Preparing to Publicly Come Forward After Sexual Assault

A young gymnast has aspirations of being the best, of winning medals, and of making her parents and coaches proud. She has no idea that those aspirations could come with a price. At some point in her training, a coach she admired and trusted allegedly violated her mind, her body, and her trust. An allegation of sexual assault by a coach would not be easy.

Mental Preparation

Coming forward with a serious allegation like sexual abuse can take a toll on a person’s emotional health. RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) says that “sexual violence can have psychological, emotional, and physical effects on a survivor. These effects aren’t always easy to deal with, but with the right help and support they can be managed.”

A survivor of sexual assault, such as an athlete or an employee of a business, is often not believed and can be threatened with the loss of her job, fear of retaliation, or having to possibly endure media attention if she comes forward. Some tips for mentally preparing oneself for publicly accusing someone of sexual assault are as follows:

Tell someone you love and trust about the abuse;
Seek support from a therapist;
Maintain self-care of your own health and wellness;
Understand and be aware of symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Seeking Therapy or Counseling

Survivors of sexual assault should seek professional therapy or counseling to help cope with the emotional trauma of coming forward with a serious allegation of sexual assault. The American Psychological Association (APA), in its September 2022 Continuing Education, “How to Support Patients who have Experienced Sexual Assault,” says that sexual assault can be a life-rupturing event, shattering feelings of trust for survivors, and triggering struggles within relationships. Because sexual assault remains stigmatized, those who have experienced it may not feel able to reach out for social support in the same way as survivors of other types of traumas.

Understanding the Legal Process

Making a legal claim in a civil case against the perpetrator of a sexual assault, be it an individual or a corporation, can be difficult for the survivor.

Once a survivor is ready to come forward, it is important to contact A Case for Women to help walk you through the legal process and introduce you to a sexual assault lawyer, who will work on a contingency basis, and who will file a lawsuit on your behalf.

A sexual assault survivor has resources from which to choose, including but not limited to the following:

After the assault, the survivor is often so traumatized that she has a hard time remembering details of the incident. But details are important in building a strong case against the perpetrator. Any detail of the assault that can be remembered should immediately be written down and documented. Having a forensic medical exam can help preserve evidence of a sexual assault as DNA is collected.

Gathering strong evidence is crucial when proving a sexual assault case. RAINN reports that when law enforcement investigates a case of sexual violence, DNA evidence can make or break the outcome. DNA evidence has become a routine part of investigating and prosecuting all types of crimes. It is often an important tool in achieving justice for survivors of sexual assault.

A few tips on gathering strong evidence are as follows:

Documentation – write down and document everything.
Have a Sexual Assault Forensic Exam where DNA evidence is taken from your body, clothes, and other personal belongings.
Identification of possible witnesses.
Taking care of yourself.

Finding a trustworthy lawyer or firm that has the expertise and resources to prepare and file your sexual assault case can be daunting.

Some tips for finding a lawyer who specializes in sexual assault cases can include:

Getting a recommendation from someone;
Contacting A Case for Women. A Case for Women is a woman-run and woman-led business whose mission is to encourage and empower survivors to hold those accountable who have hurt them.

Taking legal or other action can be easy, effective, and have the potential for life-changing financial compensation: #icouldntsayno, Dr. David Broadbent, Dr. Fabio Ortega, and Roblox Sextortion.

Financial Preparation

Individuals working with lawyers who work on a contingency basis pay no upfront costs. This means the firm will front all the costs including their time — and take on all the financial risk. If the law firm is successful and there is a successful result in your case, the firm will receive a percentage as compensation as well as reimbursement for any costs accumulated during the case. If they don’t win or settle for you, the law firm will absorb all the time and costs they put into your case. You will not owe them anything. A Case for Women does not charge anything for its services.

The law firm will handle everything, and it is not the obligation of the client to prove anything.

Supporting Survivors

A sexual assault can be traumatic and life-changing. If you are sexually assaulted, you may have physical injuries that need immediate attention but also emotional pain that could take weeks, months, or years from which to recover. It’s a challenging time and you may not know what to do. It is important to talk to someone you trust, a friend, or loved one. Tell them about what happened to you. Seek support through support groups (listed above). Realize that healing takes time and is not the same for everyone.

RAINN offers some excellent tips in the form of an acronym — T-A-L-K — to help a supporter of someone who has survived sexual assault:

T – thank them for telling you.
A – ask how you can help.
L – listen without judgment.
K – keep supporting.

How To Prepare Yourself To Publicly Come Forward With Serious Allegations