Sexual Abuse in Schools Lawyers in Maryland — Holding Abusers and Negligent Institutions Accountable
Even for those who don’t particularly enjoy school, attending class is vital to learning academic and social skills. This is supposed to be a safe environment for everyone on campus, but sex offenders sometimes destroy this safety. If you or a loved one were abused in an academic setting, you must be able to secure justice. A sexual abuse in schools lawyer in Maryland may be able to help.
At Andreozzi + Foote, our team of legal professionals has the knowledge and experience to assist sexual abuse survivors. We’ve handled cases nationwide and fought hard to ensure offenders are held responsible for their actions. It’s a tragedy when the haven of public schools, private institutions, colleges, and universities is violated. However, our law firm is here to help you fight back.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
How Can a Maryland Sexual Abuse Lawyer Assist You?
If you or a loved one were subjected to inappropriate sexual acts in an academic setting, an experienced attorney could prove invaluable to your situation. First, they can ensure an appropriate incident record is created and help you access survivor services you may not know exist. More importantly, legal professionals can fight to hold your abuser and those who enabled them accountable. In some instances, this means the school could be liable as well.
A sexual abuse in schools lawyer in Maryland can investigate your case. They can also file the appropriate legal paperwork for a lawsuit, or it’s possible that they could work out a settlement agreement with at-fault parties. For instance, schools would often prefer to avoid a trial after they’ve allowed an environment where students could sexually abuse each other. In such situations, a drawn-out trial may not be necessary.
The right approach to your case will depend on its unique circumstances. Let our law firm review the facts and help you make the best decision to move forward.
Who Is Responsible for Sexual Abuse in Schools?
When someone is sexually abused in an academic institution, responsibility for the assault may seem clear. After all, it’s typically fairly easy to identify the perpetrator or perpetrators of abuse in these situations. The offender can then face criminal penalties and potentially have to pay financial compensation to their victim. However, it’s not just the offender who might share liability when abuse occurs in schools.
That’s because negligence or outright illegal behavior on the part of the institution itself is sometimes involved. School administrators may ignore safety concerns or hire employees without a background check. It could even be the case that the administrator is the one who committed abuse. Identifying all responsible parties in these cases is important for ensuring justice is served.
Let our Maryland sexual abuse in schools attorneys assist you in this process.
Are You Entitled to Damages for School Sexual Abuse?
There are various types of damages that sexual abuse victims may be entitled to. These include economic damages and non-economic damages. The former relates to real monetary losses — such as medical bills, therapy costs, and lost wages. The latter involves pain and suffering, emotional damage, and loss of enjoyment in life. However, it’s important to understand whether you’re entitled to such damages.
Typically, a civil case involves proving that a person acted negligently or illegally and caused harm. Someone who sexually assaults another person has acted illegally, and victims are always somehow harmed. Of course, schools may also violate such a duty by failing to act reasonably. Examples could include hiring unsafe individuals, leaving dark areas of the campus unlocked, and other actions that could put people in danger.
Proving that your case meets these criteria can be an uphill battle, but a Maryland sexual abuse in schools attorney may be able to assist.
Contact Our Sexual Abuse Lawyers in Maryland Today
Academic institutions are supposed to be a place to earn an education in a safe environment. Unfortunately, this isn’t everyone’s experience with the academic world. If you or a loved one faced sexual abuse in school, you must understand your rights and the resources available. A skilled legal professional with experience in such cases can assist in these ways and many more.
At Andreozzi + Foote, our law firm is committed to helping victims of sexual assault get justice. Whether such abuse involved educators, other students, employees, or even third parties, it’s possible to hold the perpetrator and negligent institutions liable. You don’t have to face this difficult journey on your own. Contact us today by calling 866-311-8640 to schedule your free consultation.
Our sexual abuse in schools lawyers in Maryland are on standby and ready to assist.