Illinois Sexual Abuse & Assault Attorneys
As a survivor of sexual abuse and assault in Illinois, you have the right to hold the abuser accountable through criminal and civil charges. At Kayla’s Survivors, our sexual abuse attorneys can help you better understand your legal options, pursue justice, and recover compensation. Our law firm has helped recover over $1 billion for survivors of sexual abuse, assault, and misconduct – including claims settled in the state of Illinois.
When you’re ready to take the next step with your claim, call (800) 509-9747 or get help online from our legal team. Our legal team can help you answer questions you may have about your case, determine if you are eligible to file a claim, and help you build a strong case to hold the abuser and their associated institution accountable.
Together, We Can Hold Abusers Accountable…
How Kayla’s Survivors Can Help With Your Illinois Sexual Abuse Claim
While criminal charges can help ensure justice is served, they do not help survivors of sexual abuse recover compensation for damages and any trauma associated with the abuse. Illinois allows survivors to file a civil sexual abuse lawsuit, which allows survivors to seek accountability from the individual or institution responsible and pursue financial compensation for the harm they suffered, including the lasting physical, emotional, and psychological effects of the abuse.
At Kayla’s Survivors, our attorneys can help you get started with a civil claim, and also help you remain anonymous throughout your case. Additionally, our law firm helps by providing support throughout the entire legal process, which includes:
- Investigate the details of your sexual abuse or assault case
- Determine who may be held liable (including any institutions)
- Collect evidence including photographs, police reports, and relevant medical records
- Depose and interview witnesses who may have information helpful to the case
- Build a strong case based on the supporting evidence and facts of the claim
- Negotiate a settlement so you receive fair and just compensation
- Pursue your case at trial on your behalf if no settlement is reached
Talk in confidence with our legal team – 100% confidential and completely free. You do not have to deal with the aftermath of sexual abuse along. Get started with your case by requesting a free case evaluation to understand your legal options.
Talk in Confidence. We’ll listen…
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to file a sexual abuse lawsuit in Illinois?
Anyone who experienced sexual abuse or assault in Illinois may be eligible to file a civil lawsuit, whether the abuse occurred in childhood or adulthood. This can include survivors harmed by individuals or by institutions that failed to prevent or properly address the abuse. Eligibility and deadlines depend on factors such as the survivor’s age at the time of abuse and when the harm was discovered.
Do I need a criminal conviction before filing a civil sexual abuse claim?
No, a criminal conviction is not required to file a civil sexual abuse lawsuit in Illinois. Civil cases are separate from criminal proceedings and have a lower burden of proof, allowing survivors to pursue accountability and compensation even if no criminal charges were filed or a conviction was not obtained.
Who can be held liable in a Illinois sexual abuse case?
In Illinois, the person held financially responsible for sexual abuse may be the individual perpetrator, such as a coach, clergy member, school staff, employer, other institution who may be found liable. In addition, businesses and institutions can also be held liable if they failed to protect the survivor or contributed to the abuse through negligence or misconduct. Illinois law allows survivors to pursue claims against any individual or organization whose actions or inaction played a role in the harm.
What types of compensation are available to Illinois survivors?
Illinois survivors who file a civil sexual abuse lawsuit may be eligible to recover compensation for the physical, emotional, and psychological harm caused by the abuse. This can include damages related to medical care, therapy, lost income, pain and suffering, and long-term trauma. In some cases, additional damages may be available to hold the responsible parties fully accountable.
Areas Served
Illinois Laws For Sexual Abuse, Assault, and Rape
Statute of Limitations
In Illinois, adult survivors of sexual abuse generally have two years from the date of the most recent incident to file a civil lawsuit, though certain exceptions may apply. For childhood sexual abuse, Illinois eliminated the statute of limitations for cases filed on or after January 1, 2014, allowing survivors to bring claims at any time. Older cases filed before that date may be subject to a 20-year deadline, which typically begins when the survivor turns 18 or discovers the harm was caused by the abuse.
Age of Consent
Under Illinois law, individuals must be at least 17 years of age in order to consent to sexual acts. Furthermore, it is illegal for a person who is 18 or older to engage in sexual acts with an individual if they have a position of authority or trust over the victim. This is known as the age of consent law in Illinois, and those who are found to be in violation may face serious criminal and/or civil charges related to sexual abuse, assault, and misconduct (including harsh sentences for rape if the abuse was found to be forcible).
Filing A Claim
Any child or adult who experienced sexual abuse , assault, or misconduct in the state of Illinois may be eligible to pursue a civil claim. These claims may arise for institutional sexual abuse (such as those at schools, churches, youth organizations, residential facilities, or other settings where an institution failed to protect individuals from sexual harm). An Illinois sexual abuse lawyer can help you better understand you legal options – completely free and 100% confidential
Practice Areas & Illinois Sexual Abuse Claims
Combined, the lawyers at Kayla’s Survivors have decades of experience in handling sexual abuse claims and have helped clients recover over $1 billion in compensation as a result of settlements and verdicts.
Get Legal Help From Our Illinois Law Office
At Kayla’s Survivors, our Chicago law office serves the state of Illinois. Get a free case evaluation online from our legal team – 100% confidential.