Experienced Sexual Abuse Lawyers in NYC

Sexual predators who target children are often someone the child knows, and they are frequently people the child views as a figure of authority at school, in religious or community organization or with sports teams. It can take years for victims of child sexual abuse to be able to deal with the trauma, and the impact of the abuse lasts forever. Child sexual abuse can impact every aspect of a victim’s life, and the effects can be long lasting and devastating.

At Daniella Levi & Associates, P.C., our team of sexual abuse attorneys will aggressively prosecute the predators and organizations that facilitate the abuse while showing compassion to our clients and fighting for their right to redress, justice and some closure. We will do everything we can to help you and your loved ones get financial compensation from the individuals and organizations who harmed them.

Sexual predators prey on vulnerability and trust. As a result, perpetrators of sexual violence are the people one least expects, and victims are usually children, women and the elderly. Though perpetrators of rape are often serial criminals, sexual abuse offenders typically know and have an intimate relationship with their victims. According to RAINN, 93% of child sexual abuse victims knew the perpetrator:

• 59% were acquaintances
• 34% were family members
• 7% were strangers

More than half of all abusers are over the age of 30. In jail settings, 60% of sexual violence cases are committed by jail staff.

In a criminal sexual abuse case, plaintiffs must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the abuse occurred. However, in civil cases, the burden of proof is less stringent, and victims must only prove beyond a preponderance of evidence that the abuse occurred. What this means is that the plaintiff must prove that there is greater than a 50% chance the claim is true. Victims have a greater chance of doing this by presenting the following:

• Medical records.
• Witness statements.
• Police reports.
• Text messages.
• Photos and Video footage.
• DNA evidence.

In many sexual abuse cases, fact-finders rely heavily on the plaintiff’s credibility.

We understand the unique issues involved in representing survivors of rape and sexual abuse. Each client has his or her unique needs, and our team is committed to helping each client navigate the process and any issues that may arise for survivors. We can help you connect with a support system of counselors and advocates, and we can prepare you for participating in the criminal prosecution of the perpetrator. We know healing from sexual abuse is a complex, multi-dimensional journey, and we believe that empowering abuse victims is the most important part of representing them.

To discuss your legal rights or talk to an experienced sexual abuse attorney about what happened, call us today or fill out our contact form.