Recognizing Sexual Abuse
As a parent or guardian, you always want to keep your children safe from harm. You likely do everything in your power to keep them protected from everyday dangers as well as the more sinister threats, such as sexual predators.
But recognizing the signs of sexual abuse isn’t always an easy task. If you suspect that your child might have been harmed, continue reading to learn more about identifying signs of abuse. For further help, reach out to an attorney at Greenstein & Milbauer, LLP. We’re dedicated to helping abuse victims hold their abuser to account and seek compensation for their suffering and damages.
Physical Signs of Abuse
Often, many of the signs of abuse may come from the child in question. It can be difficult to address, but you may notice bruises on the child. Unexplained bleeding or sexually-transmitted infections may also be warning signs of abuse.
However, many of the signs of abuse are behavioral. Although nightmares can be common, you might notice the child becoming more fearful of being alone at night. They may also wet the bed more often, fear removing clothing, or display inappropriate sexual behavior at a young age.
Some of these signs are often written off as normal behavior in young children, which is why it’s so important to pay attention to these signs. Recognizing sex abuse can be tough, but recognizing it quickly can protect your loved ones and family members from further abuse.
Signs of an Abuser
In many cases, looking for abusive behavior in adults can be clearer because these predators often act inappropriately to children. Although the overwhelming majority, at 93 percent, of these abusers are in positions of trust or authority, you may have noticed them acting in unwanted ways.
For example, you may have noticed touching or boundary-crossing that the parents or child have stated they’re uncomfortable with. They may also spend a lot of time with these children, or you may notice that they find ways to spend time alone with the child.
Other boundaries might be verbal, not physical. For example, the adult may make inappropriate comments, or they may not maintain appropriate relationships with younger people. If you notice an adult acting in an inappropriate way, reporting that behavior to the proper authorities can help stop sexual abuse.
Contact a Sexual Abuse Lawyer for Help
If you’re struggling with a sexual abuse case, you may be worried about your options for proving your claim. You may even be thinking that you don’t have an opportunity for a claim because you have some questions about recognizing sexual abuse.
Spotting the signs of abuse can be difficult, especially as misinformation about abuse circulates. Fortunately, you have a chance to act with a lawyer. Your attorney can help you pinpoint signs of abuse and build a claim against the responsible party.
When you’re ready to begin, reach out to a lawyer from Greenstein & Milbauer, LLP for help with your case. We can help you get started with a free consultation, where we’ll discuss your claim before you sign on to work with us. To begin, give us a call at 1-800-VICTIM2 (842-8462) or complete the online form below.