Myths About Child Abuse

Turn on the TV and it is not hard to hear about the child molestation accusations that were made against Jerry Sandusky in the last two months. If you are like me it is difficult to wrap your mind around the possibility of a coach molesting children, especially someone in a mentoring role. Here are a few myths that I think that are worth squashing about child abuse.

Only bad people abuse their children.
Fact: Not all abusers intentionally harm their children. Many have been victims of abuse themselves and don't know any other way to communicate.

Child Abuse doesn't happen in "good" families.
Fact: This crosses all racial, economic, and cultural lines. Sometimes families who seem to have it all from the outside can have a completely different story behind closed doors.

Most child abusers are strangers.
Fact: A lot of times the abuser is a family member or a person who has some sort of a relationship with the family, such as a teacher, coach, or a neighbor.

If someone you know has been abused there is help; this is not something that should stay hidden like it did years ago. Below are some items to consider when bringing a lawsuit against someone that has abused a child.

Bringing a Lawsuit for Child Abuse
Time is of the essence. There is "statue of limitations" which is the time limit for when you are permitted to bring a lawsuit. Our office will be able to help you to learn more about the time limits for bringing a child abuse lawsuit in your area.

Civil vs. Criminal Court

Civil Suit- involves the victim suing the person who committed the child abuse against them in order to recover monetary damages for their injuries. If you want to sue someone for your child abuse injuries, or are being sued by the victim for money, you would be in civil court and would need an experienced personal injury lawyer.

Criminal Suit -involves a person who is being prosecuted by the district attorney's office for committing child abuse against a victim.

Victim of Abuse
If you or a loved one has been a victim of child abuse, you should speak to a lawyer immediately to learn more about preserving your rights and seeking remedies. A lawyer will be able to explain the value of your case and help you navigate through the complicated legal process.

All medical personnel, clergy, law enforcement, state agency employees and teachers are legally mandated to report their suspicions, but child abuse often goes unreported and can injure a whole community. Remember, when a child is abused, it is everybody's business.

Howard Ankin founded the Ankin Law Office LLC over 14 years ago; the firm is known and respected as one of Chicago's top Workers' Compensation and Personal Injury Law practices. With extensive experience practicing personal injury, workers compensation, wrongful death, social security disability, and criminal and civil litigation, Howard has devoted his professional life to seeking justice on behalf of his clients and providing superior legal support for all of its clients.

If you need legal representation, please contact Ankin Law Offices LLC (howardankin@ankinlaw.com) and let us walk you through the legal landscape in a confidential consultation. We will listen to you. Our personal injury, workers compensation, and motor vehicle accident lawyers give clients straightforward legal advice and a clear understanding of the legal steps we will follow in resolving your legal issues.

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Lawyer: Avoid These Myths to Save Money

When hiring a lawyer, do you find yourself second guessing what the professional is telling you? Do you find yourself concerned and worried that the information being provided to you is not accurate? If so, you could be in the wrong office. Chances are good you have a serious legal situation on your hands that is important to you. If that is the case, you should feel confident in anyone that you decide to work with to handle this situation. If you do not, then you need to find a new professional to discuss your case with fully.

Myths You May Believe:

Many people face legal situations every day but not every situation regards hiring a lawyer. If and when you need to do so, there are a few things you should keep in mind during the process. There are many myths that could be affecting you, for example, that you simply need to know about before you move forward.

One misconception that people often have is that a lawyer is going to be too expensive to hire. You rarely need to pay a retainer fee for an initial consultation. More so, if you do, you will find that these rates are generally far more affordable than you thought. If you are worried about the costs, be upfront when you call the office. Ask for the fee information then so that you know what to expect.

Another myth that many people is that these professionals are just out to sue everyone. You may be surprised to learn just how many times these attorneys tell people that they really do not have a case or that they may be unlikely to win their case. You need to know if you are likely to win or not so that you can prepare for the outcome involved in the situation.

You may believe that this council is working on your case too slowly or that he or she has too many cases to manage. Most of the time, a busy law firm will tell you upfront if it can allot the time to manage your situation or not. If it does not guarantee that it has a professional to manage your case in an effective manner, look for another company to work with throughout the process. You need to ensure that the professional does have the time to dedicate to your case.

Finally, did you know that in some situations, including workers compensation and personal injury claims, that the attorney will not be paid unless he wins the case? In short, you should not worry about spending a great deal of time fighting a case that you cannot win. Most attorneys know that you need an honest, up front explanation of your options and your chance at success. Anything less than this is simply not going to help you in the long run. Gather information from a professional you know has the skill to win.

Your San Francisco lawyer can help you out of the hole when you've fallen into legal trouble. Hard times need a helping hand, and there's no better way to get the assistance you need than from a seasoned pro. The next time you need council, find help through http://www.myyp.com/

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