It’s not easy to talk about, but it’s important. Child sexual abuse is more common than you think. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, authorities respond to a case of child sexual abuse every nine minutes. As a sexual abuse attorney team, we know all too well how common it is and how devastating the effects can be on a child’s life, now and in the future. But everyone can do their part in stopping the abuse. If you notice any of the following signs of sexual abuse, you have the power to stop it. Signs That a Child May Have Been Abused Keeping your eyes peeled for signs of sexual abuse can prevent lasting harm from being done. It’s not always simple to notice the signs, especially since abusers take extensive measures to hide their abuse, often manipulating or even threatening their victims. Even if you can’t quite pinpoint why something doesn’t feel right, it’s critical to talk to the child. Knowing these signs will help you identify potential abuse victims. Physical and Behavioral Signs of Sexual Abuse Sexual trauma often presents in various ways. The following physical and behavioral signs are often …
Why Should I Hire a No Win No Fee Lawyer? 3 Reasons
A lot of people think that they can’t afford an attorney. But what if you didn’t have to pay unless you won? That’s what a no win no fee lawyer can do for you. This is an attorney who essentially works for contingency fees. Here’s why you might want to hire one. You Get Immediate Access to Legal Advice Your initial consultation with your lawyer will be free of charge. That means you can get access to the legal advice you need right away and begin implementing the steps you need to take for a successful outcome. This is beneficial because shopping around for lawyers can prove to be a time-consuming and extensive process. The more time you wait, the more you hinder your chances of success. Since your lawyer has an incentive to go for cases that have a solid chance of winning in court, you are also receiving the benefit of honest legal advice. You Don’t Have to Pay Up Front One of the main advantages of hiring a no win no fee lawyer is that there is not an up-front investment on your part. This way, you will not have to worry about any legal bills while …
3 Ways College Students Can Help Prevent Sexual Assault
We can all help prevent sexual assault, and as the school year starts again this fall, there is no more critical time to learn how. For college students, sexual assault is a problem that affects a large portion of students every year. Undergraduate women aged 18 to 24 are three times as likely to be a victim of sexual assault compared to the rest of the female population. If you’re a college student, learning how to intervene in situations can help keep you and your friends safe. Being an advocate and stepping in to help can make a difference, but you should only attempt to intervene if you feel comfortable. If you feel that someone’s safety is in jeopardy, including your own, call the police. Here’s what you can do to prevent sexual assault as a college student. Be Direct If you are unsure whether someone is in a situation that could lead to sexual assault, the best thing to do is ask them. Questions like “are you alright?” and “do you need me to stay with you?” can signal to the person in need as well as a predator that you’re watching. Create a Distraction Creating a distraction without …
Sexual Assault Awareness Month: How You Can Help
If the past year and a half has taught us anything, it’s that tolerance for sexual assault is slowly eroding. Harvey Weinstein, Michael Orestes, Bill O’Reilly, Larry Nassar, Roger Ailes, Mark Halperin—these are the names of some of the men who have recently come up against this cultural sea change and lost. With the help of social movements like #MeToo, the country is now grappling with the issues of sexual assault and sexual harassment openly and passionately. The current conversation was a long time in the making, though, and it wasn’t without casualties. In fact, in retrospect this watershed moment seems to have taken too long to arrive. As screenwriter Scott Rosenberg, who has written about the fallout from the Weinstein revelations, writes, “Maybe we didn’t know the degree. The magnitude of the awfulness. But we knew something.” The truth is Weinstein and these others got away with their actions for decades because nobody said anything. In these situations, people know, but if nobody says anything, nothing can be done. If a person hears or sees something bad happening and does nothing to stop it, what does that make that person? Part of the problem. We can all do better …