Athletic Programs Must Answer for Abuse

Name: Legal Services
Brand: Morgan & Morgan
Rating: 5.0 (150000 reviews)

Speak With a Morgan & Morgan Abuse Lawyer

If your child was abused by a coach or staff member within an athletic program, both the abuser and the organization that ignored it must be held accountable. When programs fail to protect athletes, silence is no longer an option. Morgan & Morgan may be able to help you understand your legal options and pursue the justice your family deserves.

As seen on:

►

It's Easy to Get Started

By submitting my phone number above I authorize Morgan & Morgan, and its service providers, to deliver calls including using an automatic telephone dialing system or artificial or prerecorded voice, to the number submitted. Consent is not a condition to receive services. Msg frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Upon receipt of any message, reply STOP to unsubscribe.

By submitting this form, you agree to our Terms & acknowledge our privacy policy.

►

Child sexual abuse cases need three things.

Evidence of alleged abuse

Identifiable perpetrator or negligent party

Demonstrable harm

Ways Institutions May Be Held Responsible for Child Sexual Abuse

Negligent Hiring

Hiring an employee, volunteer, or other individual without conducting reasonable screening or responding to known concerns about their background.

Negligent Supervision

Failing to properly monitor staff members, volunteers, programs, or interactions with children.

Ignoring Complaints and Warning Signs

Disregarding reports, suspicious behavior, prior allegations, or other red flags that should have prompted action.

Cover-Ups and Fraudulent Concealment

Hiding allegations, misleading families or authorities, transferring an accused individual, or taking other steps to conceal suspected abuse.

Vicarious Liability

In some circumstances, an institution may be held responsible for wrongful conduct committed by an employee or agent acting within the scope of their role.

Breach of Fiduciary Duty

Violating a position of trust or failing to protect a child who depended on the institution for safety, care, guidance, or supervision.

Long-Term Effects of Child Sexual Abuse

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Survivors often experience PTSD, including flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, making daily life and relationships challenging.

Anxiety Disorders

Child sexual abuse can lead to chronic anxiety, panic attacks, and constant fear, impacting a survivor’s ability to feel safe and secure.

Personality Disorders

Early trauma can disrupt emotional development, increasing the risk of personality disorders such as borderline or dissociative identity disorder.

Eating Disorders

Survivors may develop eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating as a way to regain control over their bodies and cope with trauma.

Relationship and Intimacy Issues

Trust issues, emotional detachment, and fear of vulnerability can make it difficult for survivors to form healthy relationships or experience intimacy.

Somatic Disorders & Chronic Health Issues

Unresolved trauma can manifest as chronic pain, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, and other stress-related health conditions.

Substance Abuse & Addiction

Many survivors turn to drugs or alcohol to numb emotional pain, increasing the risk of addiction and long-term health complications.

Self-Esteem & Identity Struggles

Feelings of shame, guilt, and worthlessness can lead to low self-esteem, self-destructive behaviors, and difficulty developing a stable sense of self.

Increased Risk of Revictimization

Survivors can be at greater risk of future abuse or exploitation due to unresolved trauma, difficulty recognizing unsafe situations, and trust vulnerabilities.

It's easy to get started.

The Fee Is Free®.
Only pay if we win.

Submit your claim
With a free case evaluation, submitting your case is easy with Morgan & Morgan.
We take action
Our dedicated team gets to work investigating your claim.
We fight for you
If we take on the case, our team fights to get you the results you deserve.

In Their Words

Real clients share their experience.

When it came to negotiating, they didn't just settle for anything. They definitely went to the bat for me.

Lashondra

They took care of me, and now we're doing okay. Thank God that I went to Morgan & Morgan.

Ray

The company handled absolutely everything from start to finish.

Sean

Lashondra

Ray

Sean

Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Based on select nationwide reviews.

Ways We Can Help

Clergy Abuse

Religious leaders should protect, not harm, children. Clergy abuse has devastated many. We help survivors hold churches and institutions accountable.

Sex Trafficking

Children are exploited in sex trafficking, suffering severe trauma. We fight for survivors to seek justice against traffickers and enablers who profited from the trafficking.

Institutional Cover-Up

Schools, religious groups, and institutions hide abuse to protect reputations. We help victims expose cover-ups and hold those responsible accountable.

Foster Care Abuse

Foster children face abuse from parents, caretakers, and staff. We protect victims and hold agencies accountable for failing to keep them safe.

Online Exploitation and Child Pornography

Predators exploit children online through grooming, abuse, and trafficking. We help victims seek justice against offenders and negligent platforms.

Family and Domestic Abuse

Many children suffer abuse from family or acquaintances. We fight to hold abusers accountable and ensure survivors get the support they need.

FAQ

What should I do if my child was sexually abused in an athletic program?
If your child was sexually abused in an athletic program, your child’s safety and well-being should come first. If there is any immediate danger, contact emergency services or local authorities right away.
You may also want to seek support from a trusted medical provider, therapist, counselor, or victim advocate. Abuse by a coach, trainer, teammate, staff member, or other trusted adult can be deeply traumatic, and your child deserves care and support.
If possible, preserve anything that may help document what happened, including text messages, emails, photos, team communications, incident reports, schedules, names of witnesses, or any prior complaints made to the program.
You do not have to handle this alone. An attorney can help your family understand your rights, protect your privacy, and determine whether the athletic program or organization may be legally responsible.
Can an athletic program be held responsible for sexual abuse?
An athletic program may be held responsible if it failed to protect a child from sexual abuse. These cases may involve schools, sports clubs, gyms, camps, travel teams, leagues, universities, or other organizations responsible for supervising athletes.
A program may be liable if it failed to properly screen, train, supervise, or remove a coach, trainer, staff member, volunteer, or other person who had access to children.
Athletic programs may also be responsible if they ignored warning signs, failed to investigate complaints, allowed unsafe one-on-one access, or prioritized the reputation of the team or organization over the safety of athletes.
What if the abuse happened years ago?
Many survivors of childhood sexual abuse do not come forward right away. This is especially common when the abuser was someone in a position of trust or authority, such as a coach, trainer, or athletic staff member.
Even if the abuse happened years ago, you or your child may still have legal options. Some states have extended deadlines or special legal windows that allow survivors of childhood sexual abuse to bring claims after the standard deadline has passed.
Because these laws vary by state, speaking with an attorney can help you understand whether a claim may still be possible.
What types of compensation may be available in an athletic program sexual abuse lawsuit?
No amount of money can undo what happened, but a civil lawsuit may help survivors and families pursue accountability and support for the harm caused by abuse.
Compensation may include:
- Counseling, therapy, and mental health treatment
- Medical expenses related to the abuse
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and trauma
- Lost income or reduced earning capacity
- Loss of quality of life
- Other long-term effects of abuse
A lawsuit may also help expose failures within an athletic program and protect other athletes from being harmed in the future.
Why should I hire Morgan & Morgan for an athletic program sexual abuse case?
Sexual abuse cases involving athletic programs require compassion, privacy, and the resources to investigate organizations that may have failed to protect young athletes. Families deserve to be treated with dignity and care throughout the legal process.
Morgan & Morgan is America’s Largest Injury Law Firm, with 1,100 attorneys and over 35 years of experience handling serious injury and abuse-related claims. The firm has recovered more than $35 billion for clients and has the resources to investigate complex cases involving coaches, trainers, schools, teams, leagues, and athletic organizations.
If your child was harmed in an athletic program, Morgan & Morgan can review your case, explain your legal options, and help your family take the next step at your own pace.
Morgan & Morgan works on a contingency fee basis, meaning the Fee Is Free™—you only pay if we win your case. You can start with a free, confidential case evaluation.