Washington DC Sexual Abuse Lawyer 

Sexual assaults and sexual abuse are terrible crimes that have a lasting impact on survivors and their loved ones. In 2023 alone, there were 184 incidents of sex abuse in Washington, DC, marking a 16% increase compared to the previous year. [1] If you have been a victim of sexual assault, it’s important you understand your rights and seek legal help. 

Sometimes, coming forward about what happened doesn’t occur immediately, but when you’re ready, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is here to listen and fight for your rights in Washington, D.C.  We will do everything we can to protect your rights during settlement negotiations or in a courtroom if needed.

Why Choose Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers

Our DC sexual assault attorneys are dedicated to getting you the highest compensation for the suffering you’ve been through. While we know no amount of money will change what happened, we’ll fight to protect your rights while helping you seek justice. 

We understand how to handle these cases with the utmost sensitivity and have a proven track record of success. Our experience in these situations allows us to investigate your claim thoroughly. This ensures the settlement covers the expenses you may incur post-assault or abuse. 

Understanding Sexual Abuse and Assault

The terms sexual assault, abuse, sexual violence, and sexual misconduct encompass a range of different sex-related crimes and actions. What they all have in common is the lack of consent. If someone appears to give consent, but it’s clear they were manipulated or threatened, it’s not legally considered consent.  

Consent can be removed at any moment. Any continuation of sexual contact after consent is withdrawn constitutes a sex crime. Another common component of sexual assault or abuse cases is an imbalance of power. This can significantly impact how and when the sexual abuse occurs. 

Common Forms of Sexual Abuse

Sexual assault and abuse in Washington, D.C., could be anything from unwanted sexual comments to rape, which can result in catastrophic injuries and medical expenses. Some common forms of sexual abuse (including child sexual abuse) and sexual assault are:

• Sexual Harassment: Inappropriate touching or unwanted sexual comments that can result in a psychological or physical injury. 
• Incest: Abusive sexual contact between family members. Contact RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) for urgent support. 
• Digital Sexual Abuse: Sharing intimate pictures or videos of a sexual act without consent. Teenage and adult women can be particularly vulnerable to this type of abuse.
• Voyeurism: Watching someone undress or engage in sexual situations without their knowledge, thus causing reasonable fear of an invasion of privacy. 
• Rape: Using physical force to make someone engage in sexual intercourse or other forms of non-consensual sexual activity, often resulting in bodily injury.
• Statutory Rape: Intimate contact between an adult and a minor who cannot consent due to their age. 
• Sexual Exploitation: Manipulating or coercing someone into sexual acts by holding something against them. This form of abuse may result in emotional injuries that can be both profound and long-lasting.
• Childhood Sexual Abuse: Any sexual act or behavior between an adult and a minor.  

Institutions Where Sexual Abuse Is Most Likely to Occur

Sexual assault and abuse can happen anywhere, but it occurs frequently in certain institutions. Our DC sexual assault lawyers are prepared to handle cases from institutions like the ones outlined below: 

Daycare Facilities

When there are sexual assault allegations at daycare facilities, including cases involving child pornography, we’ll be ready to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice. These cases can involve various types of sexual offenses.

We have experience protecting the rights of those within the district’s foster care system who have been victims of sexual abuse or other sexual offenses. Many individuals, including adult men and women, recall such experiences as deeply traumatic, affecting their lives long after the abuse.

Shelters

You should feel safe at shelters, but if someone sexually abuses or assaults you, we’ll be there to hold them liable. 

Educational Institutions

Whether it’s elementary school or university campuses, we’ll handle your sexual assault case. 

Religious Institutions

We’ve settled millions in clergy abuse cases and are prepared to support sexual abuse victims in any way we can. 

Workplace

Whether it’s sexual assault or harassment in the workplace, you should not have to deal with it. We’ll work to make sure those responsible are held accountable for their actions. This includes cases of sexual harassment and assault, where we will fight for your rights and seek the justice you deserve.

Inpatient Treatment Facilities

Those in inpatient treatment facilities should be focused on getting better, not if they’ll be sexually assaulted. We’ll do our best to hold whoever hurt you, as well as the institution,  liable. 

Nursing Homes

If you or your loved one suffers at the hand of elder sexual assault or abuse, we’ll help protect their rights against the perpetrator. 

Military Institutions

Many of our brave military members face sexual assault while serving, and we won’t stand for it. We’ll help you fight for your case and obtain the compensation you deserve. 

Hotels and Short-Term Rentals

While most hotels and short-term rentals are safe, sexual assault can still happen here due to their transient nature. We’ll help protect your rights if you’re sexually assaulted in a hotel or short-term rental.

Prisons and Correctional Facilities

Just because someone is serving time in our prison system doesn’t mean they should suffer sexual assault or abuse. We’ll fight for your rights to bring justice to you when other inmates or correctional officers harm you. 

Sports Clubs

Athletes of all ages who have been sexually assaulted by teammates, team doctors, or coaches will have us in their corner to fight for them. 

Steps to Take If You Are a Victim of Sexual Assault

A problem with sexual abuse and assault is that many people don’t know what they’re supposed to do immediately after. The thought of navigating this process alone can be too much for survivors.

• Get Somewhere Safe: Remove yourself from the location where the abuse or assault happened if you can. 
• Go to the Hospital: Visit the hospital regardless of whether you have physical injuries. Even if you do not have visible physical injuries, the hospital visit will help document your abuse or assault and provide you with a safe place to go.
• Preserve Evidence: When you’re at the hospital, request a forensic sexual assault exam, also known as a rape kit, so you have any evidence preserved for when you’re ready to file a civil lawsuit or criminal charges. 
• Document Everything: Take the time to document everything from what you were doing before the assault, right after, and during, including details of how the sexual abuse occurred. Also, save any text messages so you can provide them to the police and your sexual assault lawyer. This information can be crucial for your case and for any personal injury claim you might pursue.
• Report the incident: Filing police reports is crucial for documenting assault or abuse. Contact your local Washington, D.C., law enforcement agency to begin this process. If appropriate, they can initiate criminal charges against the perpetrator.
• Seek Support: Confide in those you trust or seek support from local resources, like the local Rape Crisis Center (DCRCC). Many victims of sexual assault find support during this traumatic time crucial. 
• Contact a Sexual Assault Lawyer: Find an attorney you can trust and who has experience dealing with sexual assaults, like the ones at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers.

Financial Compensation for Sexual Abuse Victims

While money won’t change what happened, it can be essential in healing as you rebuild your life. 

When filing your civil claim, we can fight for compensation for the following damages:

• Emotional distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder
• Pain and suffering 
• Loss of enjoyment of life 
• Lost wages 
• Medical expenses 
• Therapy and counseling costs to support mental health needs. Some victims suffer from severe emotional distress and need ongoing support
• Economic damages for the financial losses related to the abuse

Not all cases will have the same settlement amount. Several factors go into determining how much your settlement may be, for example: 

• The short and long-term impacts on your life;
• The severity of the sexual assault or abuse; 
• The duration of the sexual abuse; 
• The age when the sexual abuse started and occurred;
• The position of power or trust the person who abused or assaulted you had over you.

Liability in Sexual Abuse Cases in Washington DC

While there’s always at least one individual who’s responsible for the sexual abuse or assault, sometimes there are more. In many cases, institutions can be held accountable for abuse or assault, in addition to the individual perpetrator. 

• Negligence: This is a general term encompassing anything an institution does, demonstrating they haven’t taken reasonable steps to prevent sexual assault or abuse, like not performing background checks or providing enough supervision. 
• Negligent Retention: When institutions know about assault or abuse or suspect that it’s occurred but don’t take appropriate action, they can be held liable. 
• Negligent Hiring: Institutions that knowingly hire individuals with a history of sexual assault or abuse or not thoroughly vetting new hires can be responsible for what happened. 
• Failure to Train: Training is available to help people spot the signs of sexual abuse and assault, and if an employer doesn’t provide that training, we can potentially hold them liable. 
• Failure to Report: Many occupations are mandated reporters, but even if they’re not, we can hold an institution liable by failing to report any suspected or confirmed abuse or assault. 

Regardless of what route we take to hold an institution liable, we can use specific laws and legal principles to strengthen your case. These include prohibitions against sex-based discrimination under Title IX and vicarious liability, which can hold an employer responsible for the actions of their employees.

Proving a Sexual Abuse Case

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers knows that establishing sexual abuse or assault isn’t always cut and dry. We know what it takes to show sexual abuse or assault happened and how to build a strong case. As experienced Washington, D.C., sexual assault lawyers, we help prove your case by: 

• Compiling evidence that showcases the abuse or assault;
• Gathering documentation that’s relevant to the case;
• Speaking with potential witnesses to obtain their testimony; 
• Partnering with experts to provide testimony for your case;
• Establishing an institution’s negligence that allowed for the abuse or assault to occur;
• Determining damages;
• Building a timeline of the sexual abuse or assault.

How Our Washington DC Sexual Assault Lawyers Can Help

If you’ve been sexually assaulted or abused in Washington, D.C., we’re the sexual assault lawyers you can trust. We thoroughly understand the intricacies of these sensitive cases and offer a free consultation to discuss how we can support you every step of the way. 

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we help sexual assault victims by:

• Giving them a safe and confidential place to share their story;
• Offering clear and honest feedback about the case every step of the way;
• Investigating their claim to determine the best course of action; 
• Handling all communication between insurance companies and opposing counsel; 
• Working with experts to gather testimony to strengthen their case; 
• Negotiating a settlement that’s fair under the circumstances. 

The Time Limits for Filing a Claim in Washington, DC

Washington, D.C., has very strict and specific statutes of limitations for sexual abuse cases and assault. Knowing what the statute of limitations is will help sexual assault victims know how long they have to take legal action.  

Victims who were sexually abused or assaulted under the age of 35 have until their 40th birthday to file civil sexual assault claims. Victims over 35 have five years from the last incident to file a claim. 

Contact a Washington DC Sexual Abuse Lawyer Today!

If you or a loved one has experienced sexual abuse, it’s crucial to have a compassionate and knowledgeable attorney by your side. Hiring an experienced sexual assault lawyer who understands the sensitivity and complexity of these cases is essential in your pursuit of justice and rightful compensation.

With Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, you will have a dedicated team of sexual abuse attorneys ready to fight for your rights and handle your claim with the utmost care and professionalism. Take the first step toward healing by reaching out for a free consultation with a skilled sexual assault lawyer at (888) 424-5757 or by filling out our contact form.

Resources: [1] Crime Data DC