Filing A Childhood Sexual Abuse Lawsuit (2026)

What Is Considered Child Sexual Abuse?

Child sexual abuse includes all sexual conduct between adults and minors. It does not have to involve penetration, touching or force. Some of the most common forms of child sexual abuse include:

• Rape
• Sodomy
• Masturbating in front of a child
• Adults exposing their genitals to a child
• Forcing a child to touch an adult or another child
• Inserting objects or body parts into a child’s genitals

Sexual abuse can also include creating, possessing or distributing child pornography.

Where Abuse Commonly Occurs

Childhood sexual abuse can occur in facilities such as:

• Schools
• Hospitals
• Community centers
• Religious organizations
• Camps
• Youth groups
• Group and foster homes
• Online

Unfortunately, many of these sexual abuse cases occur in the child’s own home.

Who Can Be Held Liable?

The perpetrator of the abuse can be held responsible, along with anyone else who owed the child a duty of care. For example, institutions like schools and churches have a responsibility to keep children safe, so if they fail to do so, they can be held liable.

Evidence Needed to Prove a Case

Childhood sexual abuse lawsuits typically require a significant amount of evidence. The most useful types of evidence tend to include:

• Medical records
• Police reports
• Forensic evidence
• Witness testimonies

This is often one of the most challenging aspects of these cases because the abuse will likely have happened years before

Statute of Limitations for Filing

The statute of limitations establishes the amount of time you have to file one of these claims. Some states, like Alabama, don’t have a deadline for filing these cases, but others do. In many states, the clock doesn’t start running until the child turns 18.

What Survivors Can Recover in a Settlement

In a settlement, you can receive economic damages. These address the tangible losses you suffered as a result of the abuse, like medical bills for the treatment of physical and psychological injuries. If you are not able to work because of what you suffered, your lost earning potential can be addressed, too.

Non-economic damages cover the emotional and physical suffering you experienced. If you can’t live your life as you’d like to because of the abuse, then those losses can be compensated.

What Affects Your Settlement Amount?

The settlement you receive will depend greatly on the injuries you suffered, how long the abuse went on for, the impact the abuse had on your life and even the quality of the evidence you can provide. If there are multiple parties involved, that, too, will influence the settlement amount.

Pursuing Justice With Help From ConsumerShield

If you have been a victim of childhood sexual abuse, the team at ConsumerShield can help you get in contact with a trusted attorney in your area. Contact us to get started today.