Sexual assault violations are traumatizing, and unfortunately, sex abuse by medical professionals is common because of the accessibility they have to victims. When the unthinkable happens, you deserve the aid of attorneys who treat you with dignity and respect while fighting for maximum compensation.
How Do Chiropractor Sexual Assault Claims Work?
Chiropractor sexual assault claims are meant to compensate you for the trauma and financial expenses caused by the incident. Both men and women can be assaulted by a healthcare provider.
Florin|Roebig attorney Taylor D. Roebig states, “Medical care providers should be professionals you can trust to prioritize your health. When they violate their oaths by hurting patients, they deserve to be brought to justice. And their victims have a right to compensation. Our job is to seek maximum damages for our clients.”
Why Chiropractors Are Held To High Ethical Standards
Chiropractors are bound by oaths as part of their training and certification. When they sexually assault patients, they’ve disregarded those oaths, which are in place to protect all parties. Failure to respect your autonomy and their rules undermines the therapeutic relationship.
Patients usually lie down for treatment when visiting the chiropractor. The chiropractor must touch a patient’s body in several places to provide care. However, they can take advantage of your prone position and assault you instead of treating you. They can place their hands on your sexual parts or place their sexual parts on you under the guise of a routine adjustment. If your questions about procedure requirements go unanswered, it should be a red flag.
The Statute Of Limitations And Types Of Sexual Assault Claims
Each type of personal injury claim has a timeline, known as the statute of limitations. This can vary for sexual assault cases, particularly if the victim was underage at the time of the incident. The most important thing to know is that even though deadlines may seem a long way off, it’s often far too easy for bad actors, insurance companies, and opposing attorneys to push claims back past the due date so they become ineligible for claims.
You have a right to seek damages from a chiropractor who has:
- Made sexually suggestive or explicit comments
- Made phone calls or sent text messages of a sexual nature
- Touched your sexual parts without consent
- Touched their sexual parts in your presence
- Exposed your or their sexual parts
- Forced or coerced oral or penetrative sexual acts
The Role Of A Chiropractor’s Licensing Board
To practice medical therapy, chiropractors must be licensed by a state licensing board at the very least. Each state sets different requirements, but there is always some governing body that manages and monitors chiropractor licenses. File an official complaint through that board as part of the process of preventing the chiropractor from abusing other patients.
However, it’s important to know that medical boards may not follow up on complaints or may be delayed in responding. An experienced attorney can help you file complaints and ensure the board does its part to respond appropriately to your claim.
Step-By-Step Guide To Filing A Chiropractor Sexual Assault Claim
Feeling lost after non-consensual sexual conduct is common. Over half of women and almost a third of men are victims of sexual abuse. Here are some important steps to protect your rights following an incident.
Document The Incident
Write down everything that happened leading up to, during, and after an assault. This is one part of the records you’ll need as evidence. Include details like dates, locations, specific actions, and any communications exchanged. Track physical injuries with pictures and written accounts.
Seek Medical Attention
Go to a hospital or your primary care physician (PCP) before cleaning up any evidence of the assault from your body, such as showering or washing clothes. Physical evidence can be used to gather DNA as part of the investigation. Getting rid of it protects the chiropractor far more than it saves you. You may also need treatment for injuries caused by your assailant. Medical records contribute strong support for your claims.
Report To Authorities
Contact law enforcement in your area or wherever the assault happened. An official police report will be required as part of the process, and that begins the possibility of pursuing criminal charges. The police report will also be used for any civil actions.
Contact A Sexual Assault Lawyer And File A Civil Lawsuit
Reach out to a law office like Florin|Roebig to seek civil claims in sexual assault cases. The other avenues are necessary and contribute to punishing the guilty, but personal injury cases compensate the victims and their loved ones. A confidential consultation for legal advice is a vital part of positive verdicts for survivors of sexual abuse.
Attend Legal Proceedings By Settling Or Going To Trial
As part of the procedure, your attorney may determine that litigation is the best path forward. If so, there will be additional preparations for all parties, including interview planning and securing expert witnesses. Settling outside of court may go faster and be less painful, but you may also end up leaving money on the table that could help you cover medical expenses and loss of future income.
Legal representation with years of experience in sexual abuse cases can help ensure future costs are covered following an assault by a chiropractor. A civil case can provide peace of mind for you and your family members when recovery slows you down.
What Damages Can Be Claimed In Chiropractor Sexual Assault Cases?
Damages in chiropractor sexual assault cases serve one of two purposes: they either compensate the victim or punish the perpetrator.
Compensatory Damages
Compensatory damages cover medical costs, therapy, lost wages, and other financial deficits caused by the assault. Retaining any receipts for treatment, invoices for repairs, and pay stubs for previous income provides a map of your out-of-pocket expenses due to the incident. You can include proof of payment for help with daily living activities and other household and care-related responsibilities if they aren’t things you require assistance for before the chiropractor’s sexual misconduct.
Emotional Distress And Pain And Suffering
Emotional distress and pain and suffering are compensatory as well, but their financial equivalents are determined using formulas. How severe the damage is and how long it lasts (or if it’s long-term) factor into payout amounts. Unlike medical bills and such, these expenses lack an obvious amount. We do our best to anticipate future and previous costs using predetermined metrics.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages discourage future sexual assaults by the chiropractor and punish them for their actions against you. When it’s shown that they were aware their actions were harmful and took them anyway or that their choices showed complete disregard for others, our sexual abuse attorneys can make a case for gross negligence or reckless behavior.
Victim’s Rights To Financial Compensation
Know that you have a right to compensation but that it also requires you to prove wrongdoing. A lack of evidence can be detrimental, but an attorney can guide you through this difficult time. Our legal team will make it clear what your options are, what personal injury laws apply to your case (including medical malpractice), and how we can help moving forward.
Settlement Offers
Settlement offers may come in soon after claims are filed, but it’s important to discuss those with your attorney. Ideally, they know and have communicated an appropriate range for compensation, and you must follow their guidelines when negotiations begin. If you don’t have a personal injury lawyer who specializes in sexual harassment by the time you receive an offer, contact our team at Florin|Roebig.
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How To Choose A Chiropractor Sexual Assault Lawyer
Choosing the attorney who will fight for your compensation following sexual assault is no easy task. The best option is someone who respects you as a client, treats you with dignity, and can still be a force in the legal field. You should aim for someone with extensive knowledge of chiropractic laws and a proven track record in sexual abuse cases.
Proof via client testimonials will show excellent advocacy skills and a willingness to fight for justice. Florin|Roebig attorneys have been meeting these and other standards for 40 years. We have extensive knowledge of complex litigation, a willingness to fight for justice, and advocacy skills honed with experience.
Attorney Taylor D. Roebig says, “Healthcare providers who abuse patients deserve to pay for the harm they’ve caused. Victims of sexual assault have a right to work with a lawyer who focuses on their needs, provides comfort, is worthy of trust, and displays legal expertise. Our top winnings have included sexual assault cases, and we’ll do the same for your claim.”
Practical Advice After Sexual Assault By A Chiropractor
You may want to ignore how you’re feeling and focus on tackling the legal casework, but it’s important to process the experience and take care of yourself. Being burnt out from trying to handle everything will only hurt your case and obstruct the settlement you deserve. Let our team focus on the legal components while you work on healing.
Take Care Of Your Physical And Mental Health
Doctors and counselors can help you with a lot of the physical and mental challenges. It can be hard to trust medical professionals when you’ve been betrayed by one, but it’s important to try. Your health matters for your future and your loved ones.
Seek Support
Having a village of people who care about you is also important because you can reach out to them for help when you’re struggling. Often, friends and family members will want to help without interfering. Asking for them to assist in specific ways ensures your needs are met and they feel useful but not overbearing.
Maintain Evidence
Protect your well-being and any evidence. Avoid deleting or discarding potential evidence in a moment of frustration or hurt. It’s okay to feel whatever you need to, but if you want to help your case, hold on to the proof of the assault. A designated box or folder in your inbox is a great way to keep the items without having them in your way daily.
Stay Informed
Check in with your lawyer regularly for updates on your case, next steps, and anything else you might need or should be doing. Do independent research on laws and your rights if it helps or you’re self-representing. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. After all, the more you know, the better you can advocate for yourself and understand why your attorney takes a certain approach.
FAQs About Chiropractor Sexual Abuse
Can I file a lawsuit if the chiropractor is no longer practicing?
As long as the statute of limitations hasn’t expired, you can still file a lawsuit regardless of the practicing status of the chiropractor. However, if the chiropractor was unlicensed while providing care, that adds complexities. Florin|Roebig can help you straighten them out.
What if the chiropractor denies the allegations?
It’s hard to deny proof, which is why we advise such stringent measures to collect and preserve evidence. Their denials won’t stand up to our ability to show they’re guilty of non-consensual sexual conduct.
How long will it take to resolve my sexual assault claim?
That heavily depends on your experience, what evidence exists, how well your attorney navigates the system, and other factors. A qualified lawyer can give you a better idea of the timeline with more specific information about your case.
What are my options if I can’t afford a lawyer?
Most sexual assault lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. They only get paid if they win, and you cover their fees with a portion of your settlement.
Will my personal history or actions be used against me in a sexual assault case?
Maybe. The best thing you can do is speak to an attorney and be completely honest about any relevant history or actions you think might hurt your case. They can strategize an optimal approach when they have the information but not if you withhold it.
What if I only experienced verbal harassment, not physical assault?
Your legal rights may still have been violated, but a qualified lawyer would be able to determine the validity of your claim and the optimal strategy.
What happens if the chiropractor has no insurance to cover my claim?
The chiropractor, their employer, and even their landlord can all bear liability and therefore financial responsibility for your sexual assault. Speak with an attorney to learn more about the available options.
How To Get Help From Florin|Roebig Attorneys
Award-winning, record-setting sexual assault attorneys have made Florin|Roebig their home base for four decades. Our experience puts us in a position to customize our approach to each client’s case with various legal strategies.
We put our resources and knowledge to work fighting for victims’ rights. Our dedication has led to over $1 billion for our clients, including a $47 million settlement on a sexual assault case. We can assist you in taking legal action for sexual abuse by a chiropractor.
Contact Florin|Roebig to pursue the next steps and visit our website for the following:
- To locate the office nearest you
- Find the phone number for your area
- Chat with a live representative
- Reach out via our fillable online form
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Seek The Help You Need After Sexual Assault By A Chiropractor
Avoid feeling alone by working with a law firm dedicated to caring for your needs and fighting for your rights. The first step is to contact us for a free consultation, and if we decide to work together, we’ll handle the legal process while you take care of yourself and your loved ones.
You deserve compensation for the unwanted sexual contact from a chiropractor taking advantage of you. Your case matters to Florin|Roebig, and we’re available 24/7 with professional support regarding your legal options.
