If you or someone you love has been sexually abused in Kentucky, it’s time to demand justice. Contact the Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC at (859) 550-2900 today for a free consultation. You have rights as a victim, and our experienced Kentucky sexual abuse lawyers can help you demand compensation from your abuser and other responsible parties.
We provide powerful legal representation to injury victims and families in Kentucky. Our team, which includes some of Kentucky’s most respected and successful civil trial attorneys, brings 100+ years of combined experience and an undeniable ability to litigate complex personal injury disputes successfully. Our case results include over $1 billion in damages – including multiple eight-and nine-figure recoveries.
Why Hire Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC if You’ve Been Sexually Abused in Kentucky
Your life has been turned upside down by an unforgivable and inexcusable act of sexual abuse. Whether you experienced a single assault or were the victim of long-term sexual abuse, you shouldn’t be left to deal with the consequences alone. Victims of sexual abuse trust Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC because we’ve committed our careers to fighting injustices on behalf of the injured.
Clients in Kentucky choose our firm because:
- Our team has earned prestigious honors, including “Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America and recognition in Super Lawyers.
- National recognition includes selection to LawDragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in America and Benchmark Litigation’s “America’s Leading Litigation Lawyers.”
- Martindale-Hubbell AV ratings reflect the high standards of legal ability and ethics maintained across our firm.
- Record-setting results, including multiple placements among the National Law Journal’s “Top 100” verdicts, demonstrate the strength of our case outcomes.
- More than 100 years of combined experience allows our attorneys to handle complex and high-stakes cases with confidence.
- A client-centered approach drives how every case is handled, with a focus on telling each client’s story and pursuing full accountability.
Our team is here to invest the depth of knowledge, hands-on experience, and winning legal strategies you’ll need to hold your accuser accountable in a civil court of law. Learn more about how we can help by contacting our law office to schedule a meeting with a Kentucky personal injury attorney today.
Members of our team are available to take your call and answer your questions 24 hours a day.
Sexual Abuse in Kentucky
Sexual abuse can be broadly defined as unwanted, nonconsensual sexual contact with another person. It can include rape, statutory rape, molestation, groping, and other offensive sexual contact. Not only is sexual abuse a crime in the state of Kentucky, but it can also give rise to civil litigation.
Kentucky doesn’t have a specific tort for sexual abuse. Instead, victims of sexual abuse can bring civil personal injury lawsuits against their abusers on the grounds of intentional torts like assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
In some cases, victims of abuse can also seek damages from other parties if their negligence contributed to acts of sexual abuse and resulting injuries.
We Handle All Types of Civil Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
At Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC, we’re proud to stand up on behalf of children and adults in all types of sexual abuse cases in Kentucky, including:
- Domestic abuse
- Institutional sexual abuse
- Clergy abuse
- Residential treatment center abuse
- Abuse in schools and daycare centers
- Boy Scouts abuse
- Foster care sexual abuse
- Medical sexual abuse
- Nursing home sexual abuse
- Uber and Lyft sexual abuse
- Summer camp abuse
- Abuse by coaches and trainers
- Sex trafficking
As the survivor of sexual abuse, you deserve to work with a personal injury attorney in Kentucky who will do everything within their power to help you navigate this difficult time in your life. It’s why you need to call Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC, today.
What Do I Have To Prove To Win a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
Sexual abuse is generally considered an intentional act under the law. It’s an intentional, sexually-motivated act intended to offend and degrade the victim. As the survivor of sexual abuse, you can sue your abuser directly to make them pay for the terrible things they’ve done.
When you file your sexual abuse lawsuit, you’ll need to be able to prove the following things:
- The defendant knowingly and intentionally touched you in a sexually-explicit manner
- The sexual contact was made without your consent, or after consent had been withdrawn
- The sexual contact was harmful or offensive, and
- You’ve suffered damages
There are also times when you don’t have to be physically harmed to sue for sexual abuse. If you’re threatened with sexual abuse by someone with the present ability to carry out that threat, you can sue them for assault.
Suing a Third Party for Sexual Abuse
In some situations, legal claims may extend beyond the individual who committed the abuse. Third parties—such as employers, landlords, business owners, schools, or religious institutions—may also be held accountable when their actions or failures contributed to the harm.
These cases are often based on negligence or vicarious liability. Negligence involves a failure to provide reasonable care or maintain a safe environment. For example, if prior incidents occurred at a Kentucky bar or nightclub and no security measures were implemented, the property owner may share responsibility for what happened.
Vicarious liability applies when abuse is committed by someone acting within the scope of their role, such as a coach, teacher, clergy member, or counselor. In these cases, the organization or employer may be held legally responsible for the misconduct.
How Much Is My Sexual Abuse Injury Case Worth?
It depends on your injuries, how the abuse has shaped your quality of life, and other specific consequences you’ve experienced and will continue to experience as you cope with the traumatic event.
Our sexual abuse attorneys in Kentucky will consider:
- The specific physical injuries you’ve suffered because of the sexual abuse, such as broken bones, internal organ damage, bruising, contusions, and soft tissue injuries
- Whether you’ve been exposed to any sexually transmitted diseases or infections
- How the abuse has and will affect your ability to work
- Changes in your quality of life
- If you became pregnant because of the sexual abuse
- Your age at the time of the abuse
- Whether the person who abused you held a position of power or authority
The longer you are sexually abused and the more it affects your quality of life, the more money you can potentially be awarded when you file a personal injury lawsuit. Working with Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC can help you win your case and fight for the record-setting case results you deserve.
What Damages Can Be Awarded to Victims of Sexual Abuse in Kentucky?
The plaintiff in a civil sexual abuse lawsuit in Kentucky can seek two different types of damages: compensatory and punitive.
Compensatory damages, which fall into two categories – economic and non-economic, can include:
- Medical bills
- Therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Physical scarring
- PTSD
- Loss of consortium
- Embarrassment
Punitive damages may also be available in some cases. Under Kentucky law, these damages can be awarded when there is clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with oppression, fraud, or malice. While punitive damages are often determined at trial, they may also play a role in settlement negotiations.
How Much Does It Cost To File a Sexual Assault Case?
Nothing until our sexual abuse attorneys in Kentucky win compensation for you. Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC, offers contingency fee-based legal representation. We’re so confident we can make a difference in your life that we’ll stake our attorney fees on the results of your case.
If we don’t win, you owe us nothing. It’s that simple. When we obtain a favorable settlement or win your sexual abuse lawsuit in court, our attorney fees are deducted as a percentage of your financial award.
What’s the Statute of Limitations on Civil Sexual Assault Lawsuits in Kentucky?
While the statute of limitations for negligence-based personal injury lawsuits is typically just one year, Kentucky provides much more expansive filing periods for survivors of sexual abuse.
In many situations, you may be able to file a lawsuit based on:
- The date you were sexually assaulted or became aware that you were sexually abused
- Your 18th birthday if you were the victim of childhood sexual abuse
- The date the defendant was convicted of a crime of sexual abuse
It’s important to consult an experienced sexual assault injury attorney near you in Kentucky as soon as you’ve been abused. While the statute of limitations can offer a lot of time to take action, you run the risk of losing the right to sue if you miss the filing deadline that applies to your specific case.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Kentucky Sexual Assault Lawyer
Don’t struggle with the consequences or complications of sexual abuse alone. Call Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC, and trust our Kentucky sexual abuse lawyers to help you pursue a civil tort claim to help you recover compensation from your abuser and other responsible parties.
Our team has over a century of combined experience, and we’re known for our unmatched ability to take on tough cases and deliver top-tier results. Your first consultation is free, so reach out to our Kentucky law office today.