STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO, SEXUAL ABUSE LAWYER
Seek justice with our Steamboat Springs sexual abuse lawyers. We support survivors with free consultations and compassionate advocacy. Call now!
Unfortunately, sexual abuse is a worldwide epidemic. Even in idyllic Steamboat Springs, sexual abuse and assaults occur, and they happen more often than they are reported.
Are you a survivor of sexual violence? Know it isn’t your fault and that you are not alone. At Brown Law Firm, our Steamboat Springs sexual abuse lawyers help survivors—and our help is only a phone call away.
Steamboat Springs Sexual Abuse Guide
- What Can Our Steamboat Sexual Abuse Lawyers Do For You?
- What Is the Difference Between Sexual Violence, Assault, And Abuse?
- Steps To Take If You or Someone You Know Has Experienced Sexual Violence
- Additional Resources For Survivors Of Sexual Assault Or Abuse
- Laws in Colorado
- Possible Outcomes of A Civil Suit Involving Sexual Abuse
- Contact a Steamboat Sex Abuse Attorney
What Can Our Steamboat Sexual Abuse Lawyers Do For You?
Our Steamboat Springs sexual abuse lawyers aid clients through the legal process by supporting their needs, offering resources, and guiding clients through in their legal goals. We offer free consultations, and we will strive to help you every step of the way after the initial consultation.
The attorneys at Brown Law Firm recognize the experience you or a loved one went through to get to this point. We want to understand your story, understand your life, and understand your goals. We will advocate for you by pursuing an outcome that can help you recover.
We assist clients by explaining court processes and possible legal results based on your case. We advocate for our clients by fiercely pursuing justice against your abuser. Call Brown Law Firm today further understand how a sexual abuse lawyer can help you.
What Is the Difference Between Sexual Violence, Assault, And Abuse?
Commonly, sexual violence, sexual, assault, and sexual abuse are terms used interchangeably, but they have different meanings.
Sexual violence includes sexual assault, abuse, and harassment. This terminology refers to violent or harmful aspects of a sexual encounter.
Sexual assault usually occurs only once. At least one of the parties does not consent, and this can include any threatening, violent, or hurtful behavior.
Examples of sexual assault include:
- Incest
- Rape and attempted rape by object or body
- Forced oral sex
- Unwanted sexual touch (fondling or groping).
- Sexual contact involving underage persons, those with physical or mental disabilities, or taking advantage of those who are unconscious at the time of the act.
- Sexual coercion
- Sexual contact with a child
Sexual abuse includes abusive sex acts that occur over time. Often, they happen more than once and include grooming behavior from the abuser.
Examples of sexual abuse include:
- Exposure of oneself to a non-consenting individual
- Masturbating in the presence of another without consent or forcing masturbation upon another
- Forcing a child to engage with pornographic material
- Taking explicit photos of a child or an adult without consent
- Receiving obscene calls, texts, or online messages
- Additional sexual behaviors that may be harmful to the wellbeing of a person physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Steps To Take If You or Someone You Know Has Experienced Sexual Violence
- Know the encounter is not your fault.
- If you can’t escape the situation on your own, contact someone who can help. Make sure you can trust that person. Contact 911, or a family or friend to help you get to a safe space.
- Understandably, you may feel like washing your body, clothes, hands, etc., but don’t, or you may remove valuable evidence. If possible, avoid eating, drinking, or changing your appearance in any way before seeking medical attention.
- Seek professional medical help. Healthcare professionals can access your injuries and collect evidence if you decide to press charges later. They can put you in touch with mental health professionals for additional aid with therapies or counseling.
- Access survivor resources. There are many free resources to survivors of sexual violence, and many of these resources focus on healing and helping those who have experienced sexual violence.
- Decide if you want to press charges, and if you do, contact authorities to file a police report. Documentation of the incident with authorities and medical professionals will help provide evidence for your case.
- If your experience happened and you did not take these steps, you may still file a civil sexual abuse lawsuit against your abuser. Contact Brown Law Firm to find out how we can help in your case.
Additional Resources For Survivors Of Sexual Assault Or Abuse
In addition to calling Brown Law Firm, sexual abuse and assault survivors are encouraged to find help from other resources.
The Colorado Division of Criminal Justice gives Coloradans definitions of sexual violence instances in Colorado, provides links to Colorado laws involving sexual violence, and provides access to the Sexual Assault Victim Emergency Payment Program (SAVE).
RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) provides the National Sexual Assault Hotline. The hotline supplies confidential 24/7 support through an online chat hotline or survivors can call 800-656-HOPE (4673).
Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) offers resources for Colorado residents who’ve experienced sexual assault or abuse. They assist in helping survivors and their families find access to medical care, understand reporting options in Colorado and be cognizant of legal rights.
Planned Parenthood helps survivors access healthcare by providing STD and pregnancy testing, emergency contraceptives, mental healthcare, HIV services and resources, and provides services for a multitude of other sexual health concerns.
Laws in Colorado
Laws that are commonly cited in many sexual misconduct or assault cases are the Unlawful sexual contact, which can be found outlined in C.R.S. 18-3-404.
Additionally, sexual assault in regards to Colorado law is outlined in C.R.S. 18-3-402.
Possible Outcomes of A Civil Suit Involving Sexual Abuse
If you decide to file a civil sexual assault suit, the possible outcome depends on if the accused is found liable for damages related to the sexual assault or abuse. The accused may have to pay the accuser and/or his or her family the damages.
Types of compensation include but are not limited to:
- Medical compensation
- Legal fees
- Compensation for emotional trauma or psychological harm (can manifest as PTSD and/or anxiety disorders)
- Economic loss(es) stemming from missing work due to the unwanted sexual encounter
Contact a Steamboat Sex Abuse Attorney
Attorney Sean Brown, Steamboat Springs Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Contact the law team at Brown Law Firm right away. While there is no longer a statute of limitations in the state of Colorado involving cases of sexual misconduct, it is important to begin your recovery process as soon as possible, and as soon as you are ready to do so.
Our Steamboat Springs personal injury lawyers have worked with many sexual abuse cases, and they have helped clients regain some of what was lost by getting them compensation from their abusers.
While money doesn’t buy this sense of security, it can buy security systems and cameras to aid in peace of mind, it can help with medical bills, and it can pay for therapies, counseling sessions, lost wages, and other compensations for your pain and suffering. You are not alone.
Contact our Steamboat Springs sexual abuse attorneys for your free, confidential consultation at (970) 871-7400 or visit our website to set up a free consultation with our team today.
The Brown Law Firm – Steamboat Springs Office
100 Park Ave
Suite 202,
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Phone: (970) 871-7400