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 how pervasive child sexual abuse and molestation are in the United States. Our child molestation attorneys understand how hard this can be. Let us help you get through it and get the compensation you deserve.

Though knowing how to support your child best if you suspect abuse is happening can be challenging, your child must know 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 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 for families against abusers has equipped us with a 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 challenging time and get you the financial compensation, justice, and closure you deserve.

Do I Need a Child Molestation Attorney?

Molestation and sexual abuse often profoundly impact 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 through 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 sexual abuse cases, we genuinely respect how difficult this is. Our legal team also knows that during hard times, a lawyer’s knowledge, skill, and level-headedness can be a much-needed comfort and resource.

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

Why Trust My Case to The Benton Law Firm?

While legal action does not heal your child’s trauma, ensuring 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 skilled legal advocate. He was recently named one of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas 2018” by D Magazine. Jeff is unmoved by those who think they are above the law. He and his team fight to ensure that abusers face the consequences for the suffering 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, 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, so we do not ask for payment unless we win your case. If we win, we only take a percentage of your settlement.

Types of Child Molestation 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 the 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 specific duty of care to those 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. Still, you and your family will not receive compensation from this proceeding. If you want financial compensation for your child’s harm, you must 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 molestation attorney will listen to you and help you figure out the following steps. The Dallas child injury attorneys at The Benton Law Firm put our skills to work advocating for abuse victims and their families daily 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.