Sexual violence is one of the most devastating and underreported crimes in the United States, leaving survivors isolated, traumatized, and uncertain of where to turn for help. Nearly half of all women and more than one in six men in the United States have experienced some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetimes, yet the vast majority of incidents are never reported to law enforcement. Both children and adult survivors are often understandably intimidated into silence, leaving the people who hurt them free from any consequences.
At Wagner Reese, our Indianapolis sexual abuse lawyers are here to be your voice. The criminal justice system is designed to penalize offenders with incarceration and fines paid to the state, but it does not provide survivors with the financial recovery they deserve. In order to secure deserved compensation as well as closure, you must bring a civil claim forward. This is where we step in and take a stand for you, pursuing justice against individual abusers and the institutions that protected them.
Who We Represent in Sexual Abuse Cases
According to the CDC’s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, nearly half of all women and more than one in six men in the United States have experienced some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetimes. Our sexual abuse attorneys represent survivors across a wide range of circumstances, and we understand that no two cases are alike. Sexual abuse can occur in settings where trust is presumed, including churches, schools, healthcare facilities, the workplace, and more. We have the experience and the resolve to pursue justice no matter where the abuse occurred or who was responsible.
We represent sexual abuse survivors across many contexts, including clergy members, concerts and festivals, coworkers and employers, doctors and hospitals, government agents and military officers, human trafficking, nursing home staff, people with disabilities, psychiatric treatment facilities, rideshare drivers, spas and massage parlors, summer camps, teachers and daycare providers, and youth sports coaches, among others. There is no setting that places an abuser beyond our reach.
What Counts as Sexual Abuse Under Indiana Law
Understanding the full scope of what qualifies as actionable conduct is an important first step in recognizing your right to seek civil justice in Indiana. Sexual abuse can take many forms, and all of them cause real, lasting harm to survivors.
Physical and Nonphysical Forms of Abuse
While many cases of sexual abuse and sexual battery involve physical sexual acts, not all do. Examples of nonphysical sexual abuse include exposing young children to pornographic images, photographing someone in illicit positions and distributing the images without permission, pressuring another person into committing a sexual act, and using coercion or authority to convince another to commit a sexual act. Indiana law also recognizes digital and online sexual exploitation as serious misconduct that can form the basis of a civil claim.
Institutional Liability and Third-Party Claims
One of the most critical aspects of civil sexual abuse litigation is the ability to hold institutions accountable, not just individual perpetrators. Organizations such as universities, religious dioceses, healthcare systems, and corporations can be liable when they knew about abusive conduct and failed to act. Workplace harassment claims, for example, often extend beyond the individual abuser to include employers who enabled a hostile environment. Civil claims can also target institutions that negligently hired or retained known offenders.
This institutional accountability is one of the most powerful tools available through the civil justice system. Criminal prosecutions frequently stall or result in inadequate sentences, leaving survivors without answers. A civil case pursued by our team can reach deeper, exposing systemic failures and recovering the full scope of damages survivors are owed.
The Lasting Harm Caused by Sexual Abuse and Assault
Some incidents of sexual abuse are violent enough to cause physical injuries requiring costly medical treatment. However, some of the most severe harm caused by sexual abuse is entirely emotional and mental. Survivors of all backgrounds, including LGBTQIA+ individuals, are often traumatized for life and face unique challenges in accessing appropriate support and resources.
Sexual assault survivors may experience depression, anxiety, extreme distrust of others, crippling fear, and an inability to connect socially. As a result of this emotional trauma, survivors may find it difficult to attend school or hold gainful employment. The civil case our team files on your behalf will take all of these financial and personal losses into account, pursuing full compensation for both economic and non-economic damages.
Why Choose Wagner Reese as Your Indianapolis Sexual Abuse Attorney
Survivors deserve representation from a team that brings both skill and genuine compassion to every case, and that is exactly what Wagner Reese delivers. Our attorneys have pursued difficult and high-stakes sexual abuse claims across Indiana, and we know what it takes to hold powerful institutions accountable.
Our Commitment to Every Survivor
Our sexual abuse attorneys in Indianapolis approach every claim with the sensitivity, urgency, and tenacity you expect and deserve. We are absolutely dedicated to holding individual sexual abusers and the institutions that enable them fully accountable. There is no opposition large or powerful enough to make us back down when there is so much on the line for our clients and their families.
Wagner Reese serves clients throughout Indianapolis and across Indiana, and we handle sexual abuse cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Our team understands that coming forward is one of the most courageous decisions a survivor can make, and we are committed to making that process as supportive and effective as possible.
Begin Your Path to Justice with Wagner Reese LLP
There is no way to erase the unthinkable harm done through an act of sexual abuse. Financial compensation can help bring peace of mind and closure, and in many cases, it is absolutely necessary to cover medical bills, therapy costs, and lost wages associated with the harm caused by sexual assault. Taking legal action is your right, and we are here to help you exercise it. This is our passion and our calling.
Start seeking justice and closure today with the sexual abuse lawyers at Wagner Reese LLP. All inquiries are confidential to protect your best interests, and our team is ready to listen and act on your behalf. Please contact us online to schedule your free and confidential consultation.
