Lake Havasu City Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Childhood sexual abuse can have a severely negative impact on a child, both now and in the future. Filing a legal claim for compensation may be the last thing victims and their loved ones want to think about, but it may provide some financial relief to pay for the physical and emotional trauma many survivors often experience.

If your child has been the victim of sexual abuse or someone you care about is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, schedule a free consultation with a member of our legal team to learn more about your possible legal options. Our consultations are completely confidential and come with no risk or obligation. We are prepared to organize counseling services and offer support for victims, survivors and their families. Phillips Law Group has been fighting and protecting victims’ rights for almost 30 years, recovering millions in compensation.

We work on contingency, so you only pay us if we obtain a financial settlement or verdict for you.

Call 1-800-706-3000 anytime, 24/7, to see how we may be able to help.

Defining Child Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse is a crime involving forced sexual activity with a minor. Perpetrators are often people in a position of power that the child knows, often someone he or she looks up to and trusts. This type of abuse could include sexual intercourse and fondling a child sexually, either clothed or unclothed.

There are other forms of child sexual abuse that do not include physical contact between a perpetrator and a child, such as:

  • Exhibitionism, or exposing oneself to a child
  • Making obscene remarks through phone calls, text messages, or online platforms
  • Doing sexually explicit acts in the presence of a child or forcing a child to watch
  • Taking provocative photographs of a child
  • Showing pornographic movies or pictures to a child
  • Viewing and violating a child’s privacy (while bathing or undressing)

If your child has suffered any form of sexual abuse, you may be eligible to take legal action on his or her behalf. Contact our Lake Havasu City child sexual abuse lawyers for more information about the legal process.

Free Legal Consultation. No upfront fees. Ph: 1-800-706-3000 .

Do I Have a Child Sexual Abuse Case?

This is a difficult question to answer until our legal team can review your situation. Child sexual abuse cases cover a wide range of offending behavior and types of offenders, so certain factors must be considered.

If a criminal case has already been filed and was unsuccessful, you may still be able to file a civil case in court against the perpetrator and other individuals and entities who hid the abuse, or worse, protected the abuser.

Our legal team is ready help.

Compensation for Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse

The amount and form of compensation victims of childhood sexual abuse may be able to recover is determined on a case-by-case basis. When you work with an attorney, he or she will discuss the various ways your life and your child’s life may be impacted by the abuse.

Some of the most common types of compensation available could include:

  • Medical-related expenses
  • Physical pain
  • Emotional suffering
  • Relocation costs
  • Lost wages
  • Mental health counseling
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of companionship and love

The attorneys at our firm are well-versed in the financial and emotional damages child sexual abuse victims and survivors may face and how to accurately calculate their value.

Is There a Time Limit to Take Legal Action?

A bill passed unanimously in the Arizona State Legislature in May of 2019 helps strengthen protections for child sexual abuse victims by extending the amount of time (12 years from a victim’s 18th birthday) to pursue a civil suit against the perpetrators. Failure to file within the deadline could mean being barred from filing and recovering compensation.

If you have questions about the legal process or unsure if your time to file has passed, reach out to a licensed Lake Havasu City child sexual abuse lawyer for advice. We are available to take your call or chat online 24/7.

Potential Liable Parties for Child Sexual Abuse

Aside from the perpetrator who committed sexual abuse against the child, there are other parties who could possibly be held liable for aiding and/or supporting the abuser. These individuals and entities could include:

  • Churches
  • Clergy members
  • Schools
  • Teachers and coaches
  • Universities
  • Professors and physicians
  • Scout/troop leaders
  • Relatives
  • Child care providers
  • Other religious institutions

If we represent you, our legal team is prepared to investigate all aspects of your case in order to pursue compensation from the liable parties that may be responsible for your child’s physical and emotional damages.

Long-Term Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Childhood sexual abuse can have lasting effects on victims. While every act of abuse is different for each victim, many survivors of childhood sexual abuse may endure:

  • Low self-esteem or self-hatred
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Guilt, shame and blame
  • Trouble sleeping or sleep disorders
  • Lack of trust for anyone
  • Flashbacks of the abuse
  • Revictimization (involvement in abusive or unhealthy relationships)
  • Disassociation
  • Sexual and intimacy issues
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder

As victims of childhood sexual abuse get older, they often adopt coping mechanisms to deal with the intense and overwhelming feelings. This could include alcohol or drug abuse, eating disorders and self-inflicted injury.

It is important to note that it is never too late to get help to deal with the abuse as a survivor or a parent of a victim who suffered child sexual abuse.

Call Phillips Law Group today at 1-800-706-3000 to discuss your situation in a free consultation.

Identifying Sexual Abuse in a Child

It can be difficult to identify child sexual abuse because perpetrators often take certain measures to hide their actions. However, there are several physical, behavioral and emotional signs that a child may have been victimized.

Physical Signs

Physical signs of sexual abuse in a child could include signs of trauma to the genital area, such as unexplained bleeding, bruising, redness and bumps, or blood on the clothes or bedding. Sexually-transmitted infections, chronic stomach pain, and persistent or recurring pain during urination or bowel movements could also be signs of abuse.

Behavioral Signs

This could include sexual behavior inappropriate for the child’s age, wetting or soiling the bed when the child is older, refusing to bathe or change clothes, and not wanting to be left alone with certain individuals.

Emotional Signs

Emotional signs of childhood sexual abuse could include excessively talking about or referring to sexual topics, resuming behaviors the child has outgrown such as thumb sucking, night terrors or fear of being alone at night, and excessive worrying or fearfulness.

Resources for Child Sexual Abuse Victims

There are several local, state and national resources for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. These include, but are certainly not limited to the following:

  • Haven Family Resource Center ”“ This non-profit family advocacy center in Lake Havasu City serves victims of sexual abuse crimes, including children.
  • The Arizona Child and Family Advocacy Network ”“ This organization provides support, training and guidance to victims and families of victims of child sexual abuse.
  • National Child Abuse Hotline ”“ This hotline is dedicated to the prevention of all forms of child abuse, such as sexual abuse. Professional crisis counselors offer help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Reach Out to a Lake Havasu City Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer

If your child has been the victim of sexual abuse, reaching out to a Kingman or Lake Havasu City child sexual abuse lawyer from our firm may be an important part of the recovery process.

At Phillips Law Group, our legal team has almost three decades of experience representing many victims, survivors and their families. We are prepared to build a strong case on your behalf against the perpetrator.

We offer free and confidential consultations to discuss your potential legal options and whether you may be eligible to pursue compensation for the damages your child has suffered. If we represent you, there are no upfront costs for our services. We only get paid at the end of the legal process if you recover compensation.

Contact our firm today by calling 1-800-706-3000 .