Sexual abuse and assault can involve significant emotional injuries. In many cases when a person is sexually abused or assaulted, there is another person or organization that is responsible for compensating the victim.

Miami & Statewide Florida Sex Abuse Victim Attorneys

Sexual abuse is often done by a person who has a close relationship or access to children, such as a priest, rabbi, teacher, or boy scout leader. If the abuse occurred in the course and scope of the abuser's employment, the employer or organization can be responsible for what occurred. The organization may also be legally responsible if it failed to conduct a proper investigation of the person's background to uncover prior sexual abuse the person has committed on other victims. Any organization with such knowledge should not allow access to your child or family member by such a person. If an organization is aware of an incident involving sexual abuse, they should take immediate steps to prevent that abuser from continuing to have access to other children or members of the public in the future. If they fail to do so, it is a breach of their duty and they can be held responsible. This might include a spouse who knows of the husband's sexually abusive behavior.

The lawyers and staff at Bernstein & Maryanoff have the financial resources and experience to help victims of sexual abuse and assault seek the maximum compensation for their injuries. Our lawyers have obtained numerous settlements and verdicts in excess of $1 million for personal injury victims. From our principal office in Miami and numerous other offices across Florida, we represent clients throughout the state.

Sexual abuse can occur in many different settings and to people of all ages:

• Sexual abuse can occur in business settings when an employee in a position of authority makes improper sexual advances to another employee.
• Sexual abuse can occur in private homes. If a homeowner knows that a person living in their home has a history of sexual abuse, they have a duty to warn anyone who comes into their home.
• Sexual abuse can arise in hospital settings, when hospital staff abuse patients who are under medication or in a vulnerable condition.
• Psychoanalysts and physicians can take advantage of the vulnerability of a patient and have sex with them.
• Children who live away from home can be sexually abused by other children or employees of the facility.
• Elderly people who are confined to nursing homes can be subjected to sexual abuse.

Each case of sexual abuse or assault must be analyzed separately to determine who is responsible for what occurred to you, your friend, or family member. Our lawyers typically retain expert psychologists to provide credible opinions about the careless or negligent conditions that allowed the sexual abuse to occur.

In some situations, sexual abuse rises to the level of forcible rape. In these cases, evidence will be collected by the police and rape treatment center. In other situations, DNA evidence is not easily recovered. In these cases, the evidence will consist of the testimony of a psychologist, friend or other person who can document the emotional injury that occurred.

Free consultation: There is never a charge to talk to a sexual abuse attorney at the law firm of Bernstein & Maryanoff. With a principal office in Miami, numerous other offices across Florida, and the willingness to make house calls, our attorneys will be there when you need them. We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis.

Learn more about sex abuse and assault

Sexual Abuse Information Center

Sexual Assault Caused by Negligent Security