According to a Toronto sexual assault lawyer, rape and sexual assault come with a lot of physical and psychological trauma, leading to depression. Rape victims who don’t get physically injured fear to report the cases fearing that the family, friends, or police will not believe. Although they might seem okay, these psychologically traumatized people need help.

You can report a rape case anytime, regardless of the number of hours or years passed. This is because you need both mental and physical support. An experienced sexual assault lawyer can help you go through the justice process. If you were sexually assaulted recently, these tips will help you to deal with the situation at the moment.

1. Immediate Steps To Take After Sexual Assault

Toronto sexual assault lawyer advises you to take the following steps if you are sexually assaulted:

1. Move from the scene to a safe place like the hospital, a police station, or the nearest home.
2. Report the case to the police station or call 911 and ask for a criminal investigation. The police will look for the perpetrator and assault him.
3. You will also file a civil protection order and get temporary protection to ensure the offender does not come near you.
4. Go to the hospital and report the case. Get immediate medical care where the doctor checks for injuries and gives you pills to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The doctors will also collect the evidence.
5. Do not shower, comb your hair or change your clothes before going to the hospital after the rape happens. The hospital uses this to collect evidence.

1. What If You Were Sexually Assaulted In The Past

You can still report a sexual assault that happened in the past, and the offender will be held liable. However, according to Toronto sexual assault lawyer, the investigation for delayed sexual assault offense can have legal challenges, unlike one that is reported immediately after the rape happens.

The period in which prosecution against the prosecutor can be taken is called a statute of limitation, and different states have different periods in which their statute of limitation lasts. However, if the assault happened a long time ago when you were too young, the offender can still be prosecuted.

You can also get help with the trauma from a psychologist. This is important because sexual assaults affect the victims greatly, leading to a change in their lives. It can also influence their future intimate relationships and change how they view themselves.

Some of the things the victim will struggle with are nightmares and flashbacks. Some sounds and smells might also remind them of the incident, and this triggers fear. Psychologists are professionally qualified to help you overcome those.

It also doesn’t matter if you were abused by someone you knew or a stranger. If the offender is a close family member and happened some years ago, it might not be easy to deal with the case now. If you have fears and need help, you can always ask for the support you need.