What Damages Can Be Claimed in a Sexual Abuse Case?

Many sexual abuse survivors wonder what damages can be claimed in a sexual abuse case. The damages can cover both economic and noneconomic losses such as medical bills, therapy expenses, and other damages. 

It’s not uncommon for those who are subjected to undesired sexual activity to experience long-term health setbacks, both because of physical injuries they suffered and mental health concerns like trauma or addictions they’ve been diagnosed with, which can have a lasting impact on a survivor’s life.

The damages you recover can vary based on the nature of your case. We want you to know that there are damages you can recover after suffering sexual abuse in Georgia. An Atlanta sexual assault lawyer can help you learn more about the specific damages available in your case.

Damages Sexual Abuse Victims Can Recover

Sexual assaults are often classified as personal injury incidents, which is the same category to which medical malpractice or nursing home abuse belongs. That’s because they share some commonalities when it comes to the physical, emotional, and financial impact they can have on victims.

Therefore, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the damages recoverable in sexual abuse cases in Atlanta are very similar to losses victims can seek by filing other types of injury cases. 

Compensation may be available for:

• Existing and forecasted medical costs for both physical and mental health concerns
• Past lost wages and any anticipated earnings you may lose
• Pain and suffering you endured
• Emotional distress you’ve had to deal with
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Our lawyers can review your situation in a free, confidential consultation to help you understand what damages apply in your case.

How Much Do Sexual Assault Cases Settle for?

The average rape victim often incurs substantial expenses after such a sexual assault. As you know, if someone has abused you, though, the costs associated with such an incident are often far more costly.

In some cases, jurisdictions may limit how much compensation injury victims can recover when someone else harmed them. That’s not the case in Georgia, though–at least as far as economic and noneconomic damages like the ones detailed above are concerned.

In some cases, a judge or jury may award a victim punitive damages when a responsible party’s conduct was especially negligent. Georgia caps punitive damages in injury cases, including sexual abuse claims. Our state limits these monetary awards to $250,000.

How Do You Document Your Damages in an Atlanta Sexual Abuse Case?

No matter the type of sexual abuse you have been subjected to, you’re bound to have incurred substantial expenses in treating any initial physical and emotional injuries you had. Abuse survivors often have lifelong costs as they seek to come to terms with what happened. 

If you’ve been sexually abused, the thought of having to build a case against the person who breached your trust may seem overwhelming. That’s where working with one of our firm’s attorneys can be helpful to you. 

We’ll take care of gathering all the evidence necessary to prove what you endured, including:

• Medical records
• Police or incident reports
• Photographs
• Videographic evidence
• Your pay stubs

We handle securing all of this evidence so you don’t have to, so instead, you can continue focusing on your recovery. With our help, we can help you document all of your damages resulting from someone else sexually assaulting you.

What Dictates How Much Compensation You May Be Eligible to Receive as Someone Who’s Been Sexually Abused?

Damages recoverable in sex abuse cases can range from thousands to millions of dollars, depending on, among other factors, how many parties are listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. 

Factors such as the following may also determine what types of compensatory damages can be claimed in a sexual abuse case:

• The nature of the sexual act performed on them
• The circumstances under which the assault occurred
• Who committed the abuse (i.e. Was it someone in a position of trust like a teacher?)
• Whether the perpetrator alone was responsible or additional parties were as well
• How much in liability insurance or private assets the responsible parties have

You can expect your lawyer to discuss the nature of the treatment you endured during your confidential consultation with them in order to be able to more effectively calculate your abuse-related damages. 

Contact Us to Learn More About the Damages You Can Recover in a Sexual Abuse Claim

Picking up the pieces after you’ve been sexually abused can be challenging. The financial consequences associated with visiting the emergency room, missing time from work, and getting much-needed therapy can seem insurmountable. They don’t have to, though.

Our law office, John Foy & Associates, can assist you in building a strong case that demands maximum compensation for your losses. This can help you get the care you need to restore your life to the best it can be after you’ve suffered sexual abuse.

Don’t let the person who abused you go unpunished for their actions. Reach out to us to meet with our sexual assault lawyers for a free consultation so they can help you recover what you’re entitled to.