Houston Sexual Abuse & Assault Attorney

The decision to speak up after sexual abuse or assault is incredibly difficult, and you may still be deciding who to trust. Your Houston sexual abuse & assault lawyer from The Doan Law Firm has stood beside survivors in high-stakes cases and helped secure billions of dollars in damages through verdicts and settlements.  

With support from your Houston personal injury lawyer, you can get answers, protect your rights, and reach out when you are ready to talk things through.

What Are Common Legal Issues in Houston Sexual Abuse & Assault Claims?

It is completely normal to feel unsure about what comes next after something this traumatic. Maybe you are wondering whether anyone will believe you, or if speaking up will just make things harder. That hesitation is understandable, especially when the person who hurt you was someone you trusted, like a coach, a teacher, or even a doctor. There are a lot of things that can make these cases feel complicated:

• Time limits that affect how long you have to file a claim
• Concerns about keeping your name and story private
• Rules that sometimes protect schools, churches, or camps from being sued
• Criminal records that are sealed or unavailable, even in serious cases
• Cases that involve more than one survivor, which may follow a different process
• Situations involving sexual abuse by doctors or other professionals
• Confusion about whether something goes to civil or criminal court
• Trouble getting access to the records or people needed to build your case
  

These challenges are real, but they should never be a reason to stay silent. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.0045, you have up to 30 years from your 18th birthday to file a civil claim for sexual assault. That gives you time and space to move forward when you are ready, not when someone else says you should.

Summer Camp Sexual Abuse Cases Can Be Particularly Challenging

When abuse happens at a summer camp, there are often layers of adults and organizations involved, which can delay action or keep families in the dark. It is especially hard for kids and teens to speak up in unfamiliar places, and some may not feel safe telling anyone until much later. Legal action can help protect others, uncover the truth, and connect families with support that makes healing possible.

Why Camps Are Often Slow to Respond

Some camps may try to protect their image by minimizing or ignoring abuse reports. They worry about losing funding, parents pulling their kids, or negative media coverage. That pressure can lead them to delay action or keep things quiet, instead of prioritizing the safety of the kids in their care.

This kind of response is especially common in cases involving staff members or long-time volunteers. Even when warning signs are there, some organizations try to avoid liability by shifting blame or quietly moving the person to another location. These decisions can leave survivors like you without answers and even put other children at risk.

When Abuse Is Committed by Another Camper or Teen Counselor

Peer-on-peer abuse is more common than most people think. It can happen between campers, or when a teenage counselor crosses a line with someone younger. These cases still carry serious emotional and legal consequences, and they deserve to be taken just as seriously as any other form of abuse.

Sometimes staff members dismiss these reports as “kids being kids,” especially if the person who caused harm is also a minor. However, the impact is real, and survivors in these situations may feel confused, embarrassed, or afraid to speak up again. Every report deserves a response that centers on the child’s safety and emotional well-being.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for Abuse in Houston Camps and Youth Programs?

In many abuse cases, more than one person or organization may be responsible. The person who caused harm is not always a stranger. It might be a counselor, a coach, or someone else the child was told to trust. Civil claims can also focus on the people and institutions that had the power to stop the abuse but failed to take action.

Liability for Camps, Schools, and Youth Organizations

When a school, camp, or youth group fails to properly screen or supervise employees, it can open the door to serious harm. Poor hiring practices, lack of training, and weak reporting systems all raise the risk of abuse going unnoticed or unreported.

In child molestation cases, these patterns often show up after multiple victims come forward. Civil claims may include evidence of past complaints, prior investigations, or gaps in how the organization handled reports. Under Subchapter C of Texas Education Code Chapter 22, certain organizations are required to run criminal background checks on employees, but that is only one part of what keeping kids safe should look like.

Cases Involving Teachers, Coaches, and Medical Professionals

When someone in a position of power abuses the trust placed in them, the impact can be devastating. This is especially true in youth programs where children are taught to listen to adults without question. That power dynamic can make it harder for kids to recognize abuse or feel safe enough to speak up.

Some of the most serious cases involve sexual abuse by doctors, therapists, or athletic staff who used their role to manipulate and isolate the child. These professionals are subject to strict reporting rules, and under Texas Occupations Code § 160.002, physician misconduct must be reported when abuse is suspected or confirmed. Even in respected institutions, these cases deserve a full investigation.

Your Sexual Abuse & Assault Attorney in Houston Is Here to Listen

You have the right to share your story on your terms and in your own time. Your sexual abuse & assault lawyer in Houston from The Doan Law Firm is here to answer questions, help you understand your options, and support you through every step, but only once you feel ready. When that day comes, you can always contact us to talk through what happened in a safe and respectful space.