If you are wondering how much compensation for a criminal injury could be awarded, the amount will depend on the harm you suffered and how seriously it has affected you. How Much Compensation can help you understand how criminal injury claims work and what compensation you could potentially receive following a violent crime.
Being injured because of someone else’s deliberate actions can have consequences that extend far beyond the initial incident. You may be dealing with physical injuries, psychological trauma, or changes to your everyday life. Seeking compensation cannot undo what happened, but it may provide valuable financial support as you move forward. One potential route is an application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). The CICA administers the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012, which can compensate eligible victims of violent crime in Great Britain.
If you have been affected by a violent crime and are unsure whether you could seek compensation, contact our advisors today. They can listen to what happened, answer your questions and explain the options that may be available to you.
We are here to help you
Here at HowMuchCompensation.co.uk our expert advisors are on hand 24 hours a day 7 days a week to assess your compensation claim. Should you require free advice we can connect you to a specialist solicitor.
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- How Much Compensation For A Criminal Injury?
- How Does CICA Compensation Compare With A Civil Settlement?
- How Much Criminal Injury Compensation Could The CICA Award?
- How Is Compensation Calculated For Multiple Injuries Under The CICA?
- What Could A Civil Criminal Injury Compensation Payout Include?
- How Is Civil Compensation For A Criminal Injury Valued?
- What Financial Losses Could Be Included In Criminal Injury Compensation?
- What Injuries Could Receive The Highest Compensation Awards?
- Can Compensation Include Psychological Injuries After A Crime?
- Who Could Be Eligible For Criminal Injury Compensation?
- What Is Needed To Claim Compensation For Criminal Injuries?
- How Could Our Team Help You Seek Compensation?
- More Information
How Much Compensation For A Criminal Injury?
How much compensation for a criminal injury you could receive depends on whether you make a civil claim or apply through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). The amount available can differ substantially between these routes because they use different methods to assess compensation, as explained in the sections below.
If you would like to understand which compensation route could apply to your circumstances, contact our advisors for a no-pressure conversation about your options.
How Does CICA Compensation Compare With A Civil Settlement?
CICA compensation differs from a civil settlement because the former is determined by fixed tariff amounts and specific rules, while awards in civil cases are assessed individually based on the injuries and recoverable financial losses. Those differences are outlined below:
| CICA Compensation | Civil Compensation |
|---|---|
| Uses the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme tariff | Individually valued |
| Qualifying injuries have fixed tariff amounts | Injury value depends on individual circumstances |
| Specific rules apply where there are multiple injuries | All injuries caused by the incident can be considered when valuing the claim |
| Financial losses are subject to Scheme rules | Eligible past and future financial losses can be considered |
| Overall Scheme limits apply | Compensation depends on the harm and losses suffered |
The practical difference is that the CICA matches qualifying injuries to prescribed tariff amounts and applies additional rules to matters such as multiple injuries and financial losses. A civil claim is not restricted by that tariff, allowing the individual consequences of the injuries and recoverable losses to influence the final settlement.
You can learn more about what these different valuation methods could mean for your circumstances by speaking with a member of our advisory team.
We are here to help you
Here at HowMuchCompensation.co.uk our expert advisors are on hand 24 hours a day 7 days a week to assess your compensation claim. Should you require free advice we can connect you to a specialist solicitor.
How Much Criminal Injury Compensation Could The CICA Award?
The amount of criminal injury compensation the CICA could award depends on the type and severity of the harm you suffered. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme contains a tariff of injuries, which sets fixed compensation amounts for qualifying injuries.
The table below provides examples of tariff awards, with the top entry being the maximum amount available in CICA claims.
| Criminal Injury | Notes | CICA Tariff Award |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Criminal Injuries With Qualifying Financial Losses | Compensation for suffering multiple severe injuries as well as for loss of earnings and special expenses, such as replacement of physical aids and personal care costs. | Up to £500,000 |
| Brain Damage | Very serious brain injury with no useful physical movement and the need for full-time nursing care. | £250,000 |
| Leg Injury | Loss of one leg below the knee. | £33,000 |
| Mental Injury | Disabling mental injury lasting 5+ years but not permanent. | £13,500 |
| Facial scarring | Resulting in a serious disfigurement. | £11,000 |
| Hand Injury | Both hands have been fractured and result in a continuing significant disability. | £6,200 |
| Sexual Assault | Resulting in a permanently disabling severe mental illness. | £27,000 |
| Sexual Assault | Pattern of incidents up to 3 years. | £6,600 |
| Non-Consensual Penile Penetration | By one attacker. | £11,000 |
What Is The Maximum CICA Compensation Payout?
The maximum CICA compensation payout is £500,000. Within that total, a single injury can attract a tariff payment of up to £250,000. Loss of earnings or special expenses may also be added where the relevant conditions are met, although the combined award cannot exceed the £500,000 cap. This applies to all CICA applications, including cases involving severe or life-changing harm.
If you are wondering how much compensation for a criminal injury could reflect the serious impact it has had on your life, contact our advisors today for a free consultation.
How Is Compensation Calculated For Multiple Injuries Under The CICA?
Compensation for multiple injuries under the CICA is calculated using a specific formula rather than by adding together the full tariff value of every qualifying injury. Under a multiple injuries formula, the CICA can award:
- 100% of the tariff amount for the injury with the highest value
- 30% of the tariff amount for the injury with the second-highest value
- 15% of the tariff amount for the injury with the third-highest value
While this formula is limited to 3 qualifying injuries, certain payments sit outside this calculation. These cover pregnancies directly resulting from the crime, together with foetal loss and sexually transmitted infections.
If you have suffered several injuries in the same violent crime, please reach out today to discuss how the formula could apply and what it may mean for your potential compensation.
What Could A Civil Criminal Injury Compensation Payout Include?
A civil criminal injury compensation payout could include an award for the physical and psychological harm you suffered, as well as financial losses caused by your injuries. These different parts of a civil claim are assessed under general and special damages, which together help determine how much compensation for a criminal injury could be awarded.
- General damages: Compensate you for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by your injuries. Loss of amenity refers to how your injuries have affected your ability to enjoy your usual activities and quality of life.
- Special damages: Cover financial losses arising from your injuries, including costs that have already arisen and, where appropriate, those expected in the future. You will need evidence to show they resulted from the criminal injury and to establish their value.
When valuing general damages, legal professionals may consider medical evidence alongside the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG provides guideline compensation brackets for different types and severities of injury, and the table below lists a selection of them. These figures are guidelines rather than guaranteed awards, and the top entry is not sourced from the JCG.
| Injury | Severity | Guideline Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple severe injuries with financial losses | Compensation for suffering multiple severe injuries with financial losses for lost earnings, care costs and rehabilitation fees. | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Brain damage | Very severe - will need continuous nursing support and show very little meaningful response to their environment. | £372,570 to £533,720 |
| Brain damage | Moderately severe - substantially dependent on others due to being seriously disabled. | £289,420 to £372,570 |
| Leg injury | Severe (i) The most serious injuries short of amputation - such as the serious degloving of one leg. | £127,160 to £179,560 |
| Arm injury | Severe - injuries will leave claimant little better than had an upper limb been amputated. | £127,050 to £172,970 |
| Psychiatric damage generally | Severe - a very poor prognosis with marked problems coping with life, education and work. | £72,440 to £152,900 |
| Post-traumatic stress disorder | Severe - permanent effects will prevent the person from functioning as they did prior to the trauma. | £79,080 to £133,000 |
| Facial scarring | Very severe - in claimants between their teens to early 30s with cosmetic impact being very disfiguring. | £39,340 to £128,590 |
Are you trying to work out what could be included in a civil claim after a violent crime? Get in touch for guidance on how your injuries and resulting losses may be considered when compensation is valued.
How Is Civil Compensation For A Criminal Injury Valued?
Civil compensation for a criminal injury is valued according to the individual impact the injuries have had on you. Two people can suffer similar injuries but experience very different consequences, so the assessment can take account of:
- The severity of the harm caused by the attack and whether you have been left with lasting physical effects.
- How your recovery has developed, particularly if trauma-focused therapy or other ongoing treatment has been needed following a violent assault.
- The psychological consequences of the crime, including conditions such as PTSD.
- Whether your injuries have reduced your independence and left you needing assistance with personal care.
For a clearer picture of how the lasting effects of your criminal injury could be factored into the value of a civil settlement, please get in touch today.
What Financial Losses Could Be Included In Criminal Injury Compensation?
Financial losses that could be included in criminal injury compensation may include lost earnings and certain expenses arising from your injuries. However, whether a particular loss can be compensated depends on whether you make a civil claim or apply through the CICA, as each route applies different rules.
Financial Losses In A Civil Criminal Injury Claim
In a civil claim, financial losses are assessed according to the actual costs and income loss caused by your injuries. As discussed above, these losses form part of special damages and can include future expenses. Each loss must be supported by appropriate evidence and can include:
Lost earnings if your injuries have kept you off work or made it harder to return to the same role, such as a job that involves public-facing duties or returning to the place where the violent crime happened. Future earnings can also be considered if your hours are reduced or you cannot resume your previous occupation.
Counselling or therapy costs if you require treatment to manage post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other psychological consequences of the crime.
Home care and support if you are unable to manage safely on your own, leading to paid care or regular assistance from relatives while you recover from serious physical injuries or trauma-related symptoms.
Security-related costs where, because of the circumstances of the incident, reasonable measures are needed to protect you from a continuing risk posed by the perpetrator.
Loss Of Earnings And Special Expenses Through The CICA
The CICA does not compensate financial losses the same way a civil claim does. Instead, the Scheme provides specific payments for loss of earnings and certain special expenses when its eligibility conditions are met.
Special expenses can include costs such as necessary home adaptations or care with bodily functions and meal preparation. These need to fall within a category covered by the Scheme, not simply be a cost you incurred because of the crime. They must also be reasonable and necessary, and not freely available from another source.
If the financial impact of your criminal injury does not appear to fit neatly within the CICA rules, please contact our advisory team for further guidance.
What Injuries Could Receive The Highest Compensation Awards?
The injuries that could receive the highest compensation awards are generally those that leave someone with profound and permanent disability. Under the CICA tariff, this includes the most serious forms of brain injury and paralysis.
At the top of the CICA injury tariff, £250,000 can be awarded for a very serious brain injury involving no useful physical movement and a need for full-time nursing care. The same tariff level can apply to substantially complete tetraplegia, reflecting the severe loss of function associated with injury to both the upper and lower limbs.
Serious injuries can also lead to substantial compensation through a civil claim because their long-term consequences are assessed individually. A severe brain injury, for instance, may leave someone dependent on others for everyday care, while an amputation can create an ongoing need for rehabilitation and prosthetic support.
Has a violent crime left you facing permanent changes to your health or independence? You can discuss your situation confidentially with our advisors, who can explain how those long-term consequences could be reflected in a claim.
Can Compensation Include Psychological Injuries After A Crime?
Yes, compensation can include recognised psychological injuries caused by a violent crime. This can include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or another mental injury that is supported by appropriate medical evidence.
Under the CICA tariff, a mental injury must be disabling, meaning it has a substantial adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. A psychiatrist or clinical psychologist must also confirm it through a diagnosis or prognosis. Longer-lasting and permanent conditions attract higher tariff payments.
Psychiatric harm can also be compensated through a civil claim, but it is not valued using a fixed tariff. Instead, the valuation can reflect the severity and likely duration of your symptoms, together with how they have changed everyday life. PTSD after a violent assault, for instance, may involve flashbacks or avoidance behaviours, all of which can affect work and ordinary routines long after physical injuries have healed.
If you are living with the psychological impact of a crime, our advisors are available to listen and clarify how it could be recognised as part of a compensation claim.
Who Could Be Eligible For Criminal Injury Compensation?
You could be eligible for criminal injury compensation if you have suffered qualifying harm because of a violent crime and meet the requirements of the compensation route you use. Eligibility is assessed differently to civil claims, as outlined below:
Eligibility For A CICA Award
To make a CICA claim, you need to have suffered physical or recognised psychological injuries as the direct result of a crime of violence. The incident must also have been reported to the police and taken place in Great Britain or another location covered by the CICA. You must apply within the relevant time limit, although exceptions can apply in some cases.
You must also cooperate, as far as reasonably practicable, with efforts to bring the offender to justice and provide reasonable assistance with your CICA application. However, the offender does not need to have been identified, prosecuted or convicted for compensation to be awarded. Your conduct around the incident and any unspent criminal convictions can also affect whether the CICA makes an award or how much you receive.
Eligibility For Civil Compensation
You could potentially make a civil claim if someone can be held legally responsible for the harm you suffered and their actions caused your injury. This will often be the person who committed the violent act, although in some cases an organisation may also bear legal responsibility.
To pursue that claim, the defendant would need to be identified. There would also need to be a realistic prospect of recovering compensation from them, which can depend on whether they have sufficient assets or another means of satisfying an award.
Unsure how much compensation for a criminal injury you could receive or which route may apply? Contact our advisors to discuss what happened and find out whether you have grounds to seek compensation.
What Is Needed To Claim Compensation For Criminal Injuries?
What is needed to claim compensation for criminal injuries depends on whether you apply through the CICA or pursue a civil claim. Each route needs enough information to establish the basis of your claim, although the evidence used and what it needs to prove are different.
For a CICA application, you will need to identify the police force that dealt with the incident and provide your crime reference number. You will also be asked when and where the crime took place, and the CICA may request further documentation when considering your application.
A civil claim requires evidence showing who was legally responsible for your injuries and the harm their actions caused. This could include your medical records, together with CCTV footage or incident documentation showing how the crime occurred and who was involved.
What Evidence Could Affect Your Compensation Award?
Evidence that could affect your compensation award can include medical records and proof of financial losses. For a CICA application, medical evidence may establish whether your injury is covered by the tariff. A disabling mental injury, for example, may require medical evidence from a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist, while a claim for loss of earnings or special expenses will need financial records showing that the relevant requirements are met.
Civil claims also rely on medical evidence, although it plays a different role when compensation is being valued. Rather than supporting a prescribed CICA tariff entry, medical records can detail the seriousness of your injuries and how your recovery is expected to develop over time. Financial documents can also be important, with wage records showing lost income and invoices detailing costs caused by the injuries.
How Long Do I Have To Seek Criminal Injury Compensation?
How long you have to seek criminal injury compensation depends on the route you take. A CICA application should be made within 2 years of the incident. The CICA can extend this period where exceptional circumstances meant you could not apply earlier and the supporting evidence allows the application to be determined without further extensive enquiries. Different CICA rules apply where you were under 18 when the incident occurred.
For civil personal injury claims in England and Wales, the usual limitation period is 3 years from the date the cause of action accrued, per the Limitation Act 1980. Exceptions can apply. For example, the limitation period generally does not begin while an injured person is a child. Different rules also apply where a person lacks the required mental capacity.
Can I Seek Criminal Injury Compensation On A No Win No Fee Basis?
Yes, you can seek criminal injury compensation on a No Win No Fee basis if a solicitor from our panel agrees to represent you under a Conditional Fee Agreement. Our panel of solicitors offer this arrangement for eligible criminal injury claims.
Under a Conditional Fee Agreement, you are not charged any solicitor service fees upfront or while your claim is ongoing. These service fees are also not payable if the claim is unsuccessful. If compensation is awarded, a success fee will be deducted from your compensation as a legally limited percentage.
Speak to our advisors to find out whether a solicitor from our panel could handle your criminal injury claim on a No Win No Fee basis.
How Could Our Team Help You Seek Compensation?
Our team could help you understand your options for seeking criminal injury compensation before connecting you with a solicitor from our panel where appropriate. Rather than leaving you to work out how much compensation for a criminal injury could be available or how to pursue it, a panel solicitor could take responsibility for developing and progressing your case.
Depending on the route being pursued, they could:
- Build a detailed picture of the crime’s impact by discussing changes to your health, relationships and independence that may not be immediately apparent from medical records alone.
- Identify gaps that could weaken your case, such as missing medical documentation, incomplete financial records or evidence needed to demonstrate the long-term consequences of serious physical or psychological injuries.
- Present the strongest available case for the appropriate award by matching evidence to the relevant CICA provisions or demonstrating the individual impact of your injuries when pursuing civil compensation.
- Address challenges to your case, including responding to CICA queries or, in a civil claim, disputes about responsibility and the amount of compensation offered.
- Review the outcome before you accept it by considering whether a CICA decision should be reviewed or whether a proposed civil settlement adequately reflects the evidence and future consequences of your injuries.
This means you can have professional support not only when starting a claim, but also when important decisions arise about evidence, compensation and whether an outcome properly reflects what you have experienced.
Get In Touch With Our Team
Contact our advisors to tell them what happened and how the criminal injury continues to affect you. They can answer your initial questions and, where your case is suitable, connect you with a solicitor from our panel who can explain how they could take it forward.
There is no obligation to proceed simply because you have a consultation.
- Call us on 0800 408 7826
- Contact us online
- Use our live chat
More Information
Read more of our guides:
- See how much you could claim for a crush injury.
- How much compensation for nerve damage?
- See if you could claim compensation for losing a leg.
Resources:
- Learn more about CICA criminal injury claims in this GOV.UK overview.
- Information on getting support as a victim of crime via GOV.UK.
- Learn when to call 999 via the NHS.
Thank you for reading our comprehensive overview of how much compensation for a criminal injury could be claimed in a successful claim.
