Victims of violent crimes, such as assault, could claim compensation for both physical and psychological injuries. How much compensation for an assault you might be awarded in a successful claim will be determined by the nature of the harm you suffered in the incident, the long-term effects on your mental health, and whether you incurred financial losses.
Compensation for minor injuries may begin at £1,000 and be significantly lower than that awarded where victims were left with permanent disabilities or suffered long-term physical or psychological trauma. The most severe cases, where financial losses are taken into consideration, could be awarded up to £500,000.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is a government-funded agency which compensates victims of violent crimes, in line with a fixed tariff system set by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the Scheme). Claims could be made to the CICA regardless of whether the perpetrator has been identified, charged, or convicted. Successful criminal injury claims require a strong body of evidence, including police and medical reports, as well as witness statements, CCTV footage, or other corroborating records.
If you are unsure about your eligibility to claim or want to know more about how to claim compensation for a violent crime, contact our advisors.
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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.
Jump To A Section
- How Much Compensation For Assault Could You Claim Through The CICA?
- What Other Compensation Can I Claim Through The CICA
- Am I Eligible To Claim CICA Compensation For An Assault?
- What Injuries Could Be Covered In An Assault Claim?
- Do You Need To Report An Assault To The Police Before Claiming?
- What Is The Time Limit To Make An Assault Compensation Claim?
- How Can Our Panel Of Solicitors Help With An Assault Compensation Claim?
- More Information
How Much Compensation For Assault Could You Claim Through The CICA?
How much compensation for assault you could claim through the CICA is dependent on the type of mental or physical injury you suffered, its severity, and whether you also experienced any qualifying financial losses.
As noted in our introduction, compensation awarded under the CICA is made in accordance with a fixed tariff set by the Scheme. The CICA may take into consideration any physical or mental injury suffered.
Below, we have taken a selection of tariff values from the Scheme. Please note that the top figure represents the maximum amount awarded in a successful criminal injury claim.
| Injury | Notes | Tariff |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple serious injuries as well as special expenses | Severe with loss of income and special expenses for equipment purchases, care costs, and home accessibility improvements. | Up to £500,000 |
| Major paralysis - substantially complex paraplegia | Impaired motor or sensory function in the lower body. | £175,000 |
| Major paralysis - severe hemiplegia | Impaired motor or sensory function on one half of the body. | £110,000 |
| Mental injury - permanent mental injury | A seriously disabling mental injury confirmed by a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. | £27,000 |
| Hand injury - both hands | Permanent, seriously impaired grip. | £16,500 |
| Eye injury - permanent double or blurred vision | This eye harm will be serious in nature. | £13,500 |
| Face injury | Multiple fractures, such as types 2 & 3 Le Fort fractures. | £11,000 |
| Elbow injury - dislocation or fracture | Affecting both elbows and with continuing, significant disability. | £11,000 |
| Arm injury - radius | Both forearms are fractured, with continuing and significant disability. | £11,000 |
| Torso injury - burns | Severe burns. | £11,000 |
Our compensation table can only give you an indication of how different injuries may be valued. A member of our team could take the details of your case and provide you with a detailed and individual assessment of how much compensation for assault you could claim.
What Other Compensation Can I Claim Through The CICA
Compensation, such as for physical injuries, mental injuries, disabling mental injuries, and sexual assault, awarded through the CICA is determined by the aforementioned fixed tariff system. Additionally, the CICA can award compensation for up to 3 types of harm. Compensation for these is awarded in line with the multiple-injuries formula, as follows:
- 100% of the highest-valued injury.
- 30% of the second-highest valued injury.
- 15% of the third-highest valued injury.
The CICA may also take into account whether your assault was a single incident or part of a pattern of abuse (as in domestic abuse claims).
Separate from compensation accounted for under the multiple injuries formula, you could be compensated for sexually-transmitted infections, pregnancy, and foetal loss. In addition to these, bereavement payments could be made in fatal cases.
Other Forms Of Compensation
The CICA can also award compensation for special expenses if you sustained financial losses as a direct result of being assaulted. These losses vary depending on the nature of the violent crime and its impact, but can include the following:
- Equipment costs, including mobility aids.
- Medical treatment costs, where care could not be obtained via the NHS.
- Damage to physical aids that were relied upon.
- Home or vehicle adaptations, if modifications were necessary.
You will need to show that these expenses, besides being necessary and reasonable, were not freely available from another source. In addition to your losses, you may be compensated for loss of earnings if you satisfy the CICA’s requirements for including them in a claim.
Please contact our advisors if you have any questions about how compensation for assault is calculated. They are here to provide you with a confidential, supportive space to discuss your case and explore your options for claiming.
Am I Eligible To Claim CICA Compensation For An Assault?
You could be eligible to claim CICA compensation for an assault for physical and/or mental injuries caused by a violent crime. You must satisfy certain eligibility criteria in order to bring a claim through the CICA. These criteria include:
- You were the victim of a violent crime as set out in Annex B of the Scheme. This must have caused you injury affecting your physical or mental faculties.
- The violent crime occurred in Great Britain or in another relevant place, including aeroplanes or boats registered in the country.
- You reported the assault to the police.
- You are filing your claim with the CICA within 2 years of the date of the incident (exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis).
Can You Claim Compensation If The Attacker Was Not Caught?
You can claim compensation through the CICA, no matter whether your attacker has been caught. Even if the perpetrator is apprehended, you can still pursue compensation through the CICA without them being charged or prosecuted. However, you will still need to have reported the assault to the police, as applicants must have a crime reference number in order to make a claim.
Can You Only Claim Through The CICA For Assault Compensation?
No, the CICA is not the only route through which you could claim compensation for an assault. Whilst criminal injury claims are made through the CICA, a civil claim can be pursued if the perpetrator is known and/or where a third party holds vicarious liability. This can be broken down as follows:
- Claims may be made directly against the perpetrator if the individual has sufficient funds or assets to compensate the victim.
- Claims may be made against vicariously liable third parties, such as an employer who failed to act on previous complaints about abusive behaviour or threats of violence.
If you have been the victim of an assault, How Much Compensation’s advisory team is here to provide guidance on claiming. They provide a safe, confidential space for you to share your situation, and can assess whether you may be able to claim with the support of a solicitor from our panel.
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.
What Injuries Could Be Covered In An Assault Claim?
An assault claim can cover a wide range of physical and mental injuries arising from a violent crime, ranging from fractures and dislocations to life-changing brain damage and paralysis. We outline examples below:
- Grievous bodily harm (GBH), including bone fractures, such as a broken cheekbone.
- Actual bodily harm (ABH), such as lacerations, broken teeth, and minor fractures.
- Wounding with deep lacerations which require stitches.
- Severe internal injuries, such as organ damage from a stabbing.
- Injuries related to sexual abuse and/or sexual assault.
This is a non-exhaustive list of injuries which could be covered by an assault claim.
Can You Claim For Psychological Injuries After An Assault?
Yes, you could also claim for psychological injuries, such as psychological damage or depression, after an assault.
Psychological injuries could include:
- Psychological damage: including victims developing short, medium, or long-term mental health conditions.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder: covering short, medium, and long-term PTSD at various levels of severity.
- Emotional trauma: such as depression and anxiety.
Our advisory team can provide a tailored assessment of the factors that may influence how much compensation for assault can be awarded to successful claimants. Get in touch today for further information.
Do You Need To Report An Assault To The Police Before Claiming?
Yes, you need to report an assault to the police before claiming through the CICA, and this must be done as soon as is reasonably practicable. CICA guidance states that you must provide an explanation to the CICA if there is any delay in reporting the incident.
The CICA may take your well-being at the time of an incident, as well as your age and capacity, into consideration. They may also consider the impact the incident had on you.
It is essential that you report the incident to the police at the earliest possible opportunity and fully cooperate with them. If you are unsure about CICA requirements for claiming, please get in touch with our advisors today for free and confidential assistance.
What Is The Time Limit To Make An Assault Compensation Claim?
The time limit to start an assault compensation claim through the CICA is generally 2 years from the date of the violent crime. However, this window applies differently if the victim was under 18 at the time of the incident. In this case, the 2-year time limit may begin on:
- Your 18th birthday if the assault was reported to the police before you turned 18.
- The date of the first police report, if this is made on or after you turned 18. Please note that you would need to demonstrate exceptional circumstances showing why a claim could not be made within the 2-year window.
Considering A No Win No Fee Claim
You could make a claim through the CICA on a No Win No Fee basis, using a Conditional Fee Agreement. One of our panel of solicitors could assist you without asking you to pay for the solicitor’s work before, during your claim, or if it is unsuccessful.
If you do win your claim, your solicitor will deduct a success fee. This fee is charged as a percentage of your compensation. This percentage is set out in your agreement and agreed upon in advance.
Our advisors are on hand to provide confidential guidance about making a criminal injury and assault compensation claim, so please reach out today.
How Can Our Panel Of Solicitors Help With An Assault Compensation Claim?
Our panel of criminal injury solicitors can help with your assault compensation claim by providing bespoke, expert representation that works to secure the best outcome for your case while prioritising your welfare. At How Much Compensation, our panel recognise that the impact of an assault often persists long after the initial incident. They tailor their services to reflect this and to aid the long-term rehabilitation of every client.
By choosing a solicitor from our panel to navigate the CICA claims process, you will benefit from help with:
- Handling the intricacies of making a CICA claim by assisting you with submitting documents and filing your application correctly.
- Liaising with the CICA and ensuring all requirements for claiming are met.
- Accurately assessing how you have been impacted by the assault to ensure your CICA claim reflects the full scope of your injuries and losses.
- Providing sensitive, trauma-informed guidance about the legal process that emphasises your welfare throughout.
- Connecting to rehabilitation and victim support services to support your wellbeing, health, and recovery.
Get In Touch With How Much Compensation
Get in touch with How Much Compensation’s 24/7 team of advisors by using the information below:
- Click our live pop-up to instantly talk to an advisor.
- Phone 0800 408 7826.
- Use our form to contact us.
More Information
Please find more information in these resources:
- See our guide on claiming compensation for rape.
- Learn about domestic abuse claims.
- Explore the steps involved in pursuing GBH compensation.
References:
- Government victim support information.
- Guidance for victims from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
- NHS information about giving first aid.
Please contact us for further information on how much compensation for assault you might be awarded in a successful criminal injury claim.
