The Facts About Sexual Assault in High Schools

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), the facts about sexual assault in high schools include:

6.7% of high school students reported being forced to have sexual intercourse.
Sexual assault against young people most often occurs in a place where they spend a lot of time, such as their school.
Of young adults aged 12-18, 10 million girls and 791,000 boys experienced sexual violence such as rape or attempted rape.

If you or someone you loved faced sexual assault in a high school or another institution, you may have grounds to file a civil case against your abuser. A Las Vegas sexual abuse lawyer can help you pursue compensation and hold the liable party accountable for their wrongdoing.

Sexual Assault Is Common Among High School-Aged Teenagers

The unfortunate truth is that many sexual abuse and assault victims are 18 years old or younger. However, being aware of the facts about sexual assaults in high school-aged students is essential, as it allows us to work toward prevention.

Per Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) statistics:

One out of nine girls under 18 years old have experienced sexual abuse or assault
Most sexual violence victims under the age of 18 are female
One in 20 boys under age 18 have experienced sexual violence
Most victims of child sexual abuse know the person who harmed them

According to the NSVRC, teens who are sexually assaulted may experience trouble with their mental health, such as:

Drug or alcohol abuse
Suicidal thoughts
Anxiety and depression
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Disordered eating

If you or someone you love experienced sexual violence as a high school student, you can partner with a personal injury lawyer to pursue justice against your abuser.

For a free legal consultation, call (725) 900-9000

Legal Options for Survivors of High School Sexual Assault

You can take legal action for sexual abuse whether you are in high school now or you were assaulted years ago as a teenager. In Nevada, NRS § 11.215 states that you may have as many as 20 years to submit a civil lawsuit for sexual assault if you were under 18 when it occurred.

In Washington State, however, you may have less time to submit a case. RCW § 4.16.340 states you generally have three years to submit your case if you were 18 or older when it happened. If you were not yet 18, you typically have three years from the day of your 18th birthday to submit your case.

Analyzing the laws that apply to your case is not easy to do on your own. A personal injury attorney can explain how the laws in your state work to help you file your case.

Parties That May Be Responsible for High School Sexual Assault

It isn’t easy to recount or discuss the details of your sexual assault. This is why many survivors decide to hire an attorney. They will do all the case investigations, allowing you to spend time with your loved ones and care for your physical and mental health.

As part of your case investigation, your legal team must identify who is responsible for the assault.

Potentially liable parties include:

A fellow student
A teacher or school official
Another member of the school staff, such as a coach, assistant teacher, or school administrator
A bus driver

Your attorney can collect evidence to prove the liable party should be held accountable for your damages. Surveillance footage, eyewitness accounts, your medical records, and the police report may be valuable additions to your case file.

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Damages You Can Recover as a Survivor of Sexual Assault

Although a financial settlement may be the last thing on your mind in the aftermath of sexual assault, the money you recover can significantly benefit your journey to recovery. Depending on the details of your case, you can recover economic and non-economic damages to pay for expenses like:

Your medical bills. Any expenses you incurred because of the sexual assault may be recovered. This includes the costs of doctor’s appointments, medications you were prescribed, hospital stays, and more.
Your physical pain and suffering. Any physical injuries you incurred may not have a direct financial value, but you can still receive compensation for them.
Mental anguish. As many sexual assault survivors suffer from anxiety and depression, you could demand payment for any mental health issues you are now experiencing. The costs of your mental health therapy could also be covered.
Loss of life enjoyment, especially if you can no longer enjoy the hobbies and activities you could before the sexual assault incident.

Your lawyer can explain the damages you can demand from the at-fault party.

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Signs That a Loved One May Be Experiencing Sexual Assault or Abuse in Their High School

Many sexual abuse or assault survivors do not want to come forward about the incident. They may feel uncomfortable talking about their situation, especially if they know the person who assaulted them.

If you notice any of the following signs in a high school student you know, you might want to talk to them or direct them to resources for survivors of sexual abuse:

Weight gain or weight loss
Substance abuse
Lack of hygiene
Declining grades
Signs of depression like lack of energy or excessive sleeping
Withdraw from usual social activities
Bruising or other unexplained injuries

Though it isn’t easy, speaking to your child or another high schooler you love could help keep them safe.

Contact Van Law Firm to Take Legal Action Against High School Sexual Assault

If you or someone you know endured high school sexual assault, you may want to consider working with a personal injury law firm. Van Law Firm offers legal guidance to anyone who has suffered sexual violence.

We provide free initial consultations to all our prospective clients. When you call us today, we can explain more about your legal options and help you get started on your case.

No obligation consultations are always free.

Let Us Help You! Call Now: (725) 900-9000

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Client Testimonials

These guys are amazing. Helped me throughout the process. Always there when I need help. Inititailly called a law firm (the one that has lots of ads on the radio), but they declined my case. Van Law Firm accepted my case without a second thought! Kudos to Daniel, my case manager, and Amanda who expedited my payment process. Highly recommended.

Milby Mags

Got in an accident at the beginning of the year and they have been awesome, especially with it being my first accident and me being like this. They have been very communicated, stayed in contact with me the whole time, giving me updates when there were any and even when there weren’t and answered any question I had. I would recommend them to anyone. Everyone I have talked to there has been very friendly. I would give them a 10 out of 10.

Ethan Gullet

They made sure that my insurance company covered what I paid for them to which included the gap for my car that was totaled. My medical costs were taken care of and reduced substantially so I was able to get more on my settlement. My case manager, Will Garcia, was always helpful in assisting me and answering any questions I had. They really did an amazing job with my case. I would definitely recommend them to anyone in need of this type of legal help. Most lawyers do not help you with the recovery of the car and rental etc. They are amazing.

Teresa Cuthbertson