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.
Time-Sensitive, Indiana Law Limits Your Window to File
Adult survivors generally have 2 years to file a civil claim, and survivors of child sexual abuse have longer, but every deadline is strict and depends on the facts of your case.
Wagner Reese brings more than 150 combined years of experience to sexual abuse litigation, handles every case on a contingency fee basis, and is recognized year after year as a Tier-One Best Lawyers Law Firm.
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.
More Settings Where We Handle Sexual Abuse Claims
Our sexual abuse attorneys also represent survivors in settings that do not always come to mind right away. If your situation is not listed below, reach out anyway, because it likely still qualifies for a civil claim.
Police Officer Abuse
Jail and Prison Abuse
Hotel and Motel Abuse
Troubled Teen Program Abuse
Male Survivors
USA Swimming Abuse
Maritime and Cruise Abuse
Jail and Prison Medical Neglect
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.
Statute of Limitations for Indianapolis Sexual Abuse Claims
Indiana law sets strict deadlines for filing a civil sexual abuse claim, and the filing window depends on whether the survivor was a child or an adult at the time of the abuse. Under Indiana Code 34-11-2-4, an adult survivor generally has two years from the date the claim accrues to file a personal injury claim, while a survivor of childhood sexual abuse has until the later of seven years after the claim accrues or four years after the survivor stops being a dependent of the person accused of the abuse.
These deadlines can be affected by when the abuse was discovered, whether the survivor was a dependent of the abuser, and whether the claim involves a government entity such as a public school, which can carry a much shorter notice requirement. Missing your filing deadline can permanently bar your right to recover compensation, so the earlier you speak with an Indianapolis sexual abuse lawyer, the more time our team has to protect your claim.
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.
What to Do if You Are a Survivor of Sexual Abuse in Indianapolis
If you or a family member has experienced sexual abuse in Indianapolis, taking the following steps can help protect your safety, your evidence, and your legal rights.
Get to a Safe Place and Seek Medical Care
Your physical safety and health come first. A medical exam can also document injuries that may later support your civil claim.
Preserve Evidence and Document What You Remember
Save messages, photos, and records, and write down names, dates, and details while they are fresh, even if you are not ready to take legal action yet.
Report the Abuse When You Are Ready
You can file a civil claim whether or not charges are ever filed, and reporting to law enforcement is your decision to make on your own timeline.
Speak With an Indianapolis Sexual Abuse Lawyer Before a Deadline Passes
A confidential consultation costs you nothing, and it is the only way to know exactly how much time you have left to file.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sexual Abuse Claims in Indianapolis
Here are answers to some of the questions we hear most often from sexual abuse survivors in Indianapolis.
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, but Wagner Reese is recognized as a Tier-One Best Lawyers Law Firm with more than 150 combined years of experience and a proven track record of multi-million dollar recoveries for survivors. 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.
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, or call 888-204-8440 to speak with someone right away.
