Are you or a family member a victim of sexual abuse in Baton Rouge, LA? Sexual abuse can change your life in dramatic ways. Sometimes, it can take years to understand how the event has altered the course of your life. A Baton Rouge sexual abuse lawyer can fight to recover compensation to help make up for the losses you’ve experienced.
Our team at Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers has over 50 years of combined experience in personal injury law. We’ve dedicated our careers to helping innocent victims and their families, and we’ve succeeded in recovering tens of millions of dollars.
The perpetrator of the abuse can be held liable for compensation. In addition, anyone else who had a duty to prevent or stop the abuse can be held accountable. To learn more about your legal options, call our law firm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at (225) 263-4787, to schedule a free consultation. There’s never any obligation to hire us.
Why Call Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers For Help With Your Baton Rouge Sexual Abuse Claim?
Sexual abuse is a horrific violation. The physical and mental consequences of sexual abuse can last a lifetime. Whether it’s been days, months, or even years since the abuse occurred, our Baton Rouge personal injury attorneys are here to help you fight for financial compensation.
Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers is a leading personal injury law firm. We have the resources and experience to handle even the most sensitive personal injury claims.
When you trust us to protect your rights, you’ll gain a respected advocate to:
- Explain all of your legal rights and options
- Determine who can be held financially accountable
- Evaluate all facets of your case as we assess your case value
- Reach out to experts who can testify on your behalf
- Gather any evidence to prove the abuse occurred
- Fiercely negotiate and fight to secure a full settlement or verdict
Taking legal action can be difficult. Our Baton Rouge personal injury lawyers will protect you at every turn. Contact us today to learn more.
Overview of Louisiana’s Laws on Sexual Abuse and Assault
Criminal courts in Louisiana take sex crimes extremely seriously. Defendants who are convicted can face years, if not decades, in prison. They may also be subject to sex offender registration requirements, steep fines, and a lifelong criminal record.
Pursuing justice against your attacker in criminal court can be extremely important to your well-being. However, criminal penalties do nothing to compensate you for the losses you’ve experienced due to the abuse.
Sexual abuse is also classified as an intentional tort. The perpetrator can be held liable for financial compensation in civil court. That’s true regardless of whether they’re ever convicted of a crime.
Additional legal theories that may be relevant to your case include:
Louisiana Vicarious Liability Laws
Employers in Louisiana can be held liable for intentional torts committed by their employees in the scope of their employment. If it was that employment that ultimately gave your abuser their position of authority, the employer can be financially liable.
Examples of some employers who have been found financially liable for abuse committed by employees include:
- The Roman Catholic Church and other religious groups
- The Boy Scouts of America
- USA Gymnastics
- Colleges and universities
- Schools and daycares
- Hospitals and medical practices
- Nursing homes
- Massage parlors
If you are a victim of abuse and are wondering whether you have a valid personal injury case, contact us today. You can call or use our online contact form.
Premises Liability Laws
Sometimes, sexual attacks occur because a property owner fails to provide adequate security. For example, the installation of video surveillance cameras may have prevented the abuse from occurring. Locked gates may have prevented an attacker from accessing the property.
Premises liability laws in Louisiana require all property owners to take reasonable security measures to prevent reasonably foreseeable crimes. Property owners who ignore their responsibilities can be liable for the resulting damages.
What Counts as Sexual Abuse in Louisiana?
Forcible rape is considered one of the most serious sex crimes in Louisiana. Rape and sexual assault are incredibly serious and likely to impact your life forever.
You don’t have to be a rape victim to have experienced sexual abuse, however.
Sexual abuse can take many forms, including:
- Using a position of power to convince someone to perform sexual acts
- Any type of unwanted touching of a sexual nature
- Forcing someone to watch sexual activity or pornography
- The production or viewing of child pornography
- Masturbating in front of a victim
- Exposing genitals to a victim
Perpetrators of sexual abuse tend to target victims who they perceive as vulnerable. They may use some type of authority to coerce and manipulate the victim. They may also use their greater physical strength to physically force sexual activity or intimidate the victim into complying.
Our Attorneys Handle All Types of Sexual Abuse Cases in Baton Rouge
Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers handles all types of sexual abuse claims, including:
Sexual Abuse in Therapy and Medical Settings
We trust doctors and therapists to help us through the most difficult periods of our lives. When they take advantage of that power by committing abuse, they can be held liable. The hospitals and clinics that employ them may also be responsible.
Sexual Abuse by Clergy Members
Stories of sexual abuse at the hands of trusted clergy members are now all too common. For decades, priests, ministers, and spiritual leaders have taken advantage of their power. Whether you were a child or an adult when the abuse occurred, you deserve justice. Our lawyers in Baton Rouge are here to fight for that justice.
Sexual Abuse in School, Sports, and Recreational Settings
Teachers, coaches, and organizational leaders are all in a unique position of power when it comes to younger individuals. For decades, they’ve wielded a huge amount of authority over children. We now know that some authority figures have often violated their position of trust to sexually abuse young people.
Both the perpetrator and the organization can be financially accountable.
For example, you may have a valid claim for compensation against:
- Schools and school districts
- Sports organizations
- Colleges and universities
- The Boy Scouts
- USA Gymnastics
If you are a victim, contact us today to explore your legal options.
Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes
Unfortunately, nursing home residents are extremely vulnerable to sexual abuse. Many suffer from memory issues or cognitive disabilities. Others suffer from physical disabilities that leave them unable to fight back. In the end, many nursing home residents are too ashamed to even report the abuse.
What Is My Baton Rouge Sexual Abuse Case Worth?
Our lawyers will work closely with you as we assess your case value. Putting a dollar value on the type of trauma you’ve experienced is rarely simple.
Some of the factors that your lawyer will consider include:
- The nature and duration of the abuse
- Your age when the abuse occurred
- The circumstances, including the perpetrator’s identity and relationship with you
- How you have struggled due to the abuse
- Whether you have lost educational or career opportunities due to the abuse
- The nature of the physical injuries you suffered
- Damage to your emotional health and well-being
No two cases are alike. While seeking a lawyer’s advice is rarely easy for victims of abuse, know that we’re here to help in any way we can. Give us a call today to learn more about your right to compensation.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Sexual Abuse in Baton Rouge, Louisiana?
Like any car accident victim, you can pursue compensation for your economic damages and non-economic damages.
Examples include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost career prospects and diminished earnings
- Rehabilitation
- Counseling
- Specialized mental health programs
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Fear
- Humiliation and shame
- Loss of fertility
- Damage to personal relationships
You may also be entitled to punitive damages in a sexual abuse case. These cases involve acts that are shocking and egregious enough for courts to award punitive damages as punishment–and to deter future sexual abuse.
How Long Do I Have To File a Personal Injury Lawsuit if I Was Sexually Abused in Louisiana?
Every state has time limits when it comes to filing a lawsuit for damages. In Louisiana, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is typically two years (as of 7/01/2024).
However, sexual abuse cases are different. The law recognizes that it might take you years to step forward. Call our lawyers today for a confidential consultation to learn about the laws and procedures that apply to your case.
Contact a Trusted Baton Rouge Sexual Abuse Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Every aspect of your life can be impacted by sexual abuse. You deserve to stand up and hold all responsible parties accountable. A Baton Rouge sexual abuse attorney at Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can handle every aspect of your case. Just give us a call to arrange a time to discuss your case today.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Baton Rouge, LA
Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
404 Europe Street, Baton Rouge, LA, 70802
(225) 263-4787
