Dallas Child Sexual Abuse and Molestation Attorneys

Sexual abuse is an issue that tragically affects many American children. According to data from the American Society for the Positive Care of Children, as many as 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be the victim of sexual abuse before reaching the age of 18. These numbers are devastating and indicate just how pervasive child sexual abuse and molestation is in the United States.

Though it can be difficult to know how to best support your child if you suspect abuse is happening, it is important that your child knows they can trust you to be their advocate. The healing process is long and complicated. Family counseling, open communication, and healthy boundaries are instrumental in creating a safe environment for a child who has been the victim of sexual abuse or molestation. When abusers subject the most innocent among us to this type of harm, they must be held accountable.

The Dallas sexual abuse and molestation attorneys at The Benton Law Firm have represented many families working through the damaging effects of sexual abuse. Our experience fighting on behalf of families against abusers has equipped us with a very specific skill set. We keep compassion and integrity central to our practice and advocate for clients who need it the most. The effects of abuse create an obstacle for children that they must continually confront. Our skilled attorneys make sure that abusers don’t get away with it. Call us today at (214) 777-7777 or fill out an online contact form to discuss how we can help you through this difficult time and get you the financial compensation, justice, and closure you deserve.

Do I Need a Dallas Child Abuse Lawyer?

Molestation and sexual abuse often have a profound impact on a child’s development. If your child has been victimized by sexual abuse, their abuser should be held accountable. The healing process for all families looks different, but, for some, seeking justice against an abuser in the form of a lawsuit for compensation can be a helpful step in processing what has happened.

Reaching out and seeking help during an especially difficult and painful time is often hard for families. As a personal injury law firm that frequently handles child injury and child sexual abuse cases, we truly respect how difficult this is. Our legal team also knows that during hard times, the knowledge, skill, and level-headedness of a lawyer can be a much-needed comfort and resource.

If your child experienced sexual abuse after you entrusted them to the care of a camp, a daycare, or another youth organization, you are doing important work in protecting other children when you take legal action. In some cases, the hiring practices and oversight of these organizations are lacking to the point of negligence. When this is the case, legal action can inspire some much-needed reform and ensure that abusers are fired and exposed for the threat that they pose.

Why Trust My Case to The Benton Law Firm?

While we know that taking legal action cannot make your child’s trauma go away, making sure that abusers don’t get away with their crimes is a step in healing. Jeff Benton, the founder of The Benton Law Firm, has dedicated his practice to fighting for those who need a skilled legal advocate. He was recently named one of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas 2018” by D Magazine. He is unmoved by those who think they are above the law, and he and his team fight to ensure that abusers face the consequences for the damage they cause.

Our legal team’s passion and unrelenting attention to detail have scored The Benton Law Firm a 10.0 Superb rating from Avvo, a top legal directory. We are named to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, which is an honor less than 1 percent of American lawyers can claim.

Our attorneys are proud of what we can accomplish for our clients because we know how they stand to benefit from legal support. Our firm works on a contingency basis, which means that we do not ask for payment unless we win your case. If we win, we only take a percentage of your settlement.

Types of Cases We Handle

The attorneys at The Benton Law Firm can help you pursue justice through a civil case by establishing liability and holding responsible parties accountable. The following are three types of liability that may be established in a civil case against your child’s abuser:

• Direct Liability for Negligence — If abuse occurred while a child was entrusted to the care of a daycare facility, a school, a camp, etc., the employer of the abuser could be held directly liable if the abuse occurred while the child was entrusted to the organization’s care. Direct liability for negligence calls into question the hiring practices, training, and supervision extended to the abusive employee.
• Direct Liability under the Law of Premises Liability — Property owners owe a certain duty of care to those who are directly or implicitly invited onto their property. If the property owner is found to have abdicated this duty, they could be held accountable.
• Vicarious Liability — Vicarious liability holds an employer accountable for the acts that an abuser under their employ perpetrated.

It is important to note that civil cases are different from criminal cases. If your child’s abuser is arrested for child sexual abuse and tried in a criminal case, they may go to prison and face consequences, but you and your family will not receive any compensation from this proceeding. If you want financial compensation for the harms your child has suffered, you will need to bring a lawsuit against the abuser. Furthermore, remember that the burden of proof in criminal cases is much higher than it is in civil cases. Even if your child’s abuser is found not guilty in criminal court, you may still be able to hold them financially accountable in civil court.

Signs of Child Sexual Abuse

Unfortunately, sexual abuse can begin for some children as young as infancy and is often perpetrated by someone the child knows. If your child is the victim of sexual abuse they may display the following signs:

• Depression
• Difficulty sleeping
• Nightmares or night terrors
• Withdrawing from social situations
• Hyperawareness of their bodies
• A sudden interest in sexual topics
• Uncharacteristic aggression
• Trouble sitting or standing
• Swelling, bruising, or bleeding in genital areas
• Symptoms of sexually transmitted infections
• Suicidal ideation and behavior

If you notice any of these signs in your child, or suspect for any other reason that your child may be the victim of sexual abuse, do not hesitate to call The Benton Law Firm for immediate help.

Contact a Dallas Child Molestation and Sexual Abuse Lawyer Today

If your child has been the victim of sexual abuse, you are likely overwhelmed by emotion and confusion. A skilled child injury lawyer will listen to you and help you figure out the next steps to take. The Dallas child injury attorneys at The Benton Law Firm put our skills to work advocating for abuse victims and their families every day because we know what good legal representation can do. Call our offices today at (214) 777-7777 to seek the justice that your family deserves.