Child sexual abuse cases are tragic and often cause significant physical and emotional consequences for survivors. Fortunately, Washington law allows survivors to pursue civil lawsuits against the individuals responsible for the abuse and, in many cases, against institutions that failed to protect them.
The following sections discuss who can be held liable in a child sexual abuse case in Seattle, WA.
The Individual Abuser Can Be Held Liable
The person who committed the abuse is directly responsible for their actions and may be held personally liable through a civil lawsuit. Washington civil sexual abuse claims are separate from criminal prosecutions of the attacker and focus on compensating the survivor for the harm caused by the abuse.
A lawsuit against the individual perpetrator can help provide damages for the physical, emotional, and financial impacts of the abuse.
However, in many cases, the individual abuser does not have sufficient financial resources to fully compensate the survivor. This is why Seattle child sexual abuse attorneys often look beyond the perpetrator to determine whether other parties share responsibility for the harm.
Institutions That Failed to Prevent the Abuse May Share Liability
Many child sexual abuse cases involve organizations that failed to implement safeguards or ignored warning signs about an employee or supervisee’s abusive behavior.
When institutions responsible for supervising children violate their duty to protect children from abuse, they may share legal liability. Institutional liability may arise when an organization:
- Failed to train staff on child safety policies
- Allowed unsupervised access to children
- Ignored prior reports of misconduct
- Failed to properly screen employees/volunteers
- Attempted to cover up abuse or discourage reporting
Examples of organizations that may be held responsible for child sexual abuse include:
- Schools/school districts
- Foster care agencies
- Childcare centers
- Youth sports organizations
- Camps and recreational programs
- Nonprofit youth organizations
- Religious institutions
These entities often have greater resources than individual abusers, making it important to include them as defendants in sexual abuse claims. Additionally, holding these parties accountable can help prevent child safety and oversight failures in the future.
Types of Compensation You Can Recover in a Child Sexual Abuse Claim
A civil sexual abuse claim in Tacoma and throughout Washington State seeks to address the full range of harm survivors experience, which can touch on every aspect of life, including one’s emotional health, relationships, education, and career.
Compensation in a successful Washington sexual abuse claim may include damages for:
- Psychological counseling and therapy
- Medical care related to the abuse
- Medication and mental health treatment
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Psychological harm
- Anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Damage to personal relationships
Every abuse case is unique. Therefore, determining who may be liable and what compensation may be available requires a careful investigation by an experienced child sexual abuse attorney.
If you or a loved one experienced childhood sexual abuse in Washington State, a knowledgeable attorney can help you understand your rights and whether you have a civil claim related to the harm. Contact Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer to schedule a free consultation to learn more.