Child sexual abuse can cause lasting psychological, physical, and financial injuries. People who’ve suffered this particularly insidious abuse may be entitled to compensation from the individuals who harmed them and the organizations that failed to protect them. However, recovering comprehensive compensation in a civil child sex abuse case can be challenging. Though personal injury litigation is often grueling, cases involving the sexual abuse of children are especially sensitive and require skilled handling by adept attorneys.
After such a devastating violation, it can be difficult to know where to turn and who to trust. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. Peterson & Associates, P.C. provides caring and capable legal counsel you can count on. Here’s what you should know about Missouri and Kansas child sex abuse cases and how our skilled Kansas City injury lawyers help victims and their families navigate the court system, hold abusers and their enablers accountable, and recover the compensation needed to begin the healing process.
Defining Child Sex Abuse
Child sexual abuse is a broad term that describes the coercion or manipulation of a minor by an adult for the purpose of sexual gratification. People in Missouri who are younger than 17 and people in Kansas who are younger than 16 are minors who cannot legally consent to sexual activity with adults. Any sexual contact between a minor and an older individual may constitute child sex abuse. However, the contact in question doesn’t have to be physical; inappropriate digital communications also qualify. Examples of child sexual abuse include:
- Touching, kissing, or fondling
- Exposing oneself to a minor
- Pressuring a minor to engage in sexual activity
- Masturbating in front of a minor
- Forcing a minor to masturbate
- Sexual intercourse or sodomy
- Forcible rape
- Owning, producing, or distributing child pornography
- Sexually communicating with a minor via phone calls, texts, emails, direct messages, etc.
Childhood Sexual Abuse Can Cause Harm That Lasts a Lifetime
Subjecting a child to sexual activity that they don’t fully understand, aren’t developmentally prepared for, and cannot consent to can have catastrophic physical, mental, and behavioral health consequences that can continue well into adulthood. In addition to depression and persistent feelings of shame and guilt, child sex abuse is also associated with:
- Anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Eating disorders
- Relationship and intimacy issues
- Obesity
- Heart problems
- Chronic pain
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Sleep disorders
- Dissociation
- Increased risk for substance abuse, unplanned pregnancies or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and suicide
The extensive physical and psychological damage caused by child sex abuse can require costly ongoing medical and mental health care. Let our exceptional legal team help you explore options for recovery.
We Help Child Sex Abuse Survivors Fight for the Justice, Accountability, and Compensation They Deserve
Peterson & Associates, P.C. is a well-respected injury firm that’s fought to protect the rights of injured clients throughout Missouri and Kansas since 1993. When you’re injured, results matter. Our award-winning attorneys have collected more than half a billion dollars for our clients. We have the knowledge, empathy, experience, and determination needed to help you hold the abuser accountable and recover compensation for your—or your child’s—suffering.
Cases We Handle
Our firm accepts child sexual abuse cases involving:
- Day cares
- Sleepovers
- Teachers, coaches, tutors, and bus drivers
- Public or private schools
- Boarding schools
- Clergy members, youth pastors, and church volunteers
- Churches and religious organizations
- Gymnastics, swimming, wrestling, dance, and other sports
- Summer and day camps
- Community programs
- Boy Scouts of America (BSA)
- Other sexually abusive individuals
- Negligent hiring or supervision
What You Could Recover
Peterson & Associates, P.C. can help you go after an abuser or organization’s insurance coverage and assets to obtain the best possible outcome. Depending on the details of your child sex abuse claim, recoverable damages may include:
- Medical bills
- Counseling or therapy costs
- Wages lost due to time missed from work
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Fear or anxiety
In cases where the defendant's conduct was particularly egregious, a judge or jury may also award punitive damages.