As an experienced sexual abuse and assault attorney in Oregon, I understand that the cost of surviving sexual assault is not just financial. For survivors, the toll can be immense—physically, emotionally, and mentally—impacting many aspects of life. While financial costs are significant, it’s crucial to also acknowledge the broader, less visible costs that survivors endure.
Here’s a breakdown of the various ways sexual assault can affect victims:
1. Emotional and Psychological Costs
Surviving sexual assault can lead to long-term emotional and psychological trauma, which often requires years of therapy and support to address. The most common emotional effects include:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Many survivors experience flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and hyper-vigilance, which can make daily life incredibly difficult.
- Depression and Anxiety: Survivors often experience deep feelings of sadness, isolation, and fear. Anxiety disorders, panic attacks, and even suicidal thoughts are common.
- Trust Issues and Relationship Strain: The violation of trust that comes with sexual assault often affects a survivor’s ability to form or maintain relationships, leading to loneliness or tension with family and friends.
- Self-Blame and Shame: Many survivors struggle with feelings of guilt, believing that they somehow could have prevented the assault, leading to lower self-esteem and difficulty moving forward.
Therapy and counseling can be essential for healing, but these services can be costly and are often needed for extended periods, potentially lasting for years. Unfortunately, mental health treatment may not be fully covered by insurance, adding to the financial burden.
2. Physical and Medical Costs
Sexual assault survivors often face immediate and long-term physical consequences that can require medical care. This includes:
- Emergency Room Visits and Medical Treatment: Many survivors need immediate medical attention after the assault, which could involve physical examinations, evidence collection through a rape kit, and treatment for injuries.
- Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): Survivors are at risk of contracting STIs, which may require testing, treatment, and ongoing monitoring.
- Pregnancy: Survivors of rape may also face unintended pregnancies, leading to complex and expensive decisions around medical care, whether they choose to carry the pregnancy, seek an abortion, or arrange for adoption.
- Long-Term Physical Issues: Some survivors develop chronic pain, reproductive health issues, or other physical health problems as a result of the trauma, which may require ongoing care.
Medical expenses for these treatments can be substantial, especially if the survivor lacks adequate health insurance. Even with coverage, out-of-pocket expenses can be overwhelming.
3. Economic Costs
Sexual assault can also have significant financial repercussions that ripple through many aspects of life:
- Lost Wages: Many survivors are unable to work for a period of time due to physical injuries or the emotional aftermath of the assault. Some may lose their jobs or struggle to keep up with work responsibilities, leading to reduced income or even job loss.
- Reduced Earning Potential: The impact of sexual assault can derail careers, educational opportunities, and personal goals, limiting the survivor’s ability to advance professionally or complete their studies.
- Legal Fees: While many attorneys, including myself, work on a contingency basis (meaning you don’t pay unless you win your case), there may still be costs associated with filing lawsuits, expert witnesses, or court fees. These financial burdens can add up quickly, especially in long, drawn-out legal battles.
4. Social and Personal Costs
Sexual assault can fracture a survivor’s personal life in ways that are hard to quantify:
- Isolation and Stigma: Survivors may feel ostracized from their communities, workplaces, or even families. The stigma surrounding sexual assault can cause survivors to withdraw socially or face judgment from others.
- Family and Relationship Strain: Sexual assault doesn’t just affect the survivor—it impacts their loved ones as well. Relationships with spouses, children, and friends can become strained, and many survivors find themselves feeling disconnected or unsupported.
- Loss of Trust in Institutions: When the assault occurs in settings like workplaces, schools, or religious institutions, survivors may lose faith in the systems that are supposed to protect them, making it harder to seek help or engage with those institutions.
5. Legal Costs
If you are pursuing justice through the legal system, you will likely encounter additional costs, though many sexual abuse and assault attorneys, including myself, work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay upfront for legal representation. However, other legal expenses can arise, including:
- Filing Fees: Costs for filing lawsuits or protective orders.
- Expert Witnesses: In some cases, you may need to hire experts to testify about the impact of the abuse on your life.
- Trial Expenses: If your case goes to trial, there can be additional expenses related to court appearances, depositions, and more.
6. The Cost of Healing and Rebuilding
Healing from sexual assault is a long and personal process. Survivors often need to invest in:
- Therapeutic Resources: These might include therapy, support groups, or alternative healing modalities such as yoga, meditation, or trauma recovery programs.
- Self-Care and Recovery: Finding ways to rebuild one’s life after an assault can take time and may require changes in lifestyle, relocation, or taking time away from work or school to heal.
