Manhattan Sex Abuse Lawyer

There is a wealth of resources available to help survivors start to put the broken pieces of their lives back together after sexual abuse. In addition to securing justice from a criminal proceeding, there are additional avenues for justice through the civil court that may be available to you.

As a survivor of sexual abuse in Manhattan, you may have rights to civil remedies and compensation in addition or in lieu of any criminal actions. A Manhattan sex abuse lawyer with Edwards Henderson can advocate on your behalf to help recover compensation and secure justice.

Repercussions of Sexual Abuse

Sadly, sex abuse can happen at any age and to anybody. Adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse often carry this pain and trauma with them for years. The emotional pain of surviving sexual abuse impacts the physical as well as the social well-being of survivors. They may have difficulty forming and maintaining interpersonal relationships. Adult survivors may struggle in the workplace or have trouble finding and keeping employment. Child survivors of sexual abuse may be withdrawn or act out in school.

These losses cannot be underestimated and survivors should be compensated for the often years-long harm they endure.

Filing a Civil Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against a Third Party

If you, or someone you love, survived sexual abuse, you may have cause to file a civil lawsuit. In addition to pursuing legal action against the offender, third parties may also be held responsible for the roles they played in the crime.

Companies and organizations are responsible for taking reasonable measures to provide a safe space to ensure your safety. Schools, churches, employers, organizations that cater to youth, and other relevant businesses should perform thorough background checks on their staff and properly train their team on measures to help prevent and report suspected sexual abuse. If you are a survivor of sexual abuse, the experienced attorneys with Edwards Henderson can investigate whether or not a third party may have failed to take reasonable measures to protect your safety.

Filing a Lawsuit for Childhood Sexual Abuse in New York

According to some estimates, roughly 60% of child sexual abuse survivors never report abuse. As a survivor of sexual abuse, the trauma may have influenced multiple aspects of your life for decades. Often it takes years until survivors are ready to talk about the abuse they endured.

To accommodate the psychological toll that childhood sexual abuse creates, New York extended the statute of limitations, or deadline, to file a civil lawsuit. Adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse now have until the age of 55 to pursue legal action in the state of New York.

Filing a civil claim for the abuse you suffered as a child can help restore your sense of well-being and provide economic recovery for your emotional trauma and loss of peace and safety.

Filing a Lawsuit for Adult Sexual Abuse in New York

If you were sexually abused at the age of 18 years or older, you can currently file a lawsuit against the offender and any relevant parties, regardless of when the abuse happened.

The state of New York is one of a few states that has instituted a “lookback window” to help adult sexual abuse survivors get civil justice. The one-year lookback window was made possible by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s recently signed Adult Survivors Act which gives opportunities for survivors to seek civil justice even if the statute of limitations for their case has expired.

The Adult Survivors Act was signed into law on May 24, 2022. Upon its passage, the state senate majority leader said, “For too long, our legal system has failed adult survivors and prevented them from accessing true justice.”

The one-year look-back window is effective November 24, 2022 through November 24, 2023. It allows adults to pursue compensation for sexual offenses that occurred at or after the age of 18, with no restrictions based on the statute of limitations.

Edwards Henderson is one of the most successful law firms in the country in relentlessly pursuing civil verdicts for adult survivors’ sex abuse claims. Our attorneys can explain the nuances of the lookback window and how it may help you.

Why Hire a Manhattan Sexual Abuse Lawyer?

A Manhattan sexual abuse attorney can help you navigate the statutes of limitations and other relevant laws pertaining to your case. They can help collect supporting evidence that shows how a company or organization may have enabled your abuse to happen, and file a lawsuit on your behalf.

If negotiations with the defendant(s) and their insurers do not result in a fair settlement offer, a qualified sexual abuse lawyer can represent you in a jury trial and fight for a favorable verdict.

Contact Our Manhattan Sex Abuse Law Firm For Help

The powerhouse attorneys at Edwards Henderson have taken on major companies and high-profile individuals like the internationally-known financier, Jeffrey Epstein. We understand the strength that it takes to seek justice years after you have survived sexual abuse and trauma. Survivors of sexual abuse need to be empowered and to be heard. If you need help taking your life back and restoring your well-being, our team of attorneys can counsel you on your rights, advocate for you, and give you your voice back.

Edwards Henderson is renowned for boldly and comprehensively pursuing civil verdicts for our clients, and we have obtained some of the largest civil sexual abuse verdicts in history. Contact us today to schedule a free and confidential legal consultation and learn how we may be able to help you secure compensation for the harm you have suffered.

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.