Our Award-Winning Los Angeles Sexual Abuse Lawyers Have One Goal,
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    $10,000,000
    Wrongful Termination
    $6,700,000
    Jury Verdict in Los Angeles County Superior Court for a $15/hr employee fired only because she was a pregnant Mexican woman who needed a handful of days off to give birth to her baby. Click here to learn more about this case.
    $5,000,000
    Construction Accident
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    Hospital Employee Fired
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    $4,000,000 Arbitration win for a sales associate at a major retail chain for workplace sexual assault. Click here to learn more about this case.

    $3,400,000
    Healthcare System
    $3,320,000
    Wrongful Termination

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    sexual abuse

    Los Angeles Sexual Abuse Lawyer

    Let our firm help you obtain the compensation & justice you deserve.

    Victims of sexual abuse can suffer a lifetime of physical, mental, and emotional damage that can negatively affect the way they live their lives. While the criminal justice system can punish the perpetrators for their heinous acts, the civil court can help victims achieve justice by holding the perpetrators liable for monetary damages such as lost income, emotional distress, as well as pain and suffering.

    If you or your child has been the victim of sexual abuse in Southern California, our Los Angeles sex abuse lawyers at Levin & Nalbandyan, LLP can help you hold the negligent party liable for their actions and recover your entitled compensation. With decades of experience and millions of dollars won on behalf of our clients, we understand how to build a strong and personalized personal injury case to achieve justice for sex abuse victims.

    PROVING A SEXUAL ABUSE CASE IN CIVIL COURT

    Although there is no specific legal theory—or cause of action—to file an injury lawsuit for sexual abuse, victims have other legal theories available to them to pursue a case in civil court. Common examples include intentional infliction of emotional distress or assault and battery.

    Since these sex crimes are egregious and grossly negligent in nature, juries typically award high damages, ensuring the perpetrator is liable to pay an immense amount of money to the victim. In addition, a civil lawsuit can be brought against additional parties, such as schools, churches, businesses, and other institutions, based on negligent supervision or failure to provide proper security. An attorney in Los Angeles could guide a person through a sexual abuse civil claim.

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    WE HANDLE A WIDE RANGE OF PERSONAL INJURY CASES, INCLUDING:

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    BICYCLE ACCIDENT
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    BIRTH INJURY
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    BUS ACCIDENTS
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    CAR ACCIDENTS
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    CATASTROPHIC INJURY
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    CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT
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    DOG BITES
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    MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
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    MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS
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    NURSING HOME ABUSE
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    SEXUAL ABUSE
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    SIGNS OF SEXUAL ABUSE

    Many people, especially children, do not admit to being the victim of sexual abuse or even do not believe they are victims at all. Rather, they will display emotional, behavioral, and physical changes that may appear out of character to those who know them.

    Common emotional signs of sexual abuse include:

    • Depression such as constant crying, low self-esteem, withdrawal, or suicidal thoughts
    • Severe anxiety such as clinging or nightmares
    • Severe anger such as unmitigated aggression, tantrums, or increased irritability

    Common behavioral signs of sexual abuse include:

    • Sudden behavioral changes
    • Changes in grades, schoolwork, or focus in academics
    • Unexplained fears of specific places and types of people
    • Fear of spending time alone with a specific individual
    • Fear of being touched
    • Reverting to activities and tasks performed when they were younger
    • Delinquency
    • Substance abuse
    • Self-harm such as self-mutilation or unexplained recklessness
    • Excessively playing with their own private parts
    • Engaging in sex play with toys, friends, and pets
    • Creating drawings that depict sexual acts
    • Inappropriate and unusual questions regarding sex

    Common physical signs of sexual abuse include:

    • Issues sitting or walking
    • Rectal bleeding
    • Physical pain or itchiness in their private areas
    • Blood stains or other forms of discharge found on undergarments
    • Wetting their clothes or the bed
    • Sleeping issues
    • Eating less or more than usual
    • Stomachaches

    DAMAGES IN A SEXUAL ABUSE CASE

    If a plaintiff proves a defendant is liable for sexual abuse in a civil case, they are entitled to the same damages that are available to personal injury victims. The three types of damages include economic, noneconomic, and punitive damages.

    Economic damages entail tangible losses caused by the sexual abuse. Common examples include past and future medical expenses, ongoing psychiatric care, and lost wages due to the inability to work or perform their job.

    Noneconomic damages consist of the types of harm the victim suffered and will continue to suffer as the result of sexual abuse. Common examples include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment in life, and loss of consortium.

    Punitive damages are only available if the defendant maliciously and intentionally causes harm. The main purpose of such damages is to punish the defendant for their actions and deter similar conduct by making an example out of the defendant.

    Common types of sexual abuse include:

    • Forced penetration without consent
    • Forced sexual touching
    • Unwanted oral sex
    • Forcing another person to view pornographic materials
    • Taking and/or distributing sexual images without consent
    • Exposing private parts to another individual or forcing someone to expose themselves
    • Making unwanted sexual requests

    In order to prove sexual abuse in civil court, the plaintiff and their Los Angeles lawyer must show that it is more likely than not that the perpetrator committed the alleged abuse, which is lower burden proof compared to criminal court. The plaintiff can bring in evidence from a criminal case to use as evidence in a civil case, according to the “collateral estoppel” rule. Even if there weren’t any criminal charges filed, a plaintiff can still bring a civil case.

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    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    Personal injury cases are some of the most common civil litigation cases—also known as “tort actions” or “lawsuits”—in the United States. They are filed by individuals who have experienced bodily injury, pain and suffering, and sometimes property damage in an accident caused by a negligent third party. These claims can also be filed for intentional harm or defamation of character by a third party.
    While you are not required to have an attorney to file a claim, having an attorney can make a significant difference in your claim. A personal injury attorney has a deep understanding of the claims process and can help you navigate the complexities of the law. Your attorney can also help you level the playing field with insurers and can tell you whether you are receiving the maximum compensation to which you are legally entitled.
    If you have been injured in an accident that was no fault of your own, there are steps you should take to ensure you are compensated for costs related to the incident. Taking quick action after your accident can profoundly affect your personal injury claim or lawsuit. After being involved in an accident, you should: Seek medical attention for your injuries, even if symptoms are not immediately apparent. Keep a record of your injuries and note any complications that arise because of your injuries. Report the incident as soon as possible after it occurs. Record detailed descriptions and notes about the facts of the incident. Keep receipts of medication and medical care you received Contact an experienced personal injury attorney in Los Angeles who can help you navigate your claim.
    Not all personal injury claims make it to court. In fact, a majority of injury cases are settled without having to litigate. What’s the difference between a settlement and going to trial? What are the pros and cons of each? There are two ways in which compensation can be awarded to you for your claim: through a settlement or by going to trial. There are pros and cons to each. When your claim is settled, the compensation for your claim is decided outside of court, usually through negotiations between lawyers.
    In California, you have two years to file a personal injury claim against an individual or non-government entity. If the injury is not immediately known, you have one year from the date the injury is discovered. If you’ve suffered injuries from an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you should act quickly to ensure you are able to recover compensation for your losses.

    Notifying Insurance Companies

    You should notify your insurance company and the responsible party’s insurance company as soon as possible after your accident. Most insurance companies request that you file your claim within 24 – 48 hours after your accident. When you file a personal injury insurance claim, you are requesting that the at-fault party’s insurance pay for the losses you suffered as a result of your accident, and the compensation amount is determined during negotiations. Seeking Compensation You can get financial compensation in two ways: filing a personal injury insurance claim or filing a personal injury lawsuit. Generally, compensation can be sought for two types of damages: economic and non-economic. Economic damages are those with a measurable monetary value, such as medical expenses and lost wages. On the other hand, non-economic damages refer to losses that cannot be easily quantified, such as pain and suffering or emotional distress. It is important to understand the types of damages available in your case so that you can seek compensation for all of your related losses. Soon after your accident, contact a knowledgeable personal injury attorney in Los Angeles who can explain the time limits to you and help you get the compensation you deserve.
    Our firm is located in downtown Los Angeles. We can take all personal injury cases based in California.

    A Los Angeles Sexual Abuse Attorney is READY TO FIGHT FOR YOU TODAY

    Our Los Angeles sexual abuse lawyers can investigate your case, collect evidence, talk to potential witnesses, and create an effective legal strategy to maximize your entitled award. While there is nothing we can do to take the pain away, we can help you get your life back on the right track. Reach out to our compassionate team to begin your civil claim.

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    If your claim has been denied or your attorney has decided to give up, reach out to our firm for a second opinion.

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