Seeking help after sexual abuse can feel overwhelming. You may be worried about your privacy, your safety, and how a legal claim might affect your life. Below, Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys explains how our sexual abuse lawyer serving Simi Valley can help you make informed choices and pursue accountability.
You’ll find practical steps for reporting, the difference between civil and criminal cases, what compensation may be available, filing deadlines in California, and how our team at Omega Law supports survivors.
If you want a broader overview of local services and representation, visit our personal injury lawyer serving Simi Valley page.
Why Choose Our Simi Valley Sexual Abuse Attorneys
Working with a local team connects your case to courts, agencies, and services right here in Simi Valley and Ventura County. We’re familiar with local procedures, judges, and providers who can support your healing, such as counselors, advocacy groups, and medical professionals.
We take a survivor-centered approach. That means you set the pace, and we explain every option before any step is taken. Whether your case involves an individual perpetrator or an institution like a school, youth program, healthcare facility, or employer, we tailor a legal strategy to your goals.
What Qualifies as Sexual Abuse Under California Law
Sexual abuse is a broad term that covers sexual assault, rape, attempted assault, forced or coerced sexual acts, unwanted sexual touching, sexual exploitation, and conduct involving minors. It can include abuse by people in positions of trust or authority, such as teachers, coaches, clergy, supervisors, healthcare providers, or caretakers.
Civil claims can be brought against individuals and, when the facts support it, against institutions that failed to protect you or that allowed abuse to continue. Examples include negligent hiring, negligent supervision, inadequate security, and ignoring reports or warning signs.
Common Settings for Sexual Abuse in Simi Valley
Sexual abuse can occur in homes, workplaces, schools, medical offices, faith communities, rideshares, apartments, hotels, and social venues. In youth settings, such as clubs and sports programs, misconduct may involve grooming behavior, boundary violations, and isolation of a child from peers.
Healthcare settings are also places where sexual abuse occurs, such as abuse during examinations or therapy sessions. In workplaces, harassment can escalate into assault, and employers can be responsible when they ignore reports or fail to act. In rental housing or hotels, claims can involve negligent security or failure to fix known safety risks.
Reporting Sexual Abuse in Simi Valley
If you are in immediate danger, call law enforcement right away. The Simi Valley Police Department and, for areas outside city limits, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office can take reports and help you access emergency services. The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office also offers victim services and can explain protective orders and court processes.
Many institutions have mandatory reporting rules and specific procedures that trigger investigations. If you are unsure about reporting, speak with us first; we can discuss benefits and risks, including how a report may affect a civil case.
You are not required to file a police report to bring a civil claim, though a timely report can help preserve evidence. Whether you choose to report to authorities now, later, or not at all, we can still evaluate your civil options in a confidential setting.
Civil Lawsuits vs. Criminal Cases in Ventura County
The state brings criminal cases to punish a perpetrator and protect the public. The prosecutor controls the case, and the standard of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt. A criminal case can result in incarceration, probation, and restitution.
You bring civil lawsuits to seek compensation and other relief. You control whether to settle, continue litigation, or go to trial. The standard of proof is a preponderance of the evidence, which is lower than in criminal court.
A civil case can proceed even if the defendant is not charged or convicted. In many cases, civil claims also target institutions that allowed abuse to occur. Protective orders, confidentiality measures, and trauma-informed procedures can be requested in both systems. We’ll discuss how these tools may apply to your situation.
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What Compensation Can You Seek in a Simi Valley Sexual Abuse Case?
Compensation is intended to address both the immediate and long-term consequences of sexual abuse. Depending on the facts, recoverable damages in a civil case may include:
- Medical and mental health treatment, including therapy and medications
- Lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and job-related losses
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Costs related to safety planning and relocation
- Out-of-pocket expenses tied to the abuse and its aftermath
- Punitive damages in cases of egregious misconduct
We also pursue non-monetary terms when appropriate, such as policy changes, training requirements, or supervisory measures within an institution. These terms can help promote safer environments and acknowledge harm.
Filing Deadlines for Sexual Abuse Claims in California
California law provides extended timeframes for survivors to seek justice, though deadlines depend on the survivor’s age at the time of the abuse:
- Adult Survivors: Claims must generally be filed within 10 years of the assault or three years after discovering an injury caused by the assault.
- Childhood Survivors: Claims can be filed until the survivor’s 40th birthday or within five years of discovering the related psychological injury, whichever is later.
Significant new laws have opened “revival windows” for older claims. Notably, AB 250 creates a new window from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027, allowing survivors of adult sexual assault to file civil lawsuits even if the original deadline has passed, particularly in cases involving institutional cover-ups.
Critical Exception: Deadlines against public or government entities are much shorter—often only six months. Because these rules are complex and subject to “tolling” (pausing), our sexual abuse law firm serving Simi Valley will review your timeline to ensure no opportunities are missed.
How We Investigate and Build Your Case
We begin with a private consultation focused on your goals. From there, we map out a plan that may include preserving digital evidence, securing medical and therapy records, and interviewing witnesses. When appropriate, we send litigation hold letters to institutions to prevent the destruction of evidence.
We identify all potentially responsible parties, which may include an individual perpetrator, an employer, a school or youth program, a property owner or manager, a rideshare company, or a healthcare provider. We examine hiring, supervision, training, incident response, and prior complaints to show how an institution enabled or failed to stop the abuse.
Privacy is a priority throughout. California courts may allow the use of pseudonyms (such as “Jane Doe” or “John Doe”), protective orders, sealed filings, and limited disclosures in appropriate cases. We discuss these tools with you so you can choose the safeguards that fit your comfort level.
What to Expect When You Contact Omega Law Group
Your first conversation with us is confidential and pressure-free. You decide what to share. We focus on clear answers to your questions and next steps that match your needs.
Here is how the process typically works:
- Free, confidential case review to hear your story and outline options
- A clear plan for reporting choices, evidence preservation, and safety
- Document gathering and investigation with minimal disruption to you
- Negotiation with insurers and institutions aimed at a fair resolution
- Litigation and trial-readiness if the settlement does not reflect your harms
We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, which means no upfront attorney’s fees and no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. We also coordinate with local providers to help connect you with supportive services while your case proceeds.
Speak With a Simi Valley Sexual Abuse Lawyer Now
You do not have to face this alone. If you’re ready to talk or if you just want answers about your options, contact us through our website to connect with a sexual abuse attorney serving Simi Valley.
We will listen, explain the path forward in plain language, and advocate for the accountability and compensation you are seeking.
