No matter where or how it occurs, being on the receiving end of an assault can be a terrifying and potentially life-changing experience. If you have suffered criminal injuries, you may have questions about starting a claim and what determines how much compensation for assault you receive.
This guide sets out to answer many of those questions, including what an assault claim covers and how the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) could compensate you for your injuries.
Key Takeaways For Assault Compensation Claims
- You can claim for assault compensation through the CICA if you meet certain eligibility requirements.
- Various factors will determine how much compensation for assault you could receive
- Compensation for criminal injuries and certain related financial losses can be up to £500,000
- Assault claims must usually be started within two years of the assault, but there can be exceptions
- The CICA tries to assess the majority of claims within 12 months
If you would like more information about how our dedicated criminal injuries solicitors could help you with seeking compensation contact us today using the details below:
- Ring us on 0800 073 8801
- Talk to an advisor using our live chat.
- Fill out our form to start your claim online.
Browse Our Guide
- How Much Compensation For Assault?
- Can I Make An Assault Claim?
- Types Of Assault And Injuries You Could Claim For
- How Long Does It Take To Make An Assault Compensation Claim?
- Why Choose Accident Claims?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Learn More
How Much Compensation For Assault?
The CICA assess the eligibility of claims and values criminal injuries in line with the tariff set out within the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012. That means how much compensation for assault you receive will depend on various factors, including the severity of your physical or psychological injuries.
CICA payouts awarded for successful claims will be the exact amount listed within the tariff for the criminal injury that is being claimed for.
Under the Scheme, you can typically claim compensation for up to three injuries suffered in an assault, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In those cases, the CICA uses the multiple injuries formula, meaning you would receive 100% of the compensation for the highest-valued injury. The two other injuries would receive 30% and 15% of their values, respectively.
In the table below, we have sued some of the tariff amounts listed within the Scheme, aside from the first entry.
| Type of Injury | Compensation Tariff | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Forms of Serious Criminal Injury And Special Expenses | Up to £500,000 | Multiple criminal injuries and related special expenses like care costs. |
| Brain Damage | £175,000 | A very serious injury resulting in severe physical impairment and symptoms like double incontinence. |
| Major Paralysis | £110,000 | Moderate cases of paraplegia, impairing motor/sensory function. |
| Arm | £44,000 | Paralysis or equivalent loss of function of one dominant arm. |
| Hand | £33,000 | Loss or equivalent loss of function in one non-dominant hand. |
| Eye | £13,500 | Permanent blurred or double vision that is serious in nature. |
| Hip | £11,000 | Fracture/dislocation in one hip resulting in ongoing significant disability. |
| Pelvis | £11,000 | Fracture leading to continuing significant disability. |
| Face | £11,000 | Multiple facial fractures. |
| Humerus | £11,000 | Fracture in both arms causing ongoing significant disability. |
What Will My Assault Claim Cover
Additionally, you could be awarded compensation for special expenses. This could include compensation for:
- Costs that relate to care regarding your bodily functions or food preparation.
- Any equipment that was damaged in the incident that you relied upon as a physical aid.
- Adaptations to your home to cope with your injuries.
- Equipment needed to cope with your injuries.
These special expenses must be necessary, meaning you will need to prove they are reasonable and that there were no freely available alternatives.
In addition, you may be able to claim for lost earnings if you can meet specific eligibility requirements.
If you have more questions regarding how much compensation for assault you could claim, contact our advisors. Additionally, you can continue reading this guide to learn when you may have a valid claim.
Can I Make An Assault Claim?
Now that we have looked at how much compensation for assault you could potentially receive, you also need to know when you could be eligible to make a claim through the CICA.
To make an assault claim, you will first need to satisfy the CICA’s eligibility criteria. This is:
- You were injured in a crime of violence, as defined under the Scheme (such as an assault).
- The assault occurred in Great Britain or somewhere else where the law may apply, like a British ship or aircraft
- You reported the assault to the police
- You submitted a claim within two years of the assault (though there are exceptions, which we discuss further below)
For more information about how to claim for an assault through the CICA, reach out to have your questions answered by one of our friendly advisors.
Types Of Assault And Injuries You Could Claim For
UK law sets out three basic types of assault defined by severity and other factors, ranging from threatening words to serious bodily harm. Read on to learn more about their definitions.
Common Assault
Common assault has a relatively broad definition. For instance, someone may commit common assault by pushing, grabbing, or hitting, even when there are no visible injuries.
Moreover, the threat of physical violence can be sufficient to constitute common assault if there is a fear of immediate danger. In that context, you could be entitled to CICA compensation if you suffered mental injuries because of this.
Actual Bodily Harm (ABH)
Actual bodily harm (ABH) covers serious assaults that result in physical or psychological injuries. The injuries sustained do not need to cause long-term damage and may be relatively minor, such as bruising and stitches. So, with that in mind, ABH may take place when:
- A kick or punch leaves someone with fractured bones
- A slashing attack causes injuries less severe than a wounding
-
A physical attack causes multiple injuries as well as psychological ones.
Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH)
Finally, grievous bodily harm (GBH) has the potential to cause long-term, life-altering injuries. The law divides GBH by “intent” (also known as “wounding with intent”) and “without intent”:
- Without intent: This can occur when a physical attack recklessly causes injuries more seriously than anticipated. For example, someone may not intend for a punch to result in a trip and brain damage
- Intent: Proof of intent may involve evidence of pre-planning, repeated use of excessive force, and the use of offensive weapons like a knife or corrosive acid
Have You Suffered From Domestic Violence?
According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales, around 2.3 million people over the age of 16 suffered domestic abuse in the year ending March 2024. If you have experienced domestic violence, you may have suffered some form of assault and could be eligible to claim compensation through the CICA for your criminal injuries.
Whatever type of assault you have been subjected to, our advisors can help you start a claim for compensation. They can also help answer any questions you may have, such as, ‘How much compensation for assault could I be entitled to?’.
How Long Does It Take To Make An Assault Compensation Claim?
Although assault compensation claims have no set timeframes, the CICA aims to assess the majority of applications within 12 months (as we previously mentioned). Complex cases may take longer to resolve due to:
- The CICA needing more information from third parties like the police to help inform their decision
- Third parties taking longer to respond to CICA requests for information
- The extent and severity of your injuries
- Ongoing medical treatment or uncertainty about your level of recovery delaying a final decision
Is There A Time Limit For Making A Criminal Injury Claim?
In general, criminal injury claims need to be started within two years from the date the incident happened. If exceptional circumstances stopped you from claiming in this time, the CICA may allow for an exception, but this will assess these exceptions case-by-case.
For claims involving those injured under the age of 18, the time limits are as follows:
- If the incident was reported to the police straight away, you will have two years from your 18th birthday to begin a claim.
- If the incident was not reported to the police (and you are now over the age of 18), you will have two years from the date this report is made to begin the claim. You will also need to show how exceptional circumstances prevented you from making this report sooner.
Talk to a member of our team to discuss how time limits may affect your assault claim.
Why Choose Accident Claims?
Whilst you are under no obligation to use a solicitor, you may want to seek formal legal advice. Here at Accident Claims, we have decades of experience handling criminal injury compensation claims with sensitivity and professionalism.
This wealth of experience guides how our legal representatives approach every claim, and they strive to make the entire process straightforward and transparent. In particular, our No Win No Fee solicitors can offer a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) to help you start a claim without:
- Upfront service fees
- Hidden or ongoing service fees
- Paying a solicitor’s fee when a claim fails
If your claim is successful, you’ll pay a success fee to your solicitor. This small fee is a percentage deducted from your compensation and is capped by law.
How Could One Of Our Expert Solicitors Help?
Our expert solicitors have years of knowledge and expertise and will work with you on your criminal injury claim to get you the compensation you deserve. Some of the ways in which they could help you include:
- Clear communication throughout the claims process
- Support from our specialist rehabilitation partners
- Help with gathering evidence to support your CICA claim
- Ensuring your claim is filed within the time limit
- Negotiating your compensation settlement
For more information about our solicitors and what can influence how much compensation for assault someone gets, reach out using the contact details below:
- Ring us on 0800 073 8801
- Talk to an advisor using our live chat.
- Fill out our form to start your claim online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please read the following answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about starting an assault compensation claim.
Will I Need To Go To Court?
Various factors may affect whether your case needs to go to court or not, such as:
- The severity of your injuries
- Whether you have recovered from these injuries or not
- How long it takes to gather evidence
- If liability is admitted or not.
Can I Still Claim If No One Witnessed The Attack?
Yes, as the CICA uses many factors to evaluate your claim, including medical evidence.
I Don’t Know My Attacker, Does This Matter?
No, you do not need to know your attacker in order to claim through the CICA, nor do they have to have been convicted.
Provided that the assault was reported to the police, you will still be eligible to make a claim through the CICA.
Will The Person Who Attacked Me Know If I Make A Claim?
If you make a claim through the CICA, you will not have your details shared with your attacker.
Where Can I Get Support?
Depending on your circumstances, you could reach out to charitable organisations like Victim Support. In addition, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline and Women’s Aid can offer counselling and shelter assistance.
Learn More
Accident Claims has many other helpful guides, including:
- How to request CCTV footage.
- Learn about the maximum payout you could get from the CICA.
- Guidance on whether having a criminal record affects whether you could make a criminal injury claim.
In addition, we’ve included some relevant external resources:
- Statistics concerning the CICA.
- A government guide explaining how to report a crime.
- A Ministry of Justice guide to the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime.
Thank you for reading our guide about how much compensation for assault you could potentially claim.
