Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
When You Suspect Child Sexual Abuse Has Harmed Your Child (Part A)
What To Do After Your Child Has Been Sexually Abused?
When child sexual abuse is suspected by an individual in a place of trust, such as a clergy member, what are your options?
The answer to this question depends upon the amount of evidence and the time that has passed since you learned of the incident.
Are you sure your child’s injuries are due to sexual abuse? Could it be another form of child abuse, or was it simply accidental?
You must be sure about the situation to determine whether you can press charges against an adult or juvenile who may be responsible for child sexual abuse.
Parents Need to Act NOW
The most important thing for parents to do when they suspect a sex crime is to investigate it immediately.
Don’t let doubt or fear make you hesitate to consult a doctor, child injury lawyer and the police.
It is always better to be safe than sorry.
If your child’s injuries were indeed due to sexual assault, you need to act not only on behalf of your child, but to prevent the sexual abuser from attacking other children as well.
Lifelong Consquences
Children who are sexually abused may experience a lifetime of emotional trauma, including depression as well as self-abusive and antisocial behavior. Physical injury from child sexual assault can be severe and even fatal, depending on the age and health condition of the child.
Timely Action Can Help Your Child
Fast action following the signs of sexual abuse can:
- Preserve medical evidence for a trial
- Keep a known offender from fleeing the state
- Aid a civil case before the statute of limitations expires
- Prevent the child molester from harming other children
If you suspect a child sexual abuse relationship between your child and an adult or a juvenile, call the national child abuse hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
Next, you should consult with a Boston child injury lawyer that specializes in child injury cases in Massachusetts. It is important that the lawyer you choose has successfully handled child accident cases and understands the intricacies of child abuse.
Continue to When You Suspect Child Sexual Abuse Has Harmed Your Child (Part B) >>
