If you've suffered abuse within the Catholic Church, you may be struggling with your next steps. Priests are high-ranking members of the church, which can make it difficult to hold them accountable for their actions.
However, that doesn't mean you don't have grounds to hold them accountable. Laws in New York are changing, which make holding priests accountable for their actions more possible for you. If you’re concerned about your legal options after a priest abused you, reach out for help recovering from your case.
Recently, state laws have changed to reflect the legal rights of those harmed by priests. Many people have previously struggled with past laws, which leaves them unable to sue due to strict, short-term time limits. These limits meant that you had only a few years after turning eighteen to sue.
Now, the limits have been greatly extended. You may have until you’re fifty-five years old to file a claim. These laws also dropped the need to notify the Catholic Church of a lawsuit, which stopped many families by giving you days to make a decision and file a claim.
If you believed previously that you didn’t have a case, or if you’re worried it’s been too long, you may need to contact your priest abuse lawyer about your case. They can review what you’re eligible for and what you can do about your claim.
However, you may be struggling with a complication in your case. The priest who abused you has since died, which means they can’t be directly held responsible for their actions. That leads many people to choose not to pursue action against the responsible priest.
However, their death doesn’t mean you don’t have opportunities to file a claim. Instead, you may file a claim against the church that hired them. The leaders of these churches may have enabled these abusive priests by ignoring the warning signs of abuse or even covering up these cases. Even if they had no knowledge, however, they are responsible for the damage a priest may have done.
Because of this, it’s important to act, even if the priest has since died. You may still have a chance to get your compensation.
If you’re struggling with a priest abuse claim, you may be worried about your options for action. The priest who hurt you should be held accountable for their actions, but you may be worried about your options to file.
Fortunately, you do have opportunities, especially with the help of a NYC personal injury lawyer at Greenstein & Milbauer, LLP. We understand how tough it can be to handle an abuse claim. That’s why we’re focused on showing victims of sexual abuse like you that you have options for holding priests legally accountable.
We also offer free consultations for those struggling to act after suffering clergy abuse. You may not know what your legal options are, but your lawyer can help. Get started with the right attorney, and your lawyer can help you build a case that works for you.
When you’re ready to begin, reach out for help by calling 1-800-VICTIM2 (842-8462) or by visiting us online to learn more about our services.
