Suffering child sexual abuse can be one of the most traumatic experiences to endure, and these cases can be highly complex. The earlier you report incidents, the better chance we have of fighting back against this injustice, exposing offenders, and avoiding these incidents for other children in the future.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a sexual abuse crime, you may have grounds to take legal action and recover damages. At Dolman Law Group, we have North Miami Beach child sexual abuse lawyers ready to take on your case.
Have You Been a Victim of Sexual Abuse?
If you have been the victim of child sexual abuse, such trauma can affect you even through adulthood. If you think you or someone you love is at risk of sexual abuse or has already been a victim, act quickly.
Call 911 immediately. If you are unsure about a child’s safety, you can report any information to the Florida Department of Children and Family Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873. It is essential to report a sexual abuse crime as soon as it happens; law enforcement can help bring the wrongdoer to justice.
However, sometimes the perpetrators may get away with the crime before the police arrive. Dolman Law Group exists to help bring these abusers to justice. The abuser may often tell the victim that it is their fault or that you are the one that deserves punishment, not them. The opposite is true: according to Florida’s sexual abuse laws, the victim is never in the wrong.
Florida Sexual Abuse Laws
Laws that may apply to your North Miami Beach child sexual abuse case are:
Consent Law
According to Florida Statutes § 794.011(4)(e), consent must be:
- Intelligent
- Knowing
- Voluntary
- Never involving another’s coerced submission
The law cannot define consent as the victim’s failure to resist the offender physically. The alleged victim cannot have been mentally incapacitated or incapable of appraising or controlling one’s conduct.
In addition, the alleged victim cannot fall under any legal categories which would render one temporarily incapable of consent, whether due to physical helplessness or mental vulnerability. Not every case involves an underage victim, but in the case of child abuse, age is one of the critical factors when considering how to fight back against sexual abuse.
In Florida, the legal age of consent is 18, meaning anyone under 18 cannot legally be considered a consensual adult in any sexual relationship. Florida law allows legal methods of avoiding being registered as a sex offender in cases where age gaps create a more confusing legal situation. For questions about how the State of Florida handles these laws, you can review the Romeo and Juliet Law here.
The Statute of Limitations
Over the years, many in the US have woken up to the seriousness of sexual abuse cases. The statutes of limitations are different depending on the state, including Florida. This law defines the client’s time to file their lawsuit after the crime occurs.
Florida recently eliminated the statute of limitations for many sexual abuse cases, whether criminal or civil, which may be helpful to victims who deserve compensation but need a longer length of time to figure out how to fight back. Working through these cases can provide stress and bring up previous trauma; however, the faster we bring you justice, the quicker you may be able to recover.
Fighting back may be possible if we can navigate the situation appropriately by knowing the ins and outs of Florida civil law, sexual abuse law, and childhood-related laws. Our team puts fighting for our clients first, which is why we have lawyers in multiple practice areas, including child sexual abuse law.
When To Hire a North Miami Beach Child Sexual Abuse Attorney on Our Team
If you have been the victim of sexual abuse, you would be able to seek a lawyer now. However, we understand this can be an extremely emotional and vulnerable topic. Regardless, our lawyers want to help you win what is rightfully yours while maintaining your dignity and identity. We can fight for justice in civil court, receiving payouts to cover the damage costs, including necessary time off of work, therapy, or other forms of treatment.
However, Dolman Law Group knows attorneys can be expensive, and no one wants to hire just anybody to handle a case as delicate as one dealing with child sexual abuse. To help you feel financially secure, we work on a contingency basis, only charging if we win, as we always aim to do.
As soon as we get an idea of your case, we will get to work. It is important to know legal instances like these can take a long time. We will keep you in the loop with all the important milestones throughout the process, and we are not afraid to fight to the end, going to court for you if a settlement does not give you what you truly deserve.
Contact Dolman Law Group Today to Begin Your Free Case Review
Sexual abuse has long-term consequences; it can negatively impact every area of life. If you live in the North Miami Beach area and have been a victim and are struggling, we want to help. Even if it has been a long time since your abuse, you may have grounds to pursue legal action.
To take advantage of our risk-free and no-cost consultation, reach out to our firm today. At Dolman Law Group, we aim to serve injured victims and have been doing so proudly since 2004.
North Miami Beach Office
1820 NE 163rd St #306,
North Miami Beach, FL 33162
(305) 676-8154