Riverside Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Riverside Sexual Abuse Attorney
Anyone can be a potential victim of sexual abuse. The aftermath of abuse often requires emergency medical care at places like Riverside Community Hospital and long-term mental health support from providers such as the Riverside University Health System Behavioral Health Center. If you or someone in your family was sexually abused, you can secure legal representation from a Riverside sexual abuse lawyer.
Justice can come in the form of financial compensation when you have an attorney on your side. A Riverside sexual assault attorney understands the laws that allow victims to pursue compensation from their abusers.
Legal Support for Survivors in Riverside
Following a sexual assault, it can take incredible courage to hold the perpetrator accountable for their actions. At Easton & Easton, we understand the profound and emotional impact that sexual abuse can have on victims and their families. Justice can come in the form of financial compensation when you partner with our firm, which has over 100 years of combined legal experience.
When you work with our firm, your case will be handled with the utmost discretion, compassion, and care. What sets our firm apart is our unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional service and results to our clients. Holding a sexual abuser accountable can be a critical first step in the healing process. Let our team help you take that step with confidence.
Sexual Abuse and Civil Claims in Riverside
Sexual abuse affects Riverside residents of all ages, although children remain a common target. In 2023, Riverside County received 42,012 child-related referrals involving allegations of abuse or neglect. That same year, the California Victim Compensation Board received 2,715 applications related to sexual assault.
Sexual abuse survivors in Riverside have the legal right to pursue civil claims for compensation separately from any criminal case. Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 340.16, adult survivors of sexual assault have up to 10 years to file a civil claim or three years from the date that they discovered the abuse caused psychological injury.
These extended timelines help accommodate the trauma and delays often involved in coming forward. According to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, their Special Victims Unit specifically handles sexual violence and child abuse. Civil claims may target individuals or institutions such as schools, religious organizations, or employers that failed to prevent abuse.
Survivors in Riverside can file their claims through the Riverside County Superior Court, located downtown at 4050 Main Street. Once the civil claim is accepted, the defendant must be notified of the court proceedings. By taking legal action through the courts, survivors and their attorneys can gather further evidence through the discovery period.
By building a strong claim, a plaintiff can position themselves to secure a favorable settlement to compensate them for the emotional harm and financial losses they suffered due to the sexual abuse. Some cases may go to trial where a jury or judge has the discretion to award punitive damages in addition to monetary compensation (such as therapy costs, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses) and non-monetary damages (such as pain and suffering).
Cases We Handle:
The Emotional Toll of Sexual Abuse
Sexual violence remains a significant danger in California. More than one in three women and one in four men report experiencing sexual violence involving physical contact in their lifetime. Sexual abuse accounted for 6.2% of reported California child maltreatment cases in 2022.
Survivors of sexual abuse often carry the emotional scars of their assaults for years or even decades. In Riverside County, crisis centers like the Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center help survivors who regularly experience anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and long-term trust issues.
These emotional effects may interfere with work, relationships, and daily life. Some survivors struggle with sleep or suffer flashbacks of past traumatic events. For those abused as children, the psychological harm can disrupt development and impact self-worth into adulthood.
Even with time, the emotional impact does not always fade without proper care and validation. Although a civil claim cannot erase painful memories, it can form the foundation of a sustainable recovery.
What Can I Be Compensated for Through a Civil Sexual Abuse Claim?
Compensation from a civil claim can cover a wide range of damages tied to the harm the plaintiff suffered. Common forms of compensation include settlements that cover past and ongoing mental health treatments.
Survivors can also seek compensation for lost income if the trauma disrupts their education or career. Non-monetary compensation for less tangible things like pain and suffering can also be added to final settlements.
In some cases, a trial may result in the awarding of punitive damages meant to punish a defendant for particularly egregious misconduct. Punitive damages are also meant to deter future harmful acts and send a signal to the broader community that sexual abuse will not be tolerated.
Civil claims can also cover costs related to relocation, personal security, and other safety measures. In Riverside County courts, each case is evaluated individually, and compensation is based on the survivor’s story and the evidence presented by their attorney.
The Role of an Attorney in Holding Abusers Accountable
In Riverside, a qualified sexual abuse attorney plays a critical role in uncovering the truth and ensuring that abusers (and any institutions that shielded or protected them) are held responsible. Attorneys help survivors navigate complex legal systems, from meeting strict filing deadlines to collecting evidence that strengthens a civil case.
Many claims involve institutions such as churches, schools, or youth programs that failed to report or stop the abuse. An experienced lawyer can subpoena internal documents, interview witnesses, and uncover patterns of negligence that may otherwise remain hidden.
In the Riverside Historic Courthouse, survivors are not required to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, which is the common standard used in criminal cases. Rather, the civil courts require a preponderance of the evidence to establish liability.
By pursuing civil action, attorneys give survivors the power to demand accountability, not just from individuals but from the systems that enabled their behavior. This process can bring closure and long-overdue consequences.
FAQs
Is There a Statute of Limitations on Child Sexual Abuse in California?
California allows survivors of child sexual abuse that occurred before January of 2024 to file civil claims until age 40 or within five years of recognizing the abuse caused harm. There is no time limit for child sexual abuse that occurs on or after January 1, 2024. In cases involving institutional cover-ups, there may be no time limit. These expanded time frames give survivors more opportunity to take legal action, even if the abuse occurred decades ago.
Can an Organization Be Held Liable for Child Sexual Abuse?
An organization can be held liable in a civil claim if it enabled or failed to prevent child sexual abuse. This includes institutions like churches, schools, foster care agencies, and athletic centers. Liability may arise from negligent hiring, supervision, or failure to act on reports of abuse. Civil claims may pursue compensation for the harm caused by the organization’s inaction.
Can You File a Claim Against Someone Who Sexually Abused You as a Child?
You can potentially file a civil claim against someone who sexually abused you as a child, even if the abuse happened decades ago. California law allows extended time frames for these claims to give survivors a chance to seek justice. A claim may include compensation for emotional distress, psychological injuries, and other long-term effects of the abuse.
What Support Groups Exist for Parents of Sexually Abused Children?
Parents of sexually abused children can access support groups through hospitals, trauma recovery centers, and national organizations like RAINN. These groups help families understand trauma responses, offer emotional support, and provide tools to guide children through recovery. Support networks also assist parents in navigating the legal and therapeutic processes that follow the abuse.
What Civil Remedies Are Available for Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse?
Civil remedies for survivors of child sexual abuse include monetary compensation for emotional trauma, therapy costs, lost wages, and other damages. Claims can be filed against individuals, organizations, or both, depending on who is responsible. California law allows survivors to pursue justice through financial accountability for the harm caused by abuse.
Schedule Your Consultation With a Sexual Abuse Lawyer Today
Survivors of sexual abuse in Riverside deserve justice and the opportunity to heal. At Easton & Easton, our trial-ready legal team is committed to helping victims of sexual abuse hold perpetrators accountable through our system of justice. You can trust our attorneys to approach your case with discretion, compassion, and a focus on securing justice.
Setting our firm apart is our 100+ years of combined experience in personal injury and sexual abuse litigation. The moment you secure representation from our award-winning firm, you gain a trusted ally who will not waver until you receive justice in the form of compensation from the party who caused your harm.
If you or a loved one has been affected, do not hesitate to take action. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation. We can discuss your case, outline your legal options, and work with you to pursue justice and the compensation you deserve.
Your Story Is Important To Us.
CALL US SO WE CAN HEAR IT.
The superior client service Easton & Easton provides has earned the firm an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen anew each year since 2014 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers as one of the "Best Law Firms" for the Southern California Metro Area.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen by the LA Times Reader's Choice Poll as "The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" for 2018.
Doug and Brian Easton have been selected as Top 100 Trial Lawyers for California each year since 2014 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.
Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.
Brian and Matt Easton were recently honored for their efforts in securing a $1,850,000 verdict for a client in 2016, which was selected as one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California by TopVerdict.com.
Doug and Brian have each been selected by Super Lawyers, an honor given to less than 5% of attorneys. Matt Easton has been selected among Super Lawyers' Up-and-Coming Top 25 in Orange County and Top 100 in Southern California, an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys under 40 years old.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen as one of the "10 Best Personal Injury Law Firms” in all of Southern California" each year Since 2015 based on client satisfaction — one of the highest honors we could ever hope to achieve.
Easton & Easton received the “People Love Us On Yelp” award in 2016 due to the exceptional client satisfaction reviews given by our clients over the years.
Doug and Matt Easton have each been featured as Premier 100 Trial Attorneys for California since 2015 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.
Brian and Matt Easton have each earned lifetime appointment to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — The Top Trial Lawyers in AmericaTM through the results achieved for their clients. This is an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys in the United States.
Doug Easton has held the “AV Preeminent” Rating for over 30 years and Matt Easton received this prestigious distinction in 2015. The "AV Preeminent" rating is the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards, and is based on the legal profession’s oldest peer review rating system, dating back to 1887.
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been chosen as one of the "10 Best" Personal Injury Attorneys in Southern California each year since 2015 based on client satisfaction, an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys - and Easton & Easton houses three of them.
Brian Easton was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2015. ABOTA is one of the most premier associations of trial attorneys and judges, requiring a certain number of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board.
Matt Easton has been selected each year since 2014 as one of the Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40 for California by The National Trial Lawyers — an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys.
Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.
Both Doug and Matt Easton have been selected as Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Avvo with scores of 10 out of 10 based on their skill, experience, results, peer evaluations, and client reviews.
Matt Easton has been selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys Under 40 in California for 2015 by the National Association of Personal Injury Attorneys — an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys under the age of 40.
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been selected by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel among the Nation's Top One Percent of Attorneys each year since 2017.
“We look for the human story behind every injury or wrongful death. We prepare our cases for trial; reaching out to the jury with the most compelling evidence possible for the best verdict possible. Insurance companies know this and come to the table prepared to negotiate in good faith. Call us to see how we can turn your story into fair compensation.”
Partner W. Douglas Easton
What Our Clients Say
Coming out of my first auto accident as an adult, a very difficult and scary time to navigate and understand, I was so incredibly thankful to have been put in contact with Easton & Easton. I honestly was lost with how to handle paperwork, doctors, medical costs and what next steps were, and from the moment I spoke with Travis Easton and my case manager Katie, my mind was put at ease. They have made the entire process stress free for me as I recovered, and I am so grateful for them and their genuine care for my case. Communication from the start has been fantastic, especially making clear what my expectations for the entire process would look like, and I truly believe they have my best interest at heart. 100% I would recommend their firm for anyone that is needing representation! Read more…
My experience with Easton & Easton has been amazing! Gabriel Mendoza and my case manager Katie have been so helpful and taken so much stress off my plate. They’ve been super informative and honest and given me very clear expectations. They’ve taken such a terrible experience (my accident) and eased my mind about the outcome. I can’t thank them enough!! Read more…
Ive used them twice and never been disappointed. Read more…
The Easton & Easton Law Firm is amazing! The entire team is very helpful and caring. They were always there to answer all my questions. They directed me through the entire process and stayed with me every step of the way. This team is outstanding and were wonderful to work with. Because of the tremendous effort they put on my case they were able to win my difficult personal injury case. I couldn’t have asked for a better law firm to handle my case. They are the Best! Thank you for your patience, professionalism, & guidance! I definitely recommend this firm to handle your case. They go out of their way to fight for your rights. THANK YOU… Read more…
I could not be more pleased with the services provided by the Law Offices of W. Douglas Easton. The senior partner Mr. Easton took the time to meet with me and my wife while I was still in the hospital, where he gave my family hope that there was light at the end of a very long, and very dark tunnel. Matt Easton then worked my case, and because of his dedication, experience and expertise I received a settlement that was larger than I EVER thought possible. It was truly astounding! Matt and the entire team at Easton & Easton looked out for me throughout my recovery, and in the end they gave me my life back. Five stars is not enough. Thanks Matt! Thanks Easton & Easton! Read more…
Brian and everyone at Easton and Easton are simply the BEST at what they do. Brian is thorough, easy to talk to, and truly cares about his clients. If you want a family of attorneys with perseverance and determination to fight for you, give Easton and Easton a call. I am glad I did. Read more…
What an amazing law firm, talk about going above and beyond to make such a painful experience go so well. I have referred a co-worker and a family member to them as well and everyone had such a great experience as I had. Read more…
I can’t say enough amazing things about my experience with Travis Easton at Easton & Easton. Travis and his entire team (Katie, Amy, Dee, Michelle, & Araceli) are phenomenal. It provided me a lot of comfort to know I was being so well taken care of. I was especially impressed that every document for the case was perfectly written and specific to me. Nothing was generic, which shows the level of care and attention they put into each individual case. I had such a great experience and would highly recommend Travis Easton and his firm to anyone going through a personal injury. Travis took a bad situation and made the best of it for me. Thank you again, I’m forever grateful!!
-Allee
Retaining Easton and Easton was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! From the initial consultation to our final meeting, they were nothing short of exceptional. I was forced to retain their services after firing my previous attorney for not handling the case properly. I dealt with Gabriel and Brian (partner) exclusively throughout the case. They did as promised and were great communicators throughout the entire process. I will recommend them to anyone I know going through a personal injury case. They were ultimately able to untangle the mess caused by my previous lawyer and get a result that I was extremely happy with. Their staff is exceptional as well and provided top notch customer service. Amera was also extremely helpful and easy to deal with as well.
I was in a pretty bad car accident and decided to have Easton & Easton represent me, Travis Easton to be specific. Travis Easton and his paralegal made the whole process effortless. They were so understanding and helpful! The entire thing was a gigantic mess, yet Travis managed to make it run like clockwork. I would HIGHLY recommend Easton & Easton! If you are ever in need of a personal defense attorney Easton & Easton is the firm to represent you!
They are the best law firm in Orange County period. Choosing them to represent me was the best decision of my life.
My life changed in a matter of seconds after a catastrophic spinal cord injury that left me disabled. Brian Easton and his team worked on my case non stop for 3 years and provided me the justice I deserved. I couldn’t have been more content.
I was treated with utmost respect and I felt like I was being represented by a close family member. The responses to my questions were quick and clear. What E & E has done for me is phenomenal.
My sincere thanks to Brian, Matt, Travis, Doug, Gabriel and Amera. They are what they are because of their dedication to provide high quality and professional service to their clients.
Brian Easton and his team, Gabe Mendoza and Amera Hajali, helped me during a very difficult time in my life. I had a significant injury from a car accident, and wound up seeking out Easton & Easton when I was having difficulties getting help from my doctors. The Easton team took a lot of stress off of me while acting as my advocates to help me get the care I needed, and saw my case all the way through to a healthy settlement.
They are the BEST!
I have nothing but good things to say about Easton and Easton. Brian handled my case professionally and communicated with me effectively throughout the process. He made sure that the process was effortless and as hands free as possible. This was super important for my busy schedule. I highly recommend Easton and Easton if you are ever found in a situation that you need an attorney.
I would highly recommend Easton & Easton.
I was rear ended on my home and pushed into a semi-truck. I was not sure how to go about even using an attorney.
Brian, Gab and Amera were so good about helping me thru the process and representing me.
I was able to concentrate on getting myself better knowing they had my back, taking care of the details and keeping me informed along the way
The best Law firm by far. I would highly recommend Easton & Easton, LLP and ask for Gabriel Mendoza and staff. He and his colleagues did and exceptional service. Thank you for everything. Job well done!
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