Sexual Assault & Abuse Lawyers for Victims in Kansas City, Missouri
Institutional sexual abuse is far more prevalent than most people in Missouri realized even a few years ago—with several high-profile cases highlighted in the news in recent times—and the legal team at Noland Law Firm LLC is dedicated to assisting the victims of such crimes.
The victims of sexual abuse have often suffered for many years in silence, while the perpetrators have been left to continue their crimes.
This is changing, though. As people learn more about these disturbing crimes, more avenues are opening up for victims to seek compensation and justice for the serious crimes committed against them.
At the Noland Law Firm, we fight for the justice of sexual assault victims in Missouri. We proudly serve clients in the following cities:
- Blue Springs,
- Gladstone,
- Independence,
- Kearney,
- Smithville,
- Excelsior Springs
- Saint Joseph
- North Kansas City, and
- The Greater Kansas City area
If you or a loved one have been sexually abused or sexually assaulted by an individual or a member of an institution in the recent or distant past in Missouri, we can assist—with compassionate, supportive, and confidential representation.
Table of Contents
Types of sexual abuse cases we handle
The dedicated team of attorneys at Noland Law Firm LLC handles many types of sexual abuse and sexual assault cases in Missouri, often helping victims of sexual abuse who have been deprived of justice for many years.
These include cases involving sexual abuse within organizations and institutions, as well as other settings, including child sexual abuse where the perpetrator was in a position of trust and harbored by organizations, such as schools, religious institutions, sports teams, and other such settings.
Victims of sexual abuse can be of any age, gender or background. We also handle cases of sexual assault due to negligent security, assaults in bars and clubs, and workplace harassment cases.
What are the two main components of a sexual abuse case?
A sexual abuse case generally involves two main components:
- The criminal component involves working with law enforcement to ensure that the perpetrator is caught and held accountable for his/her actions.
- The civil / personal injury component works to secure the compensation that victims deserve for the crimes committed against them and the pain and suffering caused.
Our Missouri sexual abuse lawyers can assist with both components, supporting and guiding you through the process as we help you take the necessary legal steps to ensure justice is served.
What is the statute of limitations on sexual assault injury claims in Missouri?
In Kansas City, Missouri, victims of sexual abuse have five years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury claim. This statute of limitations applies to cases involving abuse by an individual within an organization or institution, often someone in a position of trust. These institutions frequently fail to take adequate steps to prevent or address the abuse, allowing it to continue unchecked.
Sexual abuse can take various forms, such as:
- inappropriate touching of a child,
- unwanted touching or kissing of non-consenting adults,
- molestation, sexual harassment, or rape
Unfortunately, victims are often too fearful or unsure of how to speak out, allowing the abuse to persist. Even when reported, institutions may fail to act or, in some cases, take steps to cover up the abuse in an effort to protect their reputation.
Taking legal action within the statute of limitations is crucial for holding these institutions accountable.
The impact of sexual abuse on victims’ lives
The long-term impact of sexual abuse on victims in Kansas City can be profound, with the physical and emotional trauma endured during the abuse often persisting well into adulthood. Many victims experience serious psychological issues that affect their daily lives, such as depression, anxiety, and emotional disturbances, along with potential long-term physical effects.
Victims and their families may place trust in institutions, only to discover that those institutions either enabled the abuse or ignored it. Thankfully, several high-profile cases have brought this issue to public attention, leading to increased efforts to prevent sexual abuse within organizations and hold them accountable for past failures.
How do you recognize the signs of sexual abuse?
A major challenge with preventing sexual abuse, especially in cases involving children, is that many of the typical signs are not obvious and may be attributed to other causes.
Unless the perpetrator is caught “in the act” or signs of physical trauma or injuries are found, the signs of sexual abuse may go undetected for a long time. These signs may include:
- Changes in mood or demeanor
- Withdrawal from social activities
- Increasingly reserved behavior
- Avoidance of certain individuals
- An unexplained reluctance to engage in certain activities with certain people
- Irritable behavior
Again, there may be many reasons for these types of behavior in children but they shouldn’t be passed off as simply “growing pains”. They are also the classic signs of abuse and should be investigated by concerned parents.
Holding institutions accountable for sexual abuse of victims
Part of the healing process for sexual abuse victims in Kansas City is recognizing that what happened was wrong and holding the responsible institutions accountable for their negligence. In many cases, the abuse could have been prevented if proper safety measures had been in place to protect victims.
If you’re a victim of institutional sexual abuse in Kansas City, taking legal action against the institution not only helps you receive compensation for the abuse you endured, but it also works to prevent similar negligence from affecting others in the future. Contact us directly online or call us at 816-781-5055 to get the representation & compensation you deserve.
