable for your sexual abuse case. Institutions could be liable for failing to prevent abuse, report incidents, or respond to complaints. Additionally, these entities may be complicit if they perform insufficient background checks, enact poor supervision practices, or create environments where abuse can occur. 

You should also know that other legal precedents could play a role in the outcome of your case. Vicarious liability occurs when one entity is held responsible for the actions of another related entity. Title IX governs the treatment of different sexes at educational institutions. 

Furthermore, if your abuse occurred within a religious institution, certain legal principles regarding power dynamics may affect your claim. 

How to Prove a Sexual Abuse Case

To seek justice in a legal action, you must prove liability. To do so, four elements must be present. 

First, the defendant must have had a duty of care toward you. Second, they must have breached that duty through action or inaction. You must also prove causation between their actions and the incident in which you experienced sexual trauma. Lastly, there must be legal damages that resulted from the incident. 

Your best chance of proving liability is by hiring a Detroit sexual abuse lawyer from our law firm. Our team has the expertise needed to navigate a sexual abuse claim. We understand what evidence will strengthen your claim, such as police reports, eyewitness testimonies, photos of physical injuries, proof of medical expenses, and statements from subject matter experts. 

With the support of our legal team, your sexual trauma civil lawsuit will have a better chance of recovering financial damages. 

How Our Detroit Sexual Abuse Lawyers Can Help

Many survivors are sometimes forced to file claims against powerful institutions or individuals with far more resources. When you have an experienced attorney on your side, the playing field is leveled. 

Before you hire any legal representation, you can ask all the questions you have during a free consultation. During this conversation, we will discuss your legal options and the right path for your claim. 

Then, we will conduct a detailed investigation of your sexual trauma case. This will involve assessing all your damages, gathering evidence, speaking to witnesses, consulting official reports, and building a strong case. If the defendant is stubborn, we will negotiate from a position of strength to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. 

If your case goes to court, we will represent you every step of the way. Preparation is key, and we will make sure you understand the process and what to expect throughout the proceedings.

The Time Limits for Filing a Claim in Detroit, Michigan

Abusers may face two types of legal consequences: a civil lawsuit and criminal charges. A prosecutor, such as a district attorney, can only file criminal charges, while civilians can file civil claims against perpetrators to recover damages. 

However, you have a certain amount of time to file your claim in Michigan. For personal injury claims, you have three years from the incident date to file before the statute of limitations kicks in, after which you may not be able to secure compensation. You can pursue a civil claim even if the perpetrator is facing allegations of a criminal nature. 

This statute does not apply to criminal charges. More severe cases of sexual abuse or assault can proceed to a criminal trial if they are filed within ten years of the incident. If you are uncertain about the deadline for your claim, seek legal advice from an experienced attorney. 

Contact a Detroit Sexual Abuse Lawyer Today!

Sexual abuse is a huge problem in Detroit, Michigan. You could suffer from lifelong emotional distress at the hands of the abuser. Although a civil lawsuit cannot undo the damage, it can help your financial recovery.

Jonathan Rosenfeld, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer

A Detroit sexual abuse attorney from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can ensure your rights are upheld as you pursue justice. We will work tirelessly and provide guidance throughout the claims process to help you hold the perpetrator accountable for their actions and earn fair compensation.

Call us at 888-424-5757 or complete our online form

Related Practice Areas

Resources: [1] Bridge Detroit

Client Reviews

Jonathan Rosenfeld was professionally objective, timely, and knowledgeable. Also, his advice was extremely effective regarding my case. In addition, Jonathan was understanding and patient pertaining to any of my questions or concerns. I was very happy with the end result and I highly recommend Jonathan Rosenfeld.

– Michonne Proulx

Extremely impressed with this law firm. They took control of a bad motorcycle crash that left my uncle seriously injured. Without any guarantee of a financial recovery, they went out and hired accident investigators and engineers to help prove how the accident happened. I am grateful that they worked on a contingency fee basis as there was no way we could have paid for these services on our own.

– Ethan Armstrong

Jonathan Rosenfeld was professionally objective, timely, and knowledgeable. Also, his advice was extremely effective regarding my case. In addition, Jonathan was understanding and patient pertaining to any of my questions or concerns. I was very happy with the end result and I highly recommend Jonathan Rosenfeld.

– Giulia

This lawyer really helped me get compensation for my motorcycle accident case. I know there is no way that I could have gotten anywhere near the amount that Mr. Rosenfeld was able to get to settle my case. Thank you.

– Daniel Kaim

Jonathan did a great job helping my family navigate through a lengthy lawsuit involving my grandmother’s death in a nursing home. Through every step of the case, Jonathan kept my family informed of the progression of the case. Although our case eventually settled at a mediation, I really was impressed at how well prepared Jonathan was to take the case to trial.

– Lisa

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Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers
225 W Wacker Dr #1660
Chicago, IL 60606

Phone: (847) 835-8895
Toll Free: (888) 424-5757

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