Sexual abuse and assault are sex crimes known to impact the survivor for the rest of their lives. From physical pain and emotional distress to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), those who are sexually abused will have to live with what happened forever.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers are dedicated to helping individuals who have been sexually assaulted or abused bring their abuser(s) to justice and get them a settlement that can financially help with the healing process. Whenever you’re ready to discuss your experience in San Francisco, we’ll investigate and protect your rights.
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, our top priority is securing the maximum compensation for survivors of sexual abuse. With a proven track record of substantial settlements and verdicts, we ensure all aspects of your claim—medical expenses, therapy costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering—are thoroughly addressed.
Hotel sexual assault case
Coach grooming and abuse
Cruise ship rape settlement
Negligent security assault
Child sexual abuse lawsuit
Therapist sexual abuse settlement
Whether you’re ready to file immediately or need time, a sexual assault attorney from our law firm will support you every step of the way. Our experience handling sensitive cases allows us to protect your rights while focusing on your healing and financial recovery.
Understanding Sexual Abuse and Assault
Sexual assault and abuse are broad terms that encompass different sex crimes. With such a wide spectrum, it’s not surprising that some people don’t realize what happened to them is sexual abuse or assault.
Any unwanted and non-consensual sexual acts, comments, touching, or behaviors fall under sex crimes. Generally, sexual abuse refers to sexual acts and behavior that happen more than once and over some time, while sexual assault refers to specific incidents generally.
What makes any sexual act abusive is the lack of consent and, often, power imbalances. Consent needs to be freely given, ongoing, and enthusiastic. It’s important to know that consent can be taken away at any point. Power imbalances tend to be between an adult and a child or between anyone with any form of power over the other.
Common Forms of Sexual Abuse
Sexual assault and abuse can happen in various ways. Common forms of sexual abuse or assault include:
- Childhood Sexual Abuse: Any sexual misconduct between an adult and a minor. Usually, this involves authority figures taking advantage of a child or grooming them.
- Statutory Rape: Sexual acts between a minor and an adult where the minor gives “consent.” While they believe they’ve given consent, their age makes it so they cannot give real consent. This act typically happens between a teenager and an adult.
- Rape and Sexual Assault: Non-consensual sexual intercourse or penetration of any kind. It usually involves excessive force and sometimes drugs and alcohol.
- Incest: Sexual conduct between family members. It often is between an adult and child but can be between any family member.
- Digital Sexual Exploitation: Sharing intimate videos and photos of someone online without their knowledge or consent.
- Voyeurism: Watching someone undress or during sexual acts without their knowledge or consent.
- Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome sexual touches. This often happens in the workplace and includes asking for sexual favors or making sexual comments that make the other uncomfortable.
Institutions Where Sexual Abuse Is Most Likely to Occur
Shelters
Those in shelters are there to stay safe, but if sexual assault happens, we’ll be there to hold the perpetrator and the institution liable.
Sports Clubs
It’s well-known that athletes are sometimes abused by their team doctors, coaches, and other team members. Regardless of the team or perpetrator, we’ll protect the victim’s interests.
Military Institutions
Abuse and assault in the military are often swept under the rug, but we’ll bring your case to light to help you and other survivors.
Hotels and Short-Term Rentals
Hotels and short-term rentals are transient, and we’ll do everything in our power to support you as you file your claim of assault in one of these institutions.
Foster Care
We’ll work to protect the rights of any minor in the San Francisco, California, foster care system if they’re sexually abused or assaulted by foster parents, other foster placements, or employees.
Daycare Facilities
We have experience negotiating claims for children who have been abused in their daycare facilities by employees or other children.
Nursing Homes
Elderly abuse is a concern in California nursing homes. If sexual abuse or assault happens, we’ll be there to protect you or your loved one’s rights.
Workplace
Many people have to deal with sexual harassment or abuse within the workplace, but we’ll work to bring the perpetrator to justice and change workplace practices.
Inpatient Treatment Facilities
For those sexually assaulted in inpatient treatment facilities by other patients or employees, we’ll help hold the institution liable and get you the compensation you deserve.
Prisons and Correctional Facilities
Whether the abuse is from another inmate or correctional officer, we’re prepared to take on these sexual abuse cases.
Religious Institutions
Many children deal with clergy abuse in a place where they’re supposed to feel safe. If applicable, we’ll help bring the clergy member to justice and even the religious institution.
Educational Institutions
From elementary schools to college campuses, we’ll defend you and hold all those responsible for the abuse suffered.
Steps to Take If You Are a Victim of Sexual Assault
If you’ve been sexually assaulted or abused, your safety is the first thing that needs to be on your mind before anything else. Some steps to take immediately after a sexual assault are:
- Find a safe place to go so you’re not near the person who hurt you.
- Call the San Francisco police department to report the assault or abuse.
- Visit a hospital or other medical facility regardless of whether your injuries are visible.
- Preserve as much evidence as you can, like the clothing you were wearing, and ask medical professionals for a sexual assault forensic exam (rape kit).
- Seek support from those you trust and from resources around San Francisco, like San Francisco Women Against Rape (SFWAR).
- Contact an experienced attorney, like those at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, to guide you through the process of bringing your abuser to justice.
Compensation for Sexual Abuse Victims
There isn’t any amount of money in this world that will make what happened okay or make it like it never happened. That doesn’t mean receiving financial compensation can’t benefit your overall healing journey.
There are several types of compensation you might be awarded for your civil lawsuit:
- Therapy and medical expenses
- Emotional distress
- Lost income or wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Punitive damages
Something important to know about compensation is that the amount of your settlement will vary. What the total amount will be depends on:
- The duration of the abuse
- The strength of the evidence
- The severity of the abuse or assault
- The impact the assault or abuse has had on the survivor’s life
Liability in Sexual Abuse Cases
In some sexual assault cases, it’s not just the single perpetrator that can be held accountable. Depending on where the abuse or assault happened, it’s possible to hold the institution liable, too. We can help sexual abuse survivors by holding institutions liable on the grounds of:
- Failure to report
- Negligent hiring practices
- Negligent retention
- Inadequate training on spotting the signs of sexual abuse and assault
Legal principles like vicarious liability, Title IX regulations, and power dynamics within religious communities can further establish institutional responsibility. For example, Title IX mandates additional protections and accountability for educational institutions, ensuring they take active steps to prevent and respond to sexual abuse.
Institutions can be complicit by creating environments where abuse can occur, such as poor supervision or ignoring complaints. As your experienced San Francisco sexual abuse lawyer, we utilize these principles to hold institutions accountable and seek justice for survivors.
How to Prove a Sexual Abuse Case
While we believe everything you tell us about your sexual assault, we’ll still need to prove it to the courts when seeking justice and compensation. We take a comprehensive approach to all sexual assault cases to make sure we are fully protecting your rights. Our attorneys work with other legal experts to build a strong case by:
- Gathering as much evidence as possible
- Establishing who the liable parties are
- Demonstrating the harm done to the survivor
- Providing expert testimony supporting the claim
- Thoroughly investigating the sexual abuse claim
How Our San Francisco Sexual Abuse Attorneys Can Help
Choosing the right sexual abuse attorneys can make or break your civil claim. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers encompasses experienced and compassionate attorneys and legal professionals who will fight tirelessly to get the help you deserve and bring your abuser to justice. We can help those who have been sexually abused or assaulted by:
- Providing you with a confidential and safe space to share your story.
- Investigating your claim.
- Gathering as much evidence as possible to build a strong case.
- Identifying all the parties liable for your sexual abuse or assault.
- Dealing with any insurance companies and opposing counsel.
- Partnering with experts to gather testimony that will help strengthen your civil claim.
- Negotiating with opposing counsel to come to a settlement outside the courtroom.
- Fighting your case while protecting your rights in court if a settlement can’t be reached in litigation or arbitration.
The Time Limits for Filing a Claim in San Francisco
After dealing with abusive behavior, psychological trauma can cause people not to realize that what happened to them is sexual abuse or assault or just not being ready to file a claim. There are statutes of limitations on crimes nationwide, but understanding the statute of limitations in San Francisco is vital if you’ve been sexually abused or assaulted.
As of now, the statute of limitations in San Francisco for someone sexually abused in childhood is until they turn 40 years old or within five years of discovering the abuse. Those who suffered sexual abuse or sexual assault in adulthood have ten years from the date of the last incident or three years after discovering the abuse to file a lawsuit.
Contact a San Francisco Sexual Assault Attorney Today!
If you or a loved one need a San Francisco sexual abuse lawyer, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is prepared to assist. We have extensive experience with sexual assault and abuse cases in San Francisco and the surrounding areas. We’ll investigate your claim and handle negotiations or trials to ensure you get the financial compensation you deserve.
Contact us today at (888) 424-5757 or fill out this form.
Related Practice Areas