Sexual Abuse

Compassionate Representation for Daycare Child Sex Abuse Victims

There is nothing more distressing than discovering your child was a victim of sexual abuse, especially if it was at the hands of someone you trusted. Parents trust that daycare facilities will ensure the safety and wellbeing of their children, but if a facility fails to perform in-depth background checks, they may hire a sexual abuser. The offender should be punished to the full extent of the law, but your child may also be eligible for compensation from the abuser or facility.

At The Husband & Wife Law Team, we understand that you are unsure about how to move forward after your child was abused. We do not want to add any more stress or heartache to your situation, which is why we are dedicated to lifting your legal burdens. We can sit down with you in a free, confidential consultation and discuss what occurred. If you choose to work with us, we will handle all of the legal requirements for filing a claim while you focus on your family. If you are ready to talk with our daycare abuse lawyers, contact us today,

Spotting Sexual Abuse

Abuse can take a variety of forms, ranging from inappropriate touching to indecent exposure, and these crimes can traumatize children for the rest of their lives. For young children, it can be difficult to immediately spot the abuse, as they may not fully understand what happened to them or know how to explain it to an adult. However, there are several signs that can help you identify sexual abuse.

If you suspect that your child has suffered abuse, you should look out for:

• Sudden mood changes, such as withdrawal, unexplained fear, or sudden crying

• Issues sleeping, such as night terrors

• Wetting the bed, despite being toilet trained

• Sudden loss of appetite

• Not wanting to remove clothes for changing, baths, or bedtime

• Inappropriate sexual behavior

• Unexplained bruises or wounds on the pelvis or near the privates

• Blood on underwear

• Sudden and unexplained fear around specific daycare workers

• Unwillingness to go to daycare

• Sexually transmitted infections

In some cases, parents are not made aware of the abuse until doctors, therapists, or teachers bring it to their attention, but if you do notice any of the above signs, then you should contact a medical professional and law enforcement. Your child’s doctor may suggest seeing a specialist who can explain how your child can recover from the trauma while the police investigate who is responsible. In many instances, children require therapy to process what has occurred, possibly for years.

The Long-Term Impact of Abuse

Due to the impressionable nature of children, even a single instance of abuse can result in lifelong trauma, impacting everything from mental development to physical health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), childhood sexual abuse can result in:

• Physical trauma, such as bruising, soft-tissue damage, and broken bones

• Infections and sexually transmitted diseases

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Eating disorders

• Substance abuse

• Increased risk of self-harm and suicide

• Increased risk of future sexual violence

Your child’s physical wounds may heal with medical treatment, but psychiatric care may also be necessary to process the emotional impact. Mental illnesses are a common development in victims of sexual abuse, but early intervention by trained professionals may help a child move past the trauma. This treatment is not cheap, however, and it may take years for a child to fully recover.

If your child suffered abuse at the hands of a daycare worker, he or she may be eligible for compensation from the facility, which may include coverage for:

• All medical expenses, including past and future treatment

• Therapy bills and mental health counseling

• Pain and suffering

• Mental anguish

• Loss of enjoyment of life

Who Is Responsible for Abuse in Daycares?

While we cannot change what happened to your child, The Husband & Wife Law Team can fight for full and proper compensation for your child’s mistreatment if they were victimized by a worker at a daycare facility. Facilities should make every effort to protect children from abuse, which includes reviewing the backgrounds of every employee, adequately supervising all children and staff, and implementing sexual abuse prevention policies. When a daycare facility fails to protect children, it can be held liable for any trauma or injuries a child suffers in a personal injury claim.

To recover compensation for your child, your lawyer must demonstrate that the facility acted negligently when hiring and supervising employees. This may have been failing to implement thorough background checks or hiring a worker who has a history of abuse. If the facility was aware that a child was abused and did nothing to prevent it, then it should be held responsible for the child’s trauma.

Speak to a Dedicated Phoenix Daycare Sex Abuse Attorney Today

Determining how to move forward after your child has suffered sexual abuse is difficult. You may be unsure how to deal with the police, how to get your child proper care, how you are going to pay for treatment, and what you can do to hold the daycare facility accountable. Your best option is to sit down with a team of experienced and compassionate Phoenix child injury attorneys who can explain all of your options.

The Husband & Wife Law Team understands that you and your child are in need of strong legal representation. We work on a contingency-fee basis, so there are no upfront costs for allowing us to review your case and investigate the facility where your child was harmed. Let us handle the legal requirements of getting your child compensation. Contact us to discuss your case today.