Child sexual abuse ranks among the most horrific of all crimes. When allegations of child sexual assault surfaced at Penn State University, many in Pennsylvania were shocked. Jerry Sandusky, an once revered assistant football coach, was charged with abusing eight boys over a 15-year time period. Sandusky denied the charges, but said he did shower with the boys.
While Sandusky is innocent until proven guilty, in general child predators who are convicted tend to receive lengthy prison sentences. For the victims, the assault may cause deep psychological trauma in addition to physical injuries. While no amount of money can truly undo the damage of a sexual assault, victims may need compensation for real financial losses. The only recourse for many victims of sexual assault is to retain a personal injury lawyer. By pursuing compensation through the civil courts, or a child sexual abuse lawsuit, victims may be able to receive compensation to cover the costs of psychiatric care or psychological care. Sadly, many victims may require a lifetime of therapy in addition to needing to address physical injuries.
