Disabled Sexual Assaults Lawyer

Perhaps there is nothing more shocking to the conscious than the abuse of an innocent person, whether it is a young child, an elderly adult, or a disabled person. When vulnerable disabled people who are unable to even take care of themselves fall victims to forced, unwanted sexual acts by their caregivers, the question of who allowed the acts to occur is raised.  If you are the victim of sexual abuse, you have rights, and you may be entitled to substantial compensation for your injuries. While no amount of money could ever undo the pain and trauma of horrendous abuse, a personal injury claim can allow you to receive the counseling and care you need to move on with your life. Additionally, it can hold facilities that place profits over people accountable for their acts of negligence, and discourage others from allowing such acts to take place.

Types of Disabled Sexual Abuse

By definition, sexual abuse is the forcing of any unwanted or undesired sexual act on another. It can take many forms, including:

• Rape
• Sodomy
• Molestation
• Forced nudity
• Indecent exposure
• Forced viewing of pornography
• Inappropriate or unwanted touching
• Unwanted sexual acts
• Unwanted touching
• Sexual coercion
• Sexually explicit photographing

Proper Employee and Staff Screening

It is disturbing when sexual abuse takes place under the watchful eye of a supervisory facility where individuals are placed to ensure their physical, mental and other everyday needs are taken care of. Unfortunately, these unthinkable acts happen more and more, evidence that corporations and hiring agencies are not being diligent in the hiring process. Many instances of nursing home and care facility sexual abuse occur because of the facilities inadequate hiring process, including when facilities fail to perform even the most basic background check.   A 2006 law required the creation of a centralized database for background checks on all long-term caregivers. However, state regulators have failed to implement it, arguably exposing elderly and disabled individuals to dangerous caregivers.

Consequences of Sexual Abuse

For perpetrators, the consequences of criminal sexual acts include incarceration, monetary fines, community service, and other penalties. Residential care and assisted living facilities may be forced to pay fines to the California Department of Health Care Services. But what about the victims, who have suffered unthinkable emotional and mental trauma? The facilities and organizations that hired the caregivers may be liable for the victims' injuries. Victims may pursue their own course of justice in a civil claim against the facilities that are entrusted to provide their care. A claim can compensate victims for the emotional harm they've suffered, and allow victims to get the therapy, counseling and other mental health care they need.

Experienced Advocates for Sexual Abuse Victims

Nursing homes, assisted living homes, and residential care facilities must be held accountable for the actions of their employees and staff members, and must protect residents from abuse by other residents and visitors. At Estey Bomberger, our disabled sexual abuse attorneys are serious about protecting the rights of dependent adults and others who have suffered harm at the hands of their caregivers. There is no excuse for the unthinkable sexual abuse inflicted on innocent, vulnerable dependent adults and children. Our sexual abuse lawyers have represented victims of sexual abuse in nursing homes, as well as children abused at the hands foster parents.  In 2010, we obtained a record $30 million verdict on behalf of a victim of sexual abuse in California. Our attorneys are some of the most experienced advocates for victims of sexual abuse in the country.

Never Any Fees Unless We Win

We handle all California sexual abuse claims on a contingency fee basis, which means we will not charge any fees unless we recover compensation for your claim. If you or someone you care about is the victim of sexual abuse at the hands of a caregiver or employee of a care facility, contact us today to discuss your potential case and legal rights with an experienced California personal injury attorney. All consultations are free, with no obligation.

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The legal information in this site should not be construed as legal advice, nor should it be considered the formation of an attorney-client relationship. The Disabled Sexual Assaults Lawyer website also contains links to other various websites. The inclusion of such links does not constitute a referral or endorsement of any of the linked entities.

Copyright 2011 Attorneys Estey & Bomberger , LLP