Your physician should be one of the most trustworthy people in your life. When they abuse their position of authority by sexually assaulting you, it’s devastating. Fortunately, you can hold them accountable in civil court for what they’ve put you through.
In criminal court, a prosecutor may bring sexual assault charges against your physician. If convicted, they’ll likely be sentenced to jail or prison time, have their license to practice medicine revoked, and be labeled a sex offender. But civil court is different—you’ll be the one bringing a claim against your abuser.
Below, we’ll review how you can bring a sex abuse claim against your doctor in civil court so you can recover compensation for the damages you endured. Read on to learn more about what constitutes sexual assault and the losses that you’ll be able to include in your claim.
What Is Considered Sexual Assault?
At this point, you might not even be sure whether your doctor sexually assaulted you. Sexual assault can take many forms.
Generally speaking, any form of unwanted touching can be considered sexual assault, and while your doctor may need to conduct a physical exam when you visit their office to assess your health, if they cross that line between conducting an exam and assaulting you, they should be brought to justice.
Other forms of sexual assault can include rape, sexual abuse of a minor, and drug-facilitated assault (where your physician sexually abuses you after administering a drug that leaves you unable to consent).
Sexual assault in any of these forms should be taken seriously, and it’s not your fault if your physician took advantage of you in this way. Your attorney will understand how devastating this is and will stop at nothing to get you the justice you deserve.
Obtain Full Compensation for Your Damages
In civil court, you’ll be seeking compensation for the harm your doctor inflicted on you. Your attorney will be reviewing every single way your life has been impacted by your injuries to ensure that each loss is accounted for. Some of the different types of damages that you can include in your case if they pertain to you include the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical expenses
- Mental health counseling
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Attorney fees
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
It’s important that you leave no stone unturned when going over your damages with your lawyer. Even the most minute effect should be taken into consideration when calculating what your sexual assault claim is worth. That way, you aren’t stuck with a mountain of expenses on top of your suffering.
Contact a Chicago Sex Abuse Lawyer
When you’re ready to take back control of your life and make your physician pay for what they’ve done, speak with a qualified Chicago sex abuse lawyer at Lane Brown, LLC. We’ll do what it takes to obtain maximum compensation for your suffering. You can use the online contact form below or give our office a call at 312-332-1400 to schedule your free consultation today.
