Sexual abuse is one of the most devastating crimes a person can endure. Beyond the immediate trauma, survivors are often left grappling with long-term psychological, emotional, and even financial consequences. If you or a loved one has been the victim of sexual abuse, our experienced Athens sexual abuse lawyers can fight for your compensation.
At Cooper Elliott, we’re committed to standing by survivors. Our Athens personal injury lawyers bring decades of experience to the table and have secured more than $700 million in verdicts and settlements for clients throughout the region. We understand how emotionally charged these cases are, and we work with empathy, discretion, and fierce dedication to our clients.
How a Sexual Abuse Attorney Serving Athens Can Help You Recover Compensation
Survivors of sexual abuse often face enormous emotional and psychological hurdles when deciding whether to pursue legal action. The process can seem daunting, especially if you’re still coping with the trauma of your experience.
That’s why you should work with an attorney who is sensitive to the challenges surrounding sexual abuse cases.
When you choose our firm to represent you, we take immediate action so you can focus on your well-being. Here’s what you can expect:
- Comprehensive case evaluation: We begin by listening to your story in a safe and confidential setting. This helps us understand the facts, assess potential liability, and determine the best legal strategy.
- Thorough investigation: Our legal team conducts an in-depth investigation to collect evidence, locate and interview witnesses, and identify all potentially liable parties, including individuals and institutions.
- Filing your claim: We handle all documentation and ensure your lawsuit or insurance claim is filed accurately and within applicable deadlines.
- Settlement negotiations: While preparing for trial, we will engage in negotiations with the opposing party’s legal team or insurer in pursuit of a fair settlement that reflects the full extent of your damages.
- Trial representation: If a reasonable settlement cannot be reached, we are fully prepared to take your case to court and present a compelling case before a judge and jury.
Throughout every step of the process, our Athens sexual abuse attorneys are committed to keeping you informed and empowered.
For a free legal consultation with a sexual abuse lawyer serving Athens, call 614-481-6000
Holding Abusers and Complicit Institutions Accountable
Sexual abuse can happen in virtually any environment and often occurs in places that are supposed to be safe. Survivors may have been harmed in:
- Homes and private residences
- Educational institutions, such as local schools or universities
- Religious settings, including churches and other faith-based organizations
- Medical facilities and hospitals
- Workplaces and professional environments
- Care facilities, such as nursing homes or youth shelters
In many cases, the abuser is not the only party that bears responsibility. Institutions that fail to vet employees, ignore warning signs, or actively cover up misconduct may be held liable in a civil lawsuit. These can include:
- School boards or districts
- Religious organizations
- Healthcare providers
- Daycare centers
- Employers or corporate entities
- Athletic programs and youth organizations
Our sexual abuse attorneys in Athens will leave no stone unturned in identifying all parties who played a role in enabling or allowing the abuse to continue. We are committed to seeking justice not only from the individual perpetrator but also from any organization that allowed abuse to happen under its watch.
Athens Sexual Abuse Lawyer Near Me 614-481-6000
Compensation Available in an Athens Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
Civil litigation gives survivors the opportunity to seek monetary compensation for both the economic and non-economic harm they’ve suffered. While no amount of money can undo the pain caused by abuse, financial recovery can be an important part of the healing process and help cover necessary expenses.
Damages commonly available in sexual abuse cases include:
- Medical expenses: Costs associated with physical treatment and mental health services, such as therapy or counseling
- Future healthcare costs: Ongoing or anticipated medical treatment, including long-term psychological care
- Lost wages: If the abuse resulted in missed work or impacted your ability to maintain employment
- Reduced earning capacity: Compensation for the diminished ability to earn a living in the future
- Pain and suffering: Non-economic damages for the physical and emotional pain endured
- Emotional distress and mental anguish: Compensation for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and related conditions
- Loss of consortium or companionship: Damages for the impact abuse may have had on your relationships
- Punitive damages: In cases involving especially egregious behavior, courts may award punitive damages to punish the offender and deter future misconduct.
Our attorneys will document and quantify your losses, ensuring that every aspect of your suffering is factored into your claim.
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Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse Cases in Ohio
The deadlines for filing a sexual abuse lawsuit in Ohio depend on whether the survivor was an adult or a child at the time of the abuse. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.111(B), adults generally have one year from the date of the assault to file a lawsuit against their abuser.
However, if they do not know the identity of their abuser, they will have one year from the date they identify their abuser or the date they reasonably should have learned the identity of their abuser.
Meanwhile, survivors of childhood sexual abuse typically have 12 years from the day they turn 18 to file. Should they fail to file before their 30th birthday, they will likely be barred from pursuing compensation.
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Civil Lawsuits Are Possible Even Without a Criminal Conviction
Many survivors worry that they can’t pursue justice if their abuser wasn’t convicted, or even charged, in criminal court. Fortunately, civil lawsuits are often successful even when an abuser avoids a criminal conviction. The standards of proof are much lower in civil cases than in criminal proceedings.
In criminal cases, the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. However, in civil cases, your lawyer is only required to prove that it is more likely than not that the abuse occurred.
This means you may still be entitled to compensation even if prosecutors declined to press charges or the criminal case resulted in an acquittal. Civil court provides an alternative path to justice, and our Athens legal team is here to ensure you get it.
We Only Get Paid if You Recover Compensation
We believe that every survivor deserves access to skilled legal representation, regardless of their financial situation. That’s why our Athens sexual abuse attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. What this means is that:
- You pay nothing upfront.
- We only collect a fee if we win your case and recover compensation.
- Our fee is a pre-agreed percentage taken from the settlement or award, never out-of-pocket.
Charging our clients in this manner ensures that survivors can focus on healing without worrying about legal bills they can’t afford.
Speak Confidentially With a Sexual Abuse Lawyer in Athens Today
Coming forward after abuse takes immense courage. At Cooper Elliott, we honor that courage by fighting tirelessly for your rights. Since founding our firm three decades ago, we have helped countless survivors reclaim their power, and we are ready to stand by your side in your pursuit of justice.
Call us today or contact us through our website to schedule a free consultation with a compassionate and experienced sexual abuse lawyer serving Athens. There’s no obligation to retain our services, so contact us today.
Call or text 614-481-6000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
