At the outset, the answer to this question shouldn’t matter. Any and every child who suffers sexual abuse at the hands of an offender has experienced unbearable pain, emotional anguish, and agonizing suffering. Unfortunately, according to data assembled by the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), this horrific misconduct is shockingly common – and not a phenomenon of the distant past. In 2016, child protective agencies throughout the US reported that they had strong evidence to support a finding that more than 57,000 children were sexually abused.
Of course, reporting can lead to a significant margin of error. For this reason, there may never be enough verifiable, accurate information to definitively answer the question: “Is child sexual abuse more frequent with boys than girls?” A New York sexual abuse lawyer can provide details, but you may also find it useful to review some important information.
All Victims Have Rights:
Sexual abuse is a crime that the criminal justice community aggressively pursues and harshly punishes. For a conviction, the offender can face a long prison sentence, hefty fines, probation, sex offender registration, and many other consequences. Though victims may get some form of closure with the knowledge that their abuser will be punished, they still endure many losses. New York statutes and common law principles offer options for survivors to get their lives back after suffering sexual abuse as children:
- Negligent Hiring: Negligence may exist when a school, religious organization, or other entity doesn’t engage in proper hiring and retention policies for employees. For example, there should be vetting and background checks for any employee that would come into contact with children in the normal course of his or her job.
- Premises Liability Cases: Case precedent in New York provides victims with rights to compensation if they can prove that a property owner was negligent in maintaining the premises. If such carelessness amounts to negligent security, you could have a case under the theory of premises liability.
- The Child Victims Act (CVA): Under a new law that became effective in August 2019, victims of child sexual abuse receive an extension on the amount of time they have to file a lawsuit. The CVA opened a window of opportunity during which the former statute of limitations will not apply, allowing certain victims until August 2020 to sue an attacker or other responsible parties in court. This window closes in August 2020 for many victims of child sexual abuse.
Monetary Damages are Available for Victims of Child Sex Abuse in New York:
Regardless of gender, you could be entitled to recover compensation if you can prove a case under one or more of the three scenarios described above, or under a different theory of liability.. If successful, you may be able to obtain monetary damages to cover such losses as:
- Medical Costs: There may be some physical injuries involved with sexual abuse, but the emotional and psychological effects are long-lasting. You may require treatment from a psychologist, psychiatrist, or other specialists.
- Pain and suffering: These losses are harder to quantify, but you most certainly endure extreme hardship as the victim of sexual abuse.
- Losses That Affect Your Personal Relationships: It’s common for victims of sexual abuse as children to experience challenges with trust. You may be entitled to compensation for these losses as well.
Legal Help with Sexual Abuse Claims:
Even when you have sufficient evidence to prove your claim, it can be difficult to come forward as the victim of sexual abuse. Any personal injury case presents complications, but these cases encompass very personal, troubling memories. For this reason, you may be hesitant to pursue your legal remedies. However, you can trust a compassionate lawyer to handle your case. Your attorney can assist with:
- Filing an insurance claim, where your abuser or other responsible party had a property or business insurance policy;
- Engaging in settlement negotiations, mediation, or other alternative dispute resolution policies; and,
- Taking your case to court if necessary to protect your rights and get the top compensation you deserve by law.
Set Up a Consultation with a New York Sexual Abuse Lawyer Today
Because of issues on reporting and bureaucratic misconduct in religious institutions, there are no easy answers on whether child sexual abuse is more frequent with boys than girls. However, gender doesn’t matter for your rights if you’re a victim. You can still pursue compensation for your losses, and our attorneys at Powers & Santola, LLP will be at your side to fight for your rights throughout the process. Please contact our offices in Albany, Rochester, or Syracuse to schedule a consultation to learn more about your legal options in a New York sexual abuse claim.
