Derek Smith Law Group / Child Sexual Abuse Attorney / Child Sexual Abuse Attorney Miami

Child Sexual Abuse Attorney Miami

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Child sexual abuse in Miami and across the US is an epidemic. It is almost impossible to turn on the news or read the internet without hearing of another child that has been victimized sexually by an adult or an adult who is able to finally come out with their story of being sexually abused as a child.

Not only do these victims deserve the criminal justice system to lock these abusers up for as long as possible, they deserve compensation and justice from the civil courts to help them heal and start over.

For the past 25 years, the experienced attorneys at the Derek Smith Law Group in Miami has worked with victims of child abuse to help them receive the compensation they deserve.

What is Child Sexual Abuse in Miami?

Child sexual abuse in Miami affects children under the age of 18. It is any sexual contact or sexual acts, whether verbal or physical, between an adult and a minor child.

There are many ways a child may be subject to child sexual abuse, such as:

Vaginal or anal penetration with a finger, penis, or other objects
Oral sex
Possession of child pornography
Voyeurism
Flashing
Showing a child pornographic material
Public Display of explicit images

Touching genitals, breasts, or other intimate areas
Sexual exploitation
Enabling or forcing a child to perform sexually explicit acts
Taking nude videos or photos of a child
Sexting
Sending sexual emails

What Are the Effects of Child Sexual Abuse in Miami?

Victims of child sexual abuse often suffer with the aftermath for many years to come. The effects can be physical, emotional, and psychological. These effects can take years to overcome with the help of a strong support community and therapy. However, some victims never fully recover from the trauma they suffered at the hands of their sexual abusers.

The effects of child sexual abuse can include, but are not limited to:

Shame thinking the abuse was somehow their fault
Nightmares
Night terrors
Trust and relationship Issues
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Severe depression
Anxiety
Substance Abuse
Physical bruising, broken bones, vaginal or anal tears, and even permanent injuries to reproductive organs and/or genitals
Pregnancy
Abortion
Schizophrenia

Who Are the Victims of Child Sexual Abuse in Miami?

For the period beginning in April 2018 and ending in March 2019, 38 out of every 1,022 children (4%) have reported being a victim of child sexual abuse. That means that 4% of all children between the ages of 0 and 17 in Miami have reported that they were victimized sexually by an adult. Each year, that equates to about 2,000 reported cases of child sexual assault in Miami.

According to Kristi House, 1 in 7 children will be solicited for sexual acts on the internet. Even more horrific is the current median age for victims of child sexual abuse is 9. These victims are of all genders, races, religions, socioeconomic classes, national origins, etc. Child sexual abuse does not and has never discriminated against anyone for any reason.

What Rights Do Child Sexual Abuse Victims Have in Miami?

In March 2010, the Florida House Bill 525 was passed. As a result, as of July 1, 2010, Florida no longer has any statute of limitations or time limit of when a victim can file a criminal and/or civil claim against his or her abuser and other defendants as long as the child was under the age of 16 when the abuse occurred. This means that whenever the victim is ready to come forward, even is he or she is 80 years old, the case can be filed, and a trial can begin.

Who Are the Most Common Perpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse in Miami?

Perpetrators of child sexual abuse are usually a trusted adult. These trusted adults leave little reason for a child to doubt anything and everything he or she says, making it much easier to abuse the child sexually. The sad reality is that only a very small minority of child sexual abuse claims are perpetrated by a stranger. More often than not, the person is close to the child and have groomed the child for several years.

Some common perpetrators of child sexual abuse include:

Scout leaders
Religious leaders
Family members, such as parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, siblings
Family friends
Daycare providers and employees
Teachers
Coaches
Priests or clergy
Healthcare professionals, such as doctors, dentists, nurses, etc.
Babysitters
Society influencers such as athletes, celebrities, business leaders, government officials, etc.

Who Are the Accomplices that Contribute to the Culture of Child Sexual Abuse in Miami?

The epidemic of child sexual abuse in Miami is not a problem just because of the abusers. It is becoming an epidemic because those in a position to help victims are not acting on the information, they know to protect children from such atrocities.

These accomplices can be any of the following people or institutions:

Therapists refusing to report information regarding a client’s need to sexually abuse children or accounts from children being sexually abused
Property owners who negligently ignore security concerns
Parents and other adults who are neglectful when supervising their children around adults
An agency or government entity that ignored and did not respond appropriately to reports of suspected or actual sexual abuse
Individuals who actually aid the abuser in committing sexual abuse
Educational institutions and administrators who do not report incidents of child sexual abuse in the school
Religious institutions who attempt to handle reports of child sexual abuse in-house

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During the time that I really needed a good counselor and I was approaching different attorneys unfortunately before they heard the problem they were demanding a retainer fee. A friend of mine introduced me to the Derek Smith Law Group and I was very fortunate to be answered by Matt Finkleberg who was very polite and understanding and gave me a lot of confidence without asking for any fees in f... Read Full Testimonial

Sambiz Amini

Matt Finkleberg is by far the best attorney I’ve ever hired!

Tanya Scheer

Matt Finkelberg is an outstanding attorney. It was a pleasure to have him represent me for my employment case. He was very easy to talk to. He was very supportive and knowledgeable throughout the whole process. He explained the entire process to me and kept me informed every step of the way. Matt fought diligently throughout my case to make sure my case was represented best. I am very gratef... Read Full Testimonial

Phyllis Parker

Matt Finkelberg is a top notch lawyer. He is very easy to talk to and truly cared about me as his client. He definitely earned my trust and confidence in his capabilities to represent me in the most professional respects. I give Matt and his firm the Derek Smith Law Group my highest recommendation to anyone who is seeking legal help for employee/employer related matters.

Wally Peczon

Matt Finkelberg is a life saver. During this whole process not only did I have a great lawyer but I also made a great friend. Matt was very attentive to my case, and mental health. Matt helped me during probably the darkest time of my life and for that I am forever grateful to have came across the Derek Smith law group. As a past client, I 100% recommend Matt Finkleberg. Matt provides a safe sp... Read Full Testimonial

Tali Loya

It was a pleasure to have Casey represent and help me for my employment case. It was my first time needing an attorney, so I was a bit apprehensive at first – Casey took the time to answer all of my questions and fully explain everything to me, which really put me at ease. He was very attentive, supportive, and knowledgeable throughout the whole process – Casey would ask questions to ensure... Read Full Testimonial

Corey Kientz

matt is an excellent attorney. he handled my case with the utmost care and highly exceeded all expectations. i could not recommend derek smith and esp. matt finkelberg enough

Seedie Whiser

Corey Kientz

You will be in great hands at this firm! Alyssa the managing paralegal is an absolute professional who excels at what she does. You can tell she truly cares about providing the best service possible, and is passionate about helping her clients. With Alyssa at the helm, this firm is a top-notch choice for anyone seeking assistance. Highly recommend!

Marissa Shander

Matt Finkelberg is Amazing and Devotional! It was a pleasure to have Matt represent me for my employment case. He was very attentive, supportive, and knowledgable throughout the whole process. Whenever I reached out he responded promptly which I greatly appreciated. Matt fought diligently and hard throughout my case to make sure my case was represented best. Thank you again Matt for everything.... Read Full Testimonial

jessica gonzalez

Olivia is absolutely outstanding! She understands the emotional side of your case while being able to find the legal aspects of holding the employer accountable for breaking the law! Made a really terrible situation a little easier by explaining everything and helping me get everything in order and in the right hands. I would not use anyone else! Call them for any sexual harassment case... You ... Read Full Testimonialwon't be disappointed! 10/10

Rae Millstone

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What Type of Justice in Criminal Court is Typically available to Victims of Child Sexual Abuse in Miami?

Miami and Florida as a whole have some of the strictest penalties against child sexual abuse offenders. If the victim is under 12 and the offender is under 18, the perpetrator may receive a life sentence with a minimum of 25 years. If the victim is under 12 and the perpetrator is over 18, the perpetrator may receive life in prison with a minimum of 25 years or the death penalty, depending on the details of the case. If the victim is over the age of twelve, the perpetrator may receive up to 15 years in prison.

However, no matter the age of the victim, if drugs or other means (such as using a gun or threatening the life of another loved one) was used, the perpetrator may face up to 30 years in prison. Finally, if the perpetrator is considered a dangerous sexual predator, a mandatory 25-year prison sentence may be Issued. In addition to all of these potential penalties, the perpetrator must register as a sex offender.

What Remedies Are Available in Civil Court for Victims of Child Sexual Abuse in Miami?

In addition to pressing criminal charges against a child sexual offender, the victim can file a lawsuit in civil court against the perpetrator and any party that helped the assaults continue.

The remedies available through the civil courts include:

Payment of medical bills
Payments for therapies and counseling
Loss of income
Reimbursement for stolen or damaged property
Attorney’s fees and court fees
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Punitive damages

What Resources Are Available for Victims of Child Sexual Abuse in Miami?

It takes a village to help a child heal from the trauma of child sexual abuse. It is important to know you are not alone and there are people who want you to find peace. Here are some wonderful organizations designed to help you move on.

Lauren’s Kids. This organization provides education and guidance to help victims of child sexual abuse
Kristi House. This organization provides resources to victims of child sexual abuse and their families.
RAINN. The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network helps children who are victims of sexual abuse find the resources needed to help move on and make a better life.
Darkness to Light. This is another national organization that helps children and their families find the organizations, therapists, and other resources to help the child regain their lives after experiencing sexual abuse.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network. This is a network that provides evaluations and necessary therapies to child sexual abuse victims.
Stop It Now. Stop It Now helps adult survivors of child sexual abuse find the organizations with the resources to help them move on from their abuse experience.

Verdicts & Settlements

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$4.9 Million Settlement

Case Handled by The Derek Smith Law Group Attorney Catherine Lowry Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania The Derek Smith Law Group secured a $4.9 million settlement on behalf of multiple employees of Schuylkill County who came forward with allegations of sexual harassment,…

$1.5 Million Settlement

Case Handled by The Derek Smith Law Group Attorney Derek Smith Supreme Court of the State of New York, County…

$2.78 Million Jury Verdict

Case Handled by The Derek Smith Law Group Attorney Zachary Holzberg United States District Court, Eastern District of New York…

$4.050 Million Jury Verdict

Case Handled by The Derek Smith Law Group Attorney Derek Smith Supreme Court of the State of New York, County…

$1.6 Million Jury Verdict

Case Handled by The Derek Smith Law Group Attorney Derek Smith Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate…

Contact Our Experienced Miami Child Sexual Abuse Attorneys for a Free Consultation

Child sexual abuse in Miami is an epidemic that needs to be stopped. Children have the right to be children and enjoy life as children.

Child sexual abuse robs them of that opportunity to be a child. If you or a loved one is a victim of child sexual abuse in Miami, the experienced attorneys at the Derek Smith Law Group can help.

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