School Sex Abuse

At the Dietrich Law Firm P.C., Recognized as a Best Law Firm of America, Our Top Rated Lawyers in Buffalo, New York Are Dedicated to Representing Sexual Abuse Cases in the Buffalo School District.

Nearly 65,000 children in the United States are the victims of sexual abuse every year. It is estimated that before the age of eighteen, “1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused” by either family members or adults in positions of authority. The Buffalo, New York school district has seen a number of sexual abuse cases brought against it in recent years. In one instance, a retired teacher was accused of molesting a student in her class, taking advantage of her friendship with the child and the trust of the child’s parents to abuse her student. The former principal of Lafayette High School was also accused of abusing a student, as well as a Lafayette High School janitor. In each of these instances, the victims did not come forward until years after the abuse took place.

Many victims of sexual abuse do not report assaults. They often feel ashamed or afraid of telling others what has happened to them. Because sexual abuse is a violation of privacy, reporting a crime can often make the victims feel as if they are being exposed again. The Dietrich Law Firm, P.C. is dedicated to representing individuals who have been victims of child sexual abuse in the Buffalo, New York area. Sexual abuse causes will be handled with the utmost care and respect for an individual’s privacy and situation. Please call us today at (716) 839-3939 or visit us online.

Child sexual abuse accounts for 8.6% of the reported incidents of child abuse. The American Society for the Positive Care of Children defines child sexual abuse as the “maltreatment, violation, and exploitation that refers to the involvement of the child in sexual activity to provide sexual gratification or financial benefit to the perpetrator.” Any physical contact that sexually exploits a child is considered to be abuse. This includes:

1. Any physical contact for the purpose of sexual gratification, such as molestation, incest, and statutory rape; and
2. Prostituting the child for the purposes of sexual gratification, such as paying or being paid for the opportunity to use the child for sexual favors or for child pornography.

As with any instance of sexual abuse, the physical and psychological aftereffects remain with the victim throughout their lives. Most children are abused between the ages of 10 and 18, at a time when their most significant mental and physical development is occurring. The trauma of sexual abuse severely impacts that development and can lead to serious psychological complications in their adult life. According to Childhelp.org, 80% of the 21-year-olds who were victims of child sexual abuse showed symptoms of psychological disorders.

The impact of sexual abuse can be felt throughout an individual’s life. It can affect them developmentally by leading to long-term psychological issues, such as depression or suicidal tendencies. It can cause drug or alcohol abuse, unintended pregnancies, or sexually transmitted diseases. In some cases, a sexual abuse victim might even start to abuse the people around them in an attempt to reclaim some of the security they lost when they were abused.

Jed Dietrich, Esq. has worked as a personal injury attorney for over two decades. In that time, he has won countless cases for his clients in the Buffalo, New York area, and has earned a reputation as a hardworking and compassionate lawyer. If you are the victim of a sexual assault in Buffalo, New York, or the greater New York area, reach out to the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. today by calling us at (716) 839-3939 or visiting us online to schedule your FREE consultation.

The governor of New York State recently signed into effect the Child Victims Act, a piece of legislation intended to improve the justice system for child sexual abuse survivors. The Child Victims Act provided a greater window of time for sexual abuse victims to file lawsuits against their abusers and the parties responsible. Previous legislation concerning child sexual abuse claims allowed a specific and sometimes very limited period of time in which a claim could be brought against an assailant. Now, the Child Victims Act allows victims to come forward until they reach the age of 55.

The governor acknowledged that the creation of the Child Victims Act was made possible by the “survivors who endured unimaginable pain came forward with great courage and sacrificed their own privacy to make a change for others.” The trauma of childhood abuse is such that many survivors prefer to keep their abuse a secret to protect themselves or their family from the horrible truth. That some sexual abuse survivors are willing to sacrifice their own privacy in order to protect others who might be victims of abuse is both noble and courageous.

Sexual abuse is one of the most heinous crimes a human being can inflict on another. It is an inexcusable violation of another’s privacy and trust. When a child is involved, the crime is even greater, as it destroys the innocence and trustworthiness of children forever. For victims of child sexual abuse, one of the hardest decisions can be to report an abuse. They fear the aftereffects on their family members and friends. As difficult as it is, many survivors find the courage to come forward in order to ensure that others do not fall victim to the same abuser.

Every year in the United States, April is set apart as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website has a resource page dedicated to spreading awareness of Child Abuse. It also includes resources to build safer communities, tips for families on how to protect their loved ones, and information on the kinds of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) present in society and how to avoid them. The National Sexual Assault Hotline is available for any individual in need of help. They can be reached by phone at (800) 656-4673 or through their Online Chat.

At the Dietrich Law Firm P.C., we understand the life-changing effects of personal injury. Any form of sexual assault can permanently alter your way of life. As such, the importance of finding the right representative for your personal injury case cannot be overstated. Our team of top personal injury attorneys is more than capable of representing you. Please call us today at (716) 839-3939 or contact us online for your consultation.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at (716) 839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!