Child Abuse Claims - Farleys Solicitors

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Child Abuse Compensation Claim Solicitors

With 60 years of experience behind us, Farleys has a team of personal injury solicitors who specialise in claims of physical and sexual child abuse. Our specialists have dedicated their careers to helping survivors of physical and sexual abuse, and we can help you too – however long it’s been since the abuse occurred. Child abuse survivors may qualify for legal aid for their case. If not, we can usually take abuse claim cases on a no win no fee basis.

At Farleys, we know that child abuse is never the child’s fault. There are no exceptions. We have decades of experience in working for people abused during childhood, many of whom have never talked about the abuse before, so we understand exactly how difficult it can be to talk to a stranger about the details of abuse you’ve suffered, and you won’t be made to feel guilty or ashamed when talking to someone from our specialist team.

We’ll do everything in our power to ensure that you feel safe and comfortable, and we will never ask you to reveal all of the sensitive details until you are ready to do so. We will only ask you for enough information initially to determine if your abuse compensation claim is likely to succeed.

It’s very common for survivors to be understandably worried about pursuing legal action, often because of concerns about facing the abuser in court. However, very few cases get this far – most are settled well before that stage. If yours is one of the rare exceptions, you can count on us to be with you every step of the way.

Domestic child abuse claims take time as we have to secure evidence, witnesses and medical experts who can substantiate your claim. However, the time allows us to get to know you and to help you get to know us, so that you will feel comfortable talking at length with your solicitor about the abuse you suffered.

FAQs

Our expert abuse solicitors can advise you on your options if you are looking to make a child abuse compensation claim

Do I qualify to make a compensation claim for child abuse?

Child abuse can take many different forms and as a result there are different ways to pursue a compensation claim, including:

- Claims for Compensation Arising from Abuse within a Family Situation
- Claims Against a Heath Authority for Sexual Abuse of Patients by a Consultant
- Litigation Against Care Homes for Abuse of Children in Care
- Class Actions Against Local Authorities
- Criminal Injuries Compensation Claims

What if the abuse took place years ago?

The law recognises that such suffering caused by abuse never really goes away. As such, you can make a claim for physical or sexual abuse regardless of how long ago the abuse took place. Farleys Solicitors can tell you who is legally responsible for the abuse and help you to sue them for compensation.

How long do I have to make a sexual abuse claim?

Technically speaking, claims must be made within three years of the date that the abuse occurred. However, there’s an implicit recognition from the courts that survivors often face immense difficulties in speaking out, for a number of very good reasons.

Common barriers include:

- Fear of not being believed
- Feelings of shame or guilt
- Fear of the abuser, especially after intimidation or explicit threats of violence
- Difficulty in articulating the nature or scale of the abuse
- Not understanding that what happened was wrong
- Trying to protect family or loved ones (or even the abuser themselves)
- Feelings of powerlessness
- Suppression of the memories of the abuse
- Struggles with the psychological impact of the abuse

If any of the above sounds like something you’ve experienced, or you’re currently experiencing, then rest assured we’re here to help - you can contact us as soon as you feel ready to do so.

The only tangible difference that time makes is with regards to the collection of evidence, which obviously can become more difficult or complex as relevant records or items can be moved, relocated, or destroyed. If you decide to proceed, it’s best to get the ball rolling promptly - the sooner you’re able to get in touch with us, the better the chances of success for your case.)

Will Farleys protect my confidentiality?

Absolutely. Your privacy ranks as one of our top priorities here at Farleys Solicitors. We take care to keep the details of your car confidential, and we treat all documents in connection with your case as strictly classified. In the event that we need to contact any outside organisations or individuals about your case, such as the social services or police, we’ll always ask your permission in advance.

We can also apply to the court to make your details confidential on certain court documents.

If necessary, we can advise you on any relevant details of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act of 2002, which essentially prevents journalists from carelessly or deliberately identifying survivors of sexual abuse without express consent.

What is the process of a claim?

Our process for child abuse claims is split into several key stages. This is to ensure that we have sufficient evidence to collect evidence for your claim, and can assemble it into a solid case with the best chance of success.

With us here at Farleys, these key stages are as follows:

A free case assessment with one of our expert solicitors, so we can assess the likelihood of success for your claim. We appreciate that this initial conversation can be incredibly difficult, so we always make sure to prioritise your comfort and safety throughout.

Allocation to a specialist who will handle your case. From this point onwards, your specialist solicitor will act as your main point of contact. That way, they can keep the details of your case confidential, and maintain your privacy.

Collection of evidence. Arguably the most pivotal stage, this can also be the most complex and time consuming. Depending on the circumstances of your case, we may need to bring in outside experts, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist. However, if this becomes necessary, then you can rely on us to be here to support you throughout.

Tally of compensation amount. Many of the survivors we help here at Farleys tell us that their case isn’t about money - it’s about getting justice, and peace. Our specialist solicitors recognise this at Farleys, but equally we know that a settlement can help to provide you with valuable support in other areas of your life, and your future. For that reason alone, we take care to focus on securing you an amount that properly reflects the background of your case, and your current circumstances.

Settling your claim. Once all the relevant evidence has been collected, we’ll be ready to bring your case against the person or party responsible. It’s worth us reiterating that most cases are resolved long before they go to court - but either way, you can trust us to be here to support you.

How will my claim be funded?

We will advise you on funding for your claim. We are often able to bring such cases on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis.

Some abuse victims will qualify for public funding. Farleys Solicitors holds a Legal Aid franchise in five of our offices and we can advise you as to whether you will qualify.

Contact Farleys' Child Abuse Compensation Specialists

If you have suffered child abuse, be it sexual, physical or neglect, and would like to bring a claim contact the experts at Farleys Solicitors in confidence on 0330 134 6430 or complete your details below and we will call you back.