Albany Sex Abuse Lawyer

Survivors of sex abuse and sexual assault are often left with crippling and life-changing consequences. Not only is sexual assault physically traumatizing, but many survivors of abuse also have to deal with the psychological wounds that sex abuse leaves for years if not for life. If you or a loved one have been affected by sexual abuse, the sex abuse lawyers of Edwards Henderson can inform you of your rights as a survivor and help you obtain the justice you deserve. Contact us today and speak with an experienced and compassionate Albany sex abuse lawyer for a free and confidential case evaluation.

What is Sex Abuse?

Sex abuse affects more people than you may think. According to the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN), someone is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds in the United States. Of the hundreds of thousands of people who are sexually assaulted in the US each year, close to 70% of people who are affected are under the age of 34.

New York state law punishes offenders for a broad range of sexual crimes and deems any non-consensual sexual contact, whether physical or non-physical, a crime. Examples of sex abuse in Albany include:

• Any unwanted fondling, kissing, or touching with sexual intent
• Sexual harassment
• Indecent exposure or flashing
• Unwanted exposure to sexually explicit images or pornography
• Contributing in any way to the sexual exploitation of a child
• Engaging in sexual activities with someone unable to give consent because of either their age, disability, or impairment
• Sexual exploitation
• Sexual acts achieved by coercion, violence, or a threat of violence
• Forced masturbation or oral copulation
• Taking or exposing sexually explicit pictures of someone without their permission

Sex abuse can occur in a single episode or over a longer period of time. Child sex abuse crimes include all of the above and any other sexual acts or behaviors. As a minor, a child cannot consent. Other groups who are legally unable to consent include those under the influence of drugs or alcohol, those who are physically helpless, and those who do not understand that the acts are sexual due to mental impairment.

Who Commonly Commits Sex Abuse in Albany?

Over half of those who have been sexually abused were abused by an acquaintance or someone they know well. Abusers often have some type of position of power or authority over the individual they target. Common abusers named in Albany sex abuse lawsuits include:

• Coworkers, managers, or supervisors
• Clergy or church volunteers
• Teachers
• Coaches
• Foster care parents
• Scout leaders and other youth leaders
• Healthcare workers

If you or a loved one have experienced some form of sex abuse at the hands of those mentioned above or anyone else, contact Edwards Henderson to speak with a sex assault attorney who can advise you of your rights and potential next steps to hold the abuser and other relevant entities accountable.

Legal Options for Survivors of Sex Abuse

A survivor of sex abuse in Albany can file a civil lawsuit, a criminal lawsuit, or both against the abuser and any other relevant parties, like the abuser’s employer. While the intention of a criminal lawsuit is to determine whether the defendant is innocent or guilty, civil lawsuits exist to determine whether or not the defendant is liable for the damages that the sex abuse survivor incurred.

In a civil sex abuse lawsuit, the burden of proof is much lower than in a criminal sex abuse lawsuit. In a civil lawsuit, the survivor only needs to prove the defendant “more likely than not” is liable for the damages the survivor incurred. In a criminal lawsuit, the defendant will need to be found guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Civil sex abuse lawsuits also allow survivors to hold companies and other entities accountable who may have failed to report abuse or take reasonable actions to prevent abuse from happening.

Albany Sex Abuse Lawsuit Compensation

Financial compensation can never fully right the damage that sexual abuse causes, but it can help the survivor access the care they need to heal. In a civil sex abuse lawsuit, the sex abuse survivor can pursue compensation for damages including:

• Emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Past and future medical bills and lost wages
• Mental health therapy and counseling bills
• Punitive damages in instances of particularly egregious abuse

Who Can Be Held Liable for Sex Abuse?

Besides the individual who committed the sexual abuse, the survivor has the ability to file a lawsuit against any third party that may have created an environment in which it was easier for the abuse to take place. This may include failing to conduct background checks, failing to report abuse to the police, or failing to terminate the employment of an accused abuser. When a property owner, business owner, school, church, or similar institution fails to take reasonable steps to prevent sex abuse from taking place, they could be held financially accountable for the survivor’s losses and suffering.

What is the Adult Survivors Act?

New York state passed the Adult Survivors Act in 2022 which gives adult survivors of sex abuse in New York the opportunity to file a sex abuse lawsuit that would have otherwise expired due to the statute of limitations, or deadline for filing a lawsuit. The Adult Survivors Act gives survivors the opportunity to finally hold their abuser and any organization that may have enabled their abuser accountable for the trauma and damages caused, regardless of how long ago the abuse happened.

Contact an Albany Sex Abuse Lawyer

The anguish and suffering that sexual abuse causes should not go unpunished. The sex assault lawyers of Edwards Henderson are committed to holding sexual abusers accountable and obtaining well-deserved justice and compensation for survivors.

Our sex abuse law firm is nationally recognized for its success in taking on large and powerful individuals, organizations, and institutions on behalf of survivors and winning some of the largest sex abuse jury verdicts to date. If you or a loved one are a survivor of sex abuse, contact Edwards Henderson’s Albany sex abuse lawyers today for a free legal consultation.

Edwards Henderson is a nationally-recognized powerhouse litigation firm, dedicated to providing its clients with the highest quality legal services and, at the same time, making substantial, positive changes for the common good.

We are skilled litigators and experienced trial attorneys who have effectively pursued civil lawsuits against some of the most powerful individuals, organizations and big businesses on behalf of people, victims and small businesses. In fact, we specialize in handling cases where the power differential is greatest and we can use our experience and resources to even the playing field. Our recent trial results speak for themselves.