One of the most disheartening things that can happen to someone who has been the target of sexual or physical abuse is to learn that the police won’t be bringing charges against their abuser. If that’s happened to you, you might feel as though you’ve been abandoned and that there is nothing that can be done to hold your abuser accountable for their actions against you.

That’s not always the case. In many cases, it may be possible to bring civil charges against your abuser even if the police have dropped their case against the person. Here’s why.

Different Standards of Proof

When prosecutors bring criminal charges against a defendant, they know that they must prove their case “beyond a reasonable doubt.” That’s a phrase most of us are familiar with from crime shows and movies. Beyond a reasonable doubt is a high burden, and as Marlo Greer points out in her TikTok on this matter, as a practical matter, many criminal juries seem to expect the person who claims they were abused to have NO doubt about what happened to them.

This means that if there are any issues with the evidence against your abuser, the police and prosecutors may be reluctant to pursue criminal charges.

The burden of proof in a civil case – one where the abuser is being sued for damages – is significantly lower. The plaintiff need only prove their case “by a preponderance of the evidence.” Another way of looking at that is that the jury need only be convinced that it was more likely than not that the abuse happened.

Because of the lower burden of proof, civil claims against abusers are easier to prove than criminal claims.

The Greer Law Group Can Help You Pursue Claims Against Your Abuser

If you are considering bringing a claim against someone who has sexually or physically abused you, it’s important to work with an experienced attorney who understands these kinds of cases and believes that people who have been abused should be able to recover for the harm they’ve suffered. At the Greer Law Group, we regularly file and pursue lawsuits against abusers on behalf of clients who have been abused. We know the laws, the rules, and the procedures that apply in these kinds of cases and how important it is to help our clients achieve some form of justice. We also know that someone who has been abused deserves to recover damages that can be used to help them recover from that abuse.

If you would like to discuss what is involved in bringing a civil case against someone who has abused you, call the Greer Law Group today at 720-637-2467 or use our contact form to schedule a free, in-depth, no-obligation case evaluation. Don’t give up simply because the police may have done so!