Survivors of sex trafficking face many lasting challenges, and filing a lawsuit cannot take the pain away. However, taking legal action can hold abusers and anyone complicit with trafficking accountable for their actions. If you or a loved one were harmed in this horrific act, our Fort Washington sex trafficking injury lawyer can discuss your options safely and confidentially. You may be able to file for compensation with a sexual abuse claim.
What is Sex Trafficking?
Sex trafficking occurs when someone coerces, forces, or tricks someone else into performing commercial sex acts against their will. By using deception, manipulation, threats, or outright violence, traffickers gain control over victims and force them into unwanted sexual acts. Trafficking victims are often minors, vulnerable adults, and those with significant financial or personal obstacles (immigrants to the United States, for example).
Those under control of a sex trafficker are usually kidnapped to various locations and forced to engage in the illegal sex trade. To keep victims captive, sex traffickers will confiscate a victim’s identification and money while threatening harm if they try to escape. In many cases, drugs are used to keep victims subdued.
Sex trafficking does not take place in a single form. Human trafficking operations can be large and well-organized across several states, while at other times, they can be local and limited to a single trafficker. Some frequently seen methods of sex trafficking include:
- Online exploitation
- Forced prostitution
- Massage businesses engaging in forced prostitution
- Escort operations
- Exotic dancing venues
- Sex work at hotels or motels
- Gang-related sex trafficking
- Familial trafficking
No matter which form sex trafficking takes, it will include vulnerable individuals subject to control by people in positions of power (which can be financial, physical, or through a combination of factors). Sex trafficking injury attorneys in Fort Washington with a proven track record can recognize patterns of abuse and seek to hold abusers accountable in court.
State Laws on Sex Trafficking
Pennsylvania’s Human Trafficking Law (Chapter 30: Title 18 – Crimes and Offenses) imposes serious penalties on sex trafficking offenders. In Pennsylvania, it is a first-degree felony to recruit, solicit, harbor, transport, entice or maintain a person for sexual abuse. Not only can the offenders be criminally prosecuted, but state law allows civil lawsuits against businesses such as hotels, nightclubs, and other locales allowing sex trafficking activity to take place on their property. It is important to note when and where such activity happened, in order to hold those establishments accountable.
While criminal penalties can send human traffickers to prison, victims can be left with damaging impacts on their health, mental well-being, and overall development. Trafficking survivors might have missed out on opportunities in education and career-building. These financial impacts, along with medical expenses and other costs, can be claimed in a civil lawsuit. Traffickers can also be held liable for stolen property, the value of forced labor, and any profits obtained from a victim’s involuntary work.
In most sex trafficking cases, Pennsylvania sets a five-year statute of limitations for filing the personal injury lawsuit. For those who were minors when suffering abuse through trafficking, they generally have until they turn 30 years old to sue. Certain exceptions can apply, and it is best to have our experienced sex trafficking attorney in Fort Washington review the facts to determine the best course of action.
Contact Our Sex Trafficking Injury Attorney in Fort Washington Right Now
Sex trafficking is a devastating crime with lasting impacts on anyone involved. If you or someone you love was a victim of sex trafficking, you can take measures to hold abusers accountable. Our trauma-informed Fort Washington sex trafficking injury lawyer can review your legal rights, safely and confidentially, to determine your next steps toward healing. Reach out today to schedule a private consultation