Myths About Child Abuse….

Turn on the TV and it is not hard to hear about the child molestation accusations that were made against Jerry Sandusky in the last two months. If you are like me it is difficult to wrap your mind around the possibility of a coach molesting children, especially someone in a mentoring role. Here are a few myths that I think are worth squashing about child abuse.

Only bad people abuse their children.

Fact: Not all abusers intentionally harm their children. Many have been victims of abuse themselves and don’t know any other way to communicate.

Child abuse doesn’t happen in “good families.

Fact: Child abuse crosses all racial, economic, and cultural lines. Sometimes families who seem to have it all from the outside can have a completely different story behind closed doors.

Most child abusers are strangers.

Fact: A lot of times the abuser is a family member or a person who has some sort of a relationship with the family, such as a teacher, coach, or a neighbor.

If someone you know has been abused there is help; this is not something that should stay hidden like it did years ago. Below are some items to consider when bringing a lawsuit against someone that has abused a child.

Bringing a Lawsuit for Child Abuse

Time is of the essence. There is “statue of limitations which is the time limit for when you are permitted to bring a lawsuit. Our office will be able to help you to learn more about the time limits for bringing a child abuse lawsuit in your area.

Civil vs. Criminal Court

  • Civil Child Abuse – involves the victim suing the person who committed the child abuse against them in order to recover monetary damages for their injuries. If you want to sue someone for your child abuse injuries, or are being sued by the victim for money, you would be in civil court and would need an experienced personal injury lawyer.
  • Criminal Child Abuse –involves a person who is being prosecuted by the district attorney’s office for committing child abuse against a victim.

Victim of Child Abuse

If you or a loved one has been a victim of child abuse, you should speak to a lawyer immediately to learn more about preserving your rights and seeking remedies. A lawyer will be able to explain the value of your case and help you navigate through the complicated legal process.

All medical personnel, clergy, law enforcement, state agency employees and teachers are legally mandated to report their suspicions, but child abuse often goes unreported and can injure a whole community. Remember, when a child is abused, it is everybody’s business.