If I Was Sexually Abused As A Child, How Long Do I Have To File A Lawsuit Against The Abuser In Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania childhood sexual abuse victims have a limited window to hold their abuser accountable. Change is coming though, and Pennsylvania lawmakers are working on rules that would give victims more time to take legal action. Ever since the Penn State sexual abuse scandal, the legal system has given more weight to survivors’ stories. The public’s attitudes toward victims also shifted in its wake, and the state wants to ensure its laws account for these developments.

Where Do Things Stand Today?

Right now, Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations for sexual abuse cases is two years. For childhood sexual abuse victims, this increases to 12 years from the age of majority (until age 30). The state does not have a lookback period for sexual abuse cases.

Survivors should also understand that the statute of limitations is not always meaningful. For instance, some victims receive settlement offers by abusers – or by the organizations the abusers were associated with, like schools or churches – when they intend to bring forth a lawsuit. While these settlements can provide meaningful compensation, they fail to give victims the sense of closure they deserve.

What Are The Proposed Changes?

The changes proposed by Pennsylvania lawmakers are great news for childhood sexual abuse victims. The state is planning to drastically expand the current statute of limitations, from 12 years from the age of majority to 32 years from this date. This would give survivors until age 50 to file a lawsuit against their abuser.

What Can Victims Do Now?

As people’s perceptions change, survivors of childhood sexual abuse no longer face the stigma they once did for speaking out. For the longest time, their stories were ignored or repressed, even by well-meaning people, for the pain they caused and the confrontation they demanded. The Penn State case made this reckoning inevitable; now, Pennsylvania victims are more confident in bringing their cases forward, and they should be able to seize their chance to do so.

With that said, sexual abuse cases can be difficult for victims, who relive their trauma during proceedings. At the same time, they provide victims the best chance to have their stories told and their futures reclaimed. Working with an attorney who is accessible and detail-oriented not only ensures their unique needs get met, but that the legwork is done to achieve a desirable outcome.