Anyone who has experienced assault knows the physical and psychological effects can be devastating and long-lasting. If you are considering making a claim in the wake of an attack, you may have wondered how much compensation for assault someone can claim. Whilst compensation isn’t intended to erase the impact of your assault, it can support your recovery and get you the justice you deserve.
In this guide, we’ll touch on how the government-funded agency, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), calculates compensation and the different forms of compensation you could receive from them. We’ll then explain who the CICA is and how they determine a claim’s eligibility. Additionally, we’ll walk you through filing a claim and consider how a solicitor from our panel could help you get compensation.
To discuss starting an assault compensation claim, please use the following details to connect with an advisor:
- Ring us on 0800 408 7826
- Fill out our ‘Contact Us’ form.
- Use our live chat feature.
Jump To A Section
- How Much Compensation For Assault Can You Claim
- What Is The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA)?
- Am I Eligible To Claim Compensation For An Assault?
- How To File A Criminal Injury Compensation Claim
- How Our Panel Of Solicitors Can Help You Get Compensation
- More Information
How Much Compensation For Assault Can You Claim
How much compensation you could receive for assault through the CICA will depend on the factors of your claim. In general, CICA compensation for criminal injuries can be up to £250,000. However, reimbursement for certain financial losses can increase that amount up to £500,000. This, however, is the maximum amount the CICA will pay for any type of claim.
Factors That Affect Assault Compensation Amounts
Factors that could affect assault compensation amounts include:
- The type of injury suffered.
- The severity of the injury.
- Whether multiple injuries were suffered.
To calculate compensation, the CICA uses a tariff of injuries defined by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012.
Regardless of the claim, the CICA limits compensation to a maximum of three injuries. In cases where someone does suffer more than one injury, your compensation will be affected by a multiple injuries formula that would mean:
- You receive the full amount for the highest-valued injury
- The second highest-valued injury is awarded at 30% of the tariff amount
- The third and final injury is awarded at 15% of its value
In addition to its multiple injuries formula, the CICA may offer payments if an assault directly results in a sexually transmitted infection, pregnancy, or the loss of a fetus.
To give you an idea of what CICA payouts could look like, we have included a table using some of the injuries outlined by the Scheme. Please note that the top figure is not from the Scheme and that all amounts are fixed, meaning you will receive the exact amount listed for your injury if your claim is a success.
| Type of Criminal Injury | Compensation Tariff | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Forms of Serious Criminal Injury And Special Expenses | Up to £500,000 | Multiple criminal injuries and related special expenses. |
| Major Paralysis | £250,000 | Substantially complete quadriplegia/tetraplegia. |
| Arm | £44,000 | Paralysis of or comparable loss of function in dominant arm. |
| Hand | £33,000 | Loss of or comparable loss of function of non-dominant hand. |
| Eye | £22,000 | Loss of sight in one eye. |
| Eye | £13,500 | Serious cases of permanent blurred or double vision. |
| Ear | £16,500 | Permanent total deafness in one ear. |
| Ear | £16,500 | Very severe, permanent tinnitus. |
| Face | £11,000 | Multiple fractures. |
| Humerus | £11,000 | Fractures in both arms resulting in continuing significant disability. |
Other Forms Of Compensation
CICA claims also take into account some financial losses directly resulting from the injuries you suffered in an assault. This type of reimbursement is called special expenses and can be for:
- The cost of care, such as meal preparations or regarding your bodily functions
- Specialist equipment needed to accommodate your injuries
- Home modifications to support your independence
- Damage to property or equipment sustained in your assault, which you relied on as a physical aid (such as glasses)
When assessing these and any other losses, the CICA will consider whether your expenses were necessary, reasonable, or had a free alternative.
In addition to these special expenses, you could make a claim for loss of earnings if you meet the CICA’s eligibility threshold.
Would you like to know more about how the CICA calculates how much compensation for assault someone can claim? Speak with one of our friendly advisors today.
What Is The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA)?
Set up as a government-sponsored executive agency, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) awards compensation to individuals who have suffered injuries due to violent crimes.
Generally, the CICA is meant to be an option of last resort if compensation cannot be obtained using other methods, such as directly claiming against an assailant or a vicariously liable third party like an employer.
Nevertheless, the agency does have a significant caseload. For 2023-24 alone, the CICA received 41,428 new applications, assessed 37,119 claims, and awarded a total of £165 million.
Talk to an advisor today if you have questions about CICA assault claims.
Am I Eligible To Claim Compensation For An Assault?
No matter what type of assault you suffered, the CICA requires applicants to meet certain criteria to be eligible for compensation. In particular, you’ll need to show:
- Your injuries were the direct result of a crime of violence (as defined by the CICA under the Scheme. This includes assault.)
- You reported the assault to the police
- You are making a claim within two years of the assault happening (unless there were exceptional circumstances for not doing so, which we’ll explain later on)
- The assault happened in Great Britain or another place where the law might apply (like a British vessel)
Please be aware that a “crime of violence” can also encompass the threat of violence, which can occur in many assaults. Therefore, you may still be eligible to claim compensation if you experienced mental health problems as a direct result of someone making violent threats.
Can I Claim If The Assailant Is Unknown Or Unconvicted?
When seeking compensation through the CICA, you can usually start a claim even if the police do not identify or convict an attacker. The CICA bases its decisions on the “balance of probability” that you likely suffered criminal injuries due to an assault.
When assessing assault claims, the CICA will make a decision using evidence like police reports, medical records documenting physical or psychological damage, and your account of what happened.
If you are unsure about your eligibility, speak to one of our advisors for free advice.
How To File A Criminal Injury Compensation Claim
When filing a claim through the CICA, you will need to provide them with the following:
- The name of the police force you reported the crime to.
- The location and date of the crime
- Your GP’s address and name
- Your dentist’s address and name (if you required dental work due to your injuries)
- Details of any unspent criminal convictions
- Details of any previous applications made through the CICA
What Evidence Will I Need?
As part of the assault claim process, you’ll need to provide the CICA with specific evidence. These are:
- A valid police reference number
- Proof that you met the CICA’s residency requirements at the time of the assault
- Proof of financial losses, including bank statements and receipts
- Medical reports from a doctor or psychiatrist documenting your criminal injuries
The CICA will be able to liaise with the police for any additional information they may need. A solicitor from our panel can help with collecting any information needed to support your criminal injury claim.
How Long Do I Have To Claim?
Anyone seeking compensation through the CICA usually has two years to start a claim, dating from the time of the assault. Nevertheless, the CICA can consider claims made outside of this window on a case-by-case basis if there are exceptional circumstances. Moreover, whilst beginning a claim at the earliest opportunity is often beneficial, the CICA also offers exceptions for minors.
When that exception applies, minors who made a police report at the time of their assault will have two years from their 18th birthday to start a claim. If a report wasn’t made, a minor will have two years from the date they informed the police and will need to explain why they couldn’t do so at an earlier point.
Considering A No Win No Fee Claim
If you are thinking about starting an assault claim, you may have concerns about the expense of hiring a solicitor. Our panel of No Win No Fee solicitors aim to alleviate those worries by offering their services using a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). The terms of a CFA mean:
- No upfront fee for the solicitor’s services
- No additional fees incurred for your solicitor’s work
- No solicitor’s fee to pay for an unsuccessful claim
In the event you do win, you will pay your solicitor a success fee deducted from your compensation. As this small fee is legally capped, you’ll get to keep the majority of your award.
For further information about how much compensation for assault a solicitor from our panel could help you claim, contact our advisors.
How Our Panel Of Solicitors Can Help You Get Compensation
Our panel of solicitors have years of experience navigating the complexities of criminal injury claims. You can expect nothing less than tireless dedication as they work on your behalf by:
- Filing documents and handling correspondence
- Helping to collect evidence for your CICA claim
- Giving expert advice, regular updates, and support throughout the CICA claims process
- Ensuring complete transparency and confidentiality
If you would like more information about how an expert solicitor from our panel could help you claim compensation for assault, please get in touch with us by using the details below:
- Ring us on 0800 408 7826
- Fill out our ‘Contact Us’ form.
- Use our live chat feature.
More Information
Please also consider reading our guides about:
- Claiming personal injury compensation for a fractured jaw.
- Starting a head injury claim.
- Making a personal injury claim for a hand injury.
We’ve also gathered some helpful external resources:
- Government guidance on support after a violent crime.
- Crime Survey for England and Wales statistics for the year ending March 2024.
- Crown Prosecution Service advice about reporting a crime.
Thank you for reading our guide exploring what factors influence how much compensation for assault gets awarded. Contact us for a free assessment and start your claim today.