While it is widely known that sexual abuse is a serious crime, it is less known that sexual abuse/assault victims may also have a civil claim against the perpetrator or institution employing the perpetrator. At the Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts law firm of Altman & Altman, LLP, we do not prosecute offenders for crimes, but we may be able to counsel victims and their families. If you or somebody you know has been the victim of sexual abuse, and wishes to bring a claim for compensation due to the abuse, call the sexual abuse litigation attorneys at Altman & Altman, LLP.

Sexual assault can occur when someone is the subject of inappropriate or unwanted kissing, touching, fondling, or rape. Often, people believe that once they have been the victim of sexual abuse, it may be impossible to collect compensation since the abuser has no assets. There are, however, instances where parties who did not play an active part in the abuse will be civilly liable because they had duty to prevent it. Cases like this will go hand in hand with negligent security cases, and often impose civil liability on multiple parties.

How to Help or Seek Help if You Know or Are a Sexual Assault Victim

If you have been the victim of a sexual assault:

• Seek safety immediately
• Contact a trusted friend or family member or a sexual assault hotline or crisis center for support, and call 911. The sooner you report a sexual assault crime to law enforcement, the stronger it is for a potential legal case.
• When reporting sexual assault, give as much detail as possible to law enforcement. Include the location and time of the assault, what happened before, during and after, the number of people involved, activities, sequence of activities, how long they lasted, who said what, how much and how many times you resisted, odd details, any injuries or pain you sustained, detail of threats, potential or actual weapons, bodily fluids involved or any injuries that the assailant may have experienced.
• Do not change clothes, take a shower or bathe, or clean any part of your body, and do not touch or change anything at the scene of the assault.
• Go to a hospital emergency room, where you'll be treated for any injuries, examined, and checked for any possible sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy. A health care provider will also obtain any hair, fibers, saliva, semen or other items from the assault that may be used for evidence.

If someone you know has been the victim of sexual assault:

• Listen to them and help them if they want to report the crime to police and seek medical attention.
• Provide resources such as sexual assault hotline or crisis center contact information.

Signs That Someone Is A Victim of Sexual Assault

People who have endured sexual assault may experience sleep disturbance, nightmares, enduring memories, anger, anxiety, panic, numbness, and other physical or emotional health issues.

Signs that someone has experienced sexual assault include tattered, stained, or bloody underwear, genital swelling, inflammation, bruising, pain or itching, a sexually transmitted infection, and/or ongoing yeast or urinary tract infections.

Besides Contacting An Attorney, Where Else Can Someone Go For Help?

There are many organizations that are devoted to helping and supporting people who have experienced sexual assault. Some of them include:

• The National Domestic Violence Hotline 1.800.799–SAFE (7233) or 1.800.787.3224 (TTY) or www.ndvh.org. This hotline is available nationwide, 24–hours a day.
• The National Sexual Assault Hotline 1.800.656.HOPE (4673) or www.rainn.org. This is an anonymous nationwide hotline that automatically connects callers to local crisis centers of RAINN (The Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network).
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services maintains a list of state resources at www.womenshealth.gov/violence/state/. This list includes area organizations that help those dealing with sexual assault and domestic violence.

How to Lower the Risk of Sexual Assault

Being alert and aware, and avoiding too much alcohol can all help lower a person's chances of being sexually assaulted. Consider the following tips from the National Crime Prevention Council:

• Know where you are, who is around you, and what you're doing when you are out in the world, even in a setting where you typically feel safe.
• Appear confident, such as when walking or when looking around at your surroundings.
• Do not let unfamiliar people touch you or otherwise come into your personal space. Stand up for yourself if necessary, and leave a situation if it seems uncomfortable or strange to you.
• Use common sense with safety issues: don't prop open doors that are usually locked, and always secure your home and car doors and windows when you will not be home or in your vehicle. Know where your keys are and keep them within your possession; don't put your address on your key chain.
• Drive, walk, and park on well–lit streets or sidewalks, and avoid places that are quiet or deserted. Never hitchhike or pick up hitchhikers.
• Keep your vehicle well–maintained and adequately fueled. Charge your cell phone and have it available.
• Don't open your front door to people who don't properly identify themselves or are unwanted visitors. Use common sense when interacting with people you don't know in every situation.
• Be smart about the people you consider friends and acquaintances.
• When dating or considering intimacy, be clear about your limits early on.
• Consider taking a self–defense course.
• When drinking alcohol, know how much you can drink before feeling the effects or before you are drunk. Watch your drink always and ensure that no one has had access to it. Avoid extreme inebriation.
• Consider ahead of time what you might do if the possibility of assault exists in a particular situation, and follow suit if you need to.

Our Boston and Cambridge sexual abuse litigation attorneys will aggressively pursue your case against the person who wronged you, and fight for you every step of the way. We have represented numerous victims of sexual assault, and have extensive experience representing people who are going through a most difficult time. We understand the emotional struggle of a sexual abuse victim, and act not just as counselor but as confidant. If you believe that you or someone you love has been subjected to this type of assault, contact us and speak to our sexual assault attorneys for a free confidential consultation.