Long Island Child Sexual Abuse and Incest Lawyer

Was your son, daughter or another child in your family the victim of sexual abuse or incest? These horrible crimes are devastating to the whole family, and all too often go unreported and unpunished. In a recent open letter to The New York Times, Dylan Farrow detailed the alleged sexual abuse she suffered as a child at the hands of her father, acclaimed director Woody Allen. Her letter illustrates the difficulty in coming forward; the fear, shame, anger and host of emotions the victim feels and the difficulty victims may have in being believed and getting the justice they deserve.

There are many reasons victims don’t come forward:

• The victim has been threatened by the abuser that something bad will happen if they tell anyone.
• The victim has been told that what is happening is normal or happens in every family. They don’t realize it is abuse.
• The victim may not know that help is available or don’t feel they have anyone they can confide in.
• The victim may feel no one will believe them.
• The victim may feel like they are the ones who did something wrong.
• The victim may care about the abuser and be afraid of what will happen to the abuser if they tell
• The victim may be scared about how people will react when they hear about the abuse
• They may be afraid that no one will believe them or that the person they confide in will tell the abuser
• The victim may be afraid that people will accuse them of having done something wrong

If anyone you know is a victim of any type of sexual abuse, it is important to seek help for them immediately. This includes calling the police or child protective services as well as getting them any medical attention as well as an examination that can also collect evidence.

If you suspect sexual abuse, here are some signs to look for:

1. Change in behavior in a negative way. The child may be more fearful, depressed, anxious, etc.
2. Reverting to childish behaviors. This may include thumb-sucking, bed-wetting, tantrums and fear of the dark.
3. Fear of going home. Abused children may express apprehension or anxiety about leaving school or about going places with the person who is abusing them.
4. Changes in eating. The stress, fear and anxiety caused by abuse can lead to changes in a child’s eating behaviors, which may result in weight gain or weight loss.
5. Changes in sleeping. Abused children may have frequent nightmares or have difficulty falling asleep, and as a result may appear tired or fatigued.
6. Lack of personal care or hygiene. Abused and neglected children may appear uncared for. They may present as consistently dirty and have severe body odor, or they may lack sufficient clothing for the weather.
7. Risk-taking behaviors. Young people who are being abused may engage in high-risk activities such as using drugs or alcohol or carrying a weapon.
8. Inappropriate sexual behaviors. Children who have been sexually abused may exhibit overly sexualized behavior or use explicit sexual language.

There are organizations, including RAINN and Safe Horizon that can provide help and resources. If you believe the child is in immediate danger, you should call 911.

In addition, you can seek the assistance of a personal injury lawyer to help ensure your legal rights are protected.

The Benefits of Obtaining Legal Support

A good lawyer will work with your family, not just to ensure your rights are protected, but as a close confident and someone that can work with you to help you get some sense of closure. Our lawyers have worked with many victims and their families to help them get the compensation they need to pay for any medical bills, counseling and other expenses to help their child regain their life back and learn to trust again.

How We Can Help

At Goldstein & Bashner, we have extensive experience in dealing with children and teen victims of sexual assault cases in the New York and Long Island areas. We have helped to serve victims as both a close companion and as competent legal advisers. We have helped numerous assault victims overcome the terrible wrong doings that they have had to encounter. In doing so, we have assisted victims in recovering monetary compensation for the physical and emotional injuries that they may have sustained. If you or somebody you care for has been the victim of a sexual assault, please contact us for a free consultation.