Why the Start of the Year May Bring Abuse Survivors Forward

Taking legal action as an abuse survivor is incredibly difficult. It often means reliving the painful details of what you experienced, worrying about whether or not others will believe you, and having to decide if seeking closure is worth going through it again. But when survivors do take the plunge and discuss options with their attorney, it’s often in January. As sexual abuse attorneys, we often see a surge of emails and calls early in the year—but why?

As a California abuse survivor, it is essential that you understand your legal rights. Even if time has passed since your abuse, California’s delayed discovery rule and other laws may give some sexual abuse survivors room to seek compensation. Let’s talk. Call Taylor & Ring now.

The psychological reset of a new year

A big reason that we hear from survivors in January is simply the psychological power of a new year. Consider New Year’s resolutions—people can decide to go back to school, lose weight, or kick a bad habit any day they choose, but many people wait until it’s time to make New Year’s resolutions.

This is because the start of a new year feels like a powerful reset. You have time to reflect on the past, see where you may be struggling in life, and decide how you want to move forward. For abuse survivors, this may mean that suppressed emotions and fears come to the surface. It’s no surprise when survivors decide that they want to put their abuse behind them, and that often starts with getting real justice and closure.

Survivors often go back and forth on their decision to seek help for years before deciding to reach out. When they do, it may be because continuing with the same emotional burdens they’ve been carrying feels impossible. Rather than spending a year fighting the same battles, they may decide that now is the time to take action.

How can the holiday season lead to disclosure?

The months and weeks leading up to a new year can be especially challenging for survivors of abuse, pushing them even closer to taking action in January. Between November and early January, people have more time away from work, more time with loved ones, and more time to think about what matters in life.

These changes to your daily routines can make people think about what they want their life to look like moving forward. The holidays may reveal that others in their life are going through abusive dynamics, leading them to seek justice for themselves. It may also mean spending time with those who have made great strides in life in the past year, pushing victims to take back control of their lives.

How time with family can lead to seeking help with abuse

One of the benefits of spending time with family members and friends is their ability to show you what you already know deep down but are afraid to admit. Whether or not they know what you’ve experienced, their insight and love for you can make it easier for you to make decisions that align with your goals. Loved ones may notice you acting withdrawn or struggling to keep up appearances, which may show you that you haven’t been masking the effects of your abuse quite as well as you expected.

When we’re talking about children, these moments of clarity often come during school breaks. Many children get close to two weeks of vacation during the winter holidays, and if they’re experiencing abuse at school or church, that two-week timeframe may be their first long break from their abuser. Spending more time with their parents may make the thought of returning to “life as normal” unbearable—and that allows them to finally open up to their loved ones about what they’ve been going through.

New practical opportunities to act

Practically, January is often an easier time to take action as an abuse survivor. A lot of things reset in January, such as paid time off and insurance benefits, which makes it easier to seek help. If you get all of your PTO for the year at the start of the year, seeking legal help may seem a lot easier when you have all of that available to use for meetings with lawyers, therapy sessions, and court dates.

Legal options for abuse survivors in California

If your case falls under California law, you may have several avenues available to you as you demand accountability from those who harmed you. You may be able to seek a civil claim against the individual (or institution) responsible for your abuse. This may mean suing the individual perpetrator as well as the school, church, or sports organization that made the abuse possible. A civil lawsuit may allow you to recover compensation for a range of damages, including emotional distress, therapy and medical costs, lost income, and the long-term impact on your quality of life. California’s delayed discovery rule and other sexual abuse laws may give you more time in which to file a civil lawsuit, depending on the type of abuse, when it occurred, and when you became aware of it.

You may also be able to report your abuse to law enforcement so prosecutors can decide whether or not to pursue criminal charges. This depends largely on the evidence available, how long it’s been since the abuse, and how likely they are to secure a conviction.

You don’t need to make these decisions now. During a consultation with a sexual abuse lawyer, you can learn more about each of these paths and decide how you want to proceed.

Taylor & Ring is here to help you seek justice

Carrying the weight of abuse for years (or even decades) can be physically and mentally draining. You don’t need to go through this process alone. Our team of sexual abuse attorneys is here to advocate for you and support you every step of the way. Get in touch online or call us.