Morgantown Attorney Assists Sexual Abuse Victims in West Virginia

Accomplished trial lawyer seeks fair compensation for physical and emotional harm

Sexual abuse is a problem throughout society. Anywhere there is a disparity in power, we can find abusers preying on the vulnerable. But nowhere is sexual abuse more heinous and destructive than in cases where adults victimize children. Kids who are robbed of their innocence carry emotional scars for the rest of their lives. At Mountaineer Injury Law Group in Morgantown and Martinsburg, my firm is determined to hold perpetrators and enablers of sex abuse accountable. If you have been the victim of sexual abuse in West Virginia, now is the time to come forward. My firm is ready to support your quest for justice with bold advocacy.

Sexual abuse in West Virginia         

It has been reported that an incident of child sexual abuse every nine minutes in the United States. Victims of childhood sexual assault suffer emotional trauma that makes them:

• Four times more likely to abuse drugs
• Four times more likely to exhibit symptoms of PTSD as adults
• Three times more likely to suffer a major depressive episode as adults

Where are children violated? The majority of minor sexual assault victims are harmed by someone they know. These encounters occur at various places, such as:

• Scout meetings and campsites
• Sports facilities
• Daycare centers
• Churches and other places of worship
• Medical facilities
• Schools
• Summer camps

Many organizations that serve children do a poor job of screening employees and volunteers, thereby putting children at risk.

Classifications of sexual abuse in WV        

Under West Virginia law, child sex abuse is an unlawful act by which an adult or older adolescent uses the victim for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include:

• Fondling and other types of molestation
• Child grooming
• Sexual contact of any kind
• Indecent exposure
• Obscene phone calls, text messages or digital interaction
• Creation and exchange of child pornography

Child sexual abuse need not include physical contact, but can consist only of exposing the child to sexually explicit imagery or messaging for the perpetrator’s gratification.

West Virginia statute of limitations for sexual abuse cases        

The statute of limitations for personal injury is two years, but this time period has proven to be grossly unfair to victims of sexual assault. Child victims frequently suppress memories of the traumatic event, sometimes for decades. In some cases, only symptoms that show up in adulthood fully reveal the harm they have suffered.

Therefore, West Virginia reformed the statute of limitations in 2020, to allow childhood sexual abuse survivors to file a civil lawsuit until they reach age 36. This applies to all survivors of childhood abuse who were under the age of 36 when the law was enacted.

West Virginia also has a four-year discovery rule, which enables sexual abuse survivors of any age to file a lawsuit within four years of discovering an injury related to the abuse. Thus, if someone over the age of 36 had suppressed the memory of the event and/or was not aware that the abuse had caused harm, that person has additional time to file an action.

Coming forward with your sexual abuse allegations

My firm understands how difficult it can be for a victim of sexual assault to come forward. But all victims deserve the sense of closure that comes when a predator is brought to justice. If you were sexually mistreated as a youth, I urge you to schedule a free consultation, so we can discuss your rights and what to expect from the legal process.        

Contact a West Virginia injury lawyer for a free sexual assault consultation

Mountaineer Injury Law Group offers represents victims of sexual assault throughout West Virginia. To schedule a free consultation in either Morgantown or Martinsburg, please call 304-202-5835 or contact me online.