Assault Compensation Claims – Check Your Eligibility

By Jo Anderson. Last Updated 20th November 2023. This is a guide to claiming compensation for assault. Below, we’ll review the eligibility criteria for making a claim for assault compensation and provide you with examples of potential payouts in compensation for being attacked. If you have questions about making an assault claim, this page could help you.

We also explain No Win No Fee agreements and offer guidance and support on making an assault claim, such as what compensation for being attacked can include beyond money for your pain and suffering.

If you would like to make a claim for assault compensation, then you can reach out to us today.

We offer free case checks to everyone who calls without placing any obligation on you to proceed.

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A guide to making an assault compensation claim

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What Is The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority And The Criteria To Make An Assault Claim?

If you have been assaulted, you could make your claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). They are a government-funded agency that awards compensation to those who have been criminally injured. To be eligible to make an assault claim through the CICA, you must meet certain eligibility criteria. These are:

  • You need to have reported the incident to the police. If it wasn’t reported to them, you can’t make a criminal injury claim.
  • Your claim must be started within the relevant time limits (which we will discuss later).
  • You must have been injured in a crime of violence. Some examples that the CICA’s Scheme define as a crime of violence include sexual assault, a threat of an attack or an attack.
  • The incident must have occurred in England, Wales, Scotland or another relevant place. For example, this could be a ship registered to one of these countries.

To check your eligibility to claim compensation for an assault, you can contact our advisors at any time.

How Long Do I Have To Make An Assault Claim?

If you are a victim of crime, compensation in the UK must be sought within the limitation period. When you are claiming through the CICA, you typically have two years from the date the incident was reported to the police to begin the process. However, if you can prove that exceptional circumstances prevented you from starting a claim within the two-year window, you might still be eligible to seek compensation.

Different time limits apply to children when seeking assault compensation payouts. If a child was the victim and the incident was reported to police, yet no claim made, then they typically have two years after their 18th birthday to seek compensation. If the incident was not reported to the police at the time, then they will have two years from the date of the report. This should be made as soon as possible.

If you are making a personal injury claim directly against a vicariously liable party or the perpetrator, then the limitation period is typically three years from the date of the incident.

If you want to ask, ‘how much compensation will I get for assault?’, call our advisors. They can give you a bespoke claim valuation. Additionally, they can help you get your claim started right away.

Can I Still Claim Compensation For Assault If I Don’t Know My Attacker?

Unfortunately, not all perpetrators of assaults are caught and convicted. There may be instances where people are attacked from behind, or so quickly they did not see who attacked them.

If you didn’t see or you could not identify the person who attacked you, you could still claim compensation for assault. Claims can still be made via the CICA even if the perpetrator has not been caught or prosecuted.

However, you must have reported the assault to the police, and worked with the police where necessary to help bring the perpetrator to justice. This may mean providing a statement and trying to give as much information as possible about what happened to you.

If you are eligible to make an assault claim through the CICA. one of our solicitors could help you. Contact our advisors today to discuss your case.

What Injuries Can I Claim Compensation For?

When suing for assault in the UK, the amount of compensation you may receive can be dependent on the severity of the injuries you sustained but also depend on the level of intent in the attack. In UK law, incidents of assault are split into four different categories:

  • Common Assault – the police will often level this charge in incidents where the victim has been hit or slapped but there is no visible mark or injury
  • Actual Bodily Harm (ABH) – more serious assaults which leave visible injuries, such as bruising and scratches, are usually dealt with under this bracket
  • Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) – this is the most severe category of violent assault. It describes attacks where there was intent to cause serious harm. There have been serious injuries sustained such as a stabbing
  • Sexual assault– any kind of sexual behaviour or contact which occurs without consent is described as sexual assault. Examples include rape, child abuse, drug-facilitated sexual assault and stalking

How much compensation can I get for an assault claim? All assault cases are unique but in general terms, assault compensation pay-outs usually increase with the level of severity of the assault category with more severe assaults resulting in higher amounts of compensation being awarded.

Evidence Needed To Claim Compensation For Assault

Evidence is needed to successfully claim compensation for an assault. The requirements for evidence will depend on whether you submit a claim to the CICA or you’re claiming against a vicariously liable organisation (for example, an employer).

If you are claiming through the CICA, then you’ll need to provide them with:

  • A police reference number or crime reference number to show that you have reported the incident to the police
  • A medical report of the injuries you’re claiming for
  • Proof that you meet the residency requirement for a CICA claim

If you’re aiming to claim compensation for being attacked from your employer or another organisation under vicarious liability, then the evidence requirements may differ. Potential evidence you could provide may include:

  • Footage or pictures of your assault
  • Medical reports of your injuries
  • The contact details of any witnesses to the assault
  • Any relevant correspondence between you and the liable party

If you choose to get support from a criminal injury claim solicitor, then they can aid with collecting evidence that can support your case. For more advice on how solicitors can help a victim of a crime of violence gather evidence, you can contact our advisors today.

What Can I Include In My Assault Claim?

When suing for assault in the UK, the amount of compensation you seek will depend on your unique circumstances. Plus, any other damages you may have sustained or costs you have incurred resulting from your injuries. Common expenses included in criminal injury compensation claims are often;

  • Medical expenses – to cover the cost of any treatment or ongoing outpatient treatment such as physiotherapy or counselling
  • Care costs – if your injury has left you needing daily care then this can be included in your assault personal injury claim
  • Loss of earnings  – if you have had to have time off work or lost your job or the potential to earn more money, this can be included in your claim
  • Travel expenses – incurred as a direct result of your injuries, such as for medical appointments or court appearances
  • General damages – compensation awarded for the injury, pain and suffering as well as any psychological anguish and trauma sustained

Assault Compensation Payouts

If you are eligible to claim compensation for assault via the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, you may be wondering “How much compensation will I get for an assault in the UK?”

Under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012, if your claim is successful, you would be compensated for your pain and suffering under a set tariff. We have included some examples of tariff amounts for different injuries in the table below for your reference. 

Type of injuryNotesCompensation amount
Multiple injuries plus special damagesCompensation for multiple injuries and special damages such as a loss of earnings.Up to £500,000+
BurnsCovering over 25% of total skin, with significant scarring£33,000
Loss of sightOne eye£22,000
Permanent mental injuryModerately Disabling - Permanent mental injury, confirmed by diagnosis or prognosis of psychiatrist or clinical psychologist£19,000
Disabling mental injuryLasting 5 years or more but not permanent£13,500
Fractures humerusBoth arms - With continued disability£11,000
Abdomen injuryRequiring surgery to repair 3 or more organs£6,200
Skull fractureSimple - Needing surgery£3,500
Fractured clavicleOne clavicle - With continued disability£2,400

If your assault claim includes several different injuries, it is important that you are aware that you can claim for a maximum of three injuries via the CICA. Typically, the most serious injury would be compensated for at 100% of the tariff rate, with the subsequent 2 less serious injuries being compensated for at 30% and 15% respectively. 

To learn more about CICA compensation payouts, please contact an advisor. They could explain how the CICA works in further detail.

How does the CICA tariff work when claiming compensation for assault?

When you claim assault compensation payouts from the CICA, your injuries would be compensated on a sliding scale. The most severe injury would be compensated at 100% of the tariff rate. Then, the second more severe injury would be compensated at 30% of the tariff rate. The third most serious injury would attract 15% of the tariff amount.

The maximum number of injuries you could claim is three. However, you could receive additional tariff payments if you have lost a foetus, become pregnant or contract a sexually transmitted disease as a direct result of your injury or the assault.

Examples Of Special Expenses In Assault Claims

Following a successful criminal injury claim through the CICA, you could be awarded compensation for certain special expenses. These special expenses could include:

  • Any physical aids you relied on that were damaged in the attack, such as your glasses.
  • Specialist equipment that is required to cope with your injuries, such as kitchen equipment.
  • Housing adaptations, such as fitting a ramp.
  • Care costs in connection with bodily functions and meal preparations.

These expenses must be necessary, reasonable, and directly result from your injury. They must also not be available for free from a different source.

Additionally, when claiming compensation for your criminal injury, you may  be able to claim for a loss of earnings. However, there are specific criteria that need to be met.

If you would like more information about claiming compensation for assault through the CICA, or about the criteria you must meet to claim for a loss of earnings, contact our advisors.

Can I Claim For An Assault With A No Win No Fee Solicitor?

If you are making a claim for compensation for assault, one of our solicitors may be able to help you. They could help ensure your assault claim is submitted in full, as well as explain any legal jargon that may be used during the process of your claim.

One of our No Win No Fee solicitors may offer to support your claim under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Under this type of agreement, you won’t be required to pay your solicitor anything upfront or while your case is processing for their services. You also won’t need to pay your solicitor for the work they have provided should your claim be unsuccessful.

If your claim is a success, then the solicitor who worked on your case can subtract a legally limited percentage from the compensation awarded to you. This is commonly referred to as a success fee.

For more advice on making a claim as a victim of a crime, and the compensation that could be awarded to you, you can contact our advisors today. To reach them, you can:

Useful links and support for victims making assault compensation claims

Below, you can find more helpful information on making an assault claim:

If you need any more help or advice on claiming compensation for assault, please get in touch.