How To Make A Criminal Assault Claim For Injuries

This guide will explore when you could make a criminal assault claim. We look at the eligibility criteria that need to be met in order for you to have valid grounds to seek criminal injury compensation via the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). The CICA handles compensation claims made by people who have sustained a physical or mental injury in a violent crime in Great Britain.  You can also find information on the evidence you may be expected to provide in support of your case.

criminal assault claim

How To Make A Criminal Assault Claim For Injuries

We also look at how a value could be assigned to your case and what your compensation payout could include following a successful claim.

To conclude, this guide highlights the advantages of instructing a No Win No Fee solicitor.

Contact one of our advisors now, who could provide support and help you understand if you’re eligible to make a criminal injury claim.

You can contact our team of advisors by:

  • Calling on 0800 408 7827
  • Completing our ‘Contact Us‘ form
  • Speaking with an advisor using the live chat feature on our website

Select A Section

  1. When Are You Eligible To Make A Criminal Assault Claim?
  2. What Evidence Do You Need To Claim Compensation Through The CICA?
  3. What Is A Crime Of Violence?
  4. Potential CICA Compensation You Could Receive
  5. Make A Criminal Assault Claim With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
  6. Learn More About Making A Criminal Assault Claim

When Are You Eligible To Make A Criminal Assault Claim?

You could make a criminal assault claim through the CICA if you meet the relevant eligibility criteria. As such, you would need to show:

  • You need to have sustained an injury in a crime of violence, which can mean, for example, a physical attack, sexual assault, or arson.
  • You need to have reported the incident to the police.
  • The incident needs to have happened in Great Britain i.e. England, Scotland, Wales. Alternatively, it needs to have occurred in another relevant place, such as a ship registered to one of the previously mentioned countries.

You also need to ensure you submit your claim to the CICA within the relevant time limits. To find out more about these and the other eligibility requirements to make a criminal assault claim via the CICA, contact our team of advisors today. 

What Evidence Do You Need To Claim Compensation Through The CICA?

When making a criminal assault claim through the CICA, you may be expected to provide the following evidence:

  • A police reference number, which you will receive when you report your incident.
  • Medical evidence showing you suffered and injury that can be compensated for.
  • Evidence that you meet the CICA residency requirements.

Contact our team of advisors now to learn more about the evidence you may need to collect. They could carry out an assessment of your case and determine if you have valid grounds to proceed. If you do, they could put you in touch with a solicitor from our panel to begin working on your case. A solicitor can assist you through the criminal injury claims process when seeking compensation through the CICA. 

What Is A Crime Of Violence?

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 is designed to compensate victims of violent crimes in Great Britain. The CICA administer the Scheme and assess who is eligible for compensation and how much they are entitled to.

The Scheme’s definition of a crime of violence includes physical attacks, violent acts or omissions that cause physical injury and threats against someone that causes the immediate fear of violence in circumstances which would cause a person of reasonable firmness to be put in such fear. This could involve instances of domestic violence. A crime of violence can also include sexual assault, such as sexual abuse and child sexual abuse.

Similarly, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) define common assault as any act by which someone intentionally or recklessly causes another to suffer or apprehend immediate violence. This could include actual bodily harm (ABH) and gross bodily harm (GBH).

ABH could include bruises and swelling, whereas GBH involves really serious harm, where there is breaking of the skin or the offender intends to inflict serious physical harm. A serious head injury leading to a concussion or a broken cheekbone could be examples of GBH.

To find out whether you could seek compensation for your injuries by making a criminal assault claim via the CICA, contact one of our advisors now for a free consultation.

Potential CICA Compensation You Could Receive

Following a successful criminal assault claim via the CICA, you could receive payment for your injuries. If you have two or more injuries that are so severe that they would each qualify for compensation, you could receive:

  • The full tariff amount for the injury with the greatest value.
  • 30% of the full tariff amount for the injury with the second or equally greatest value.
  • 15% of the full amount for the injury with the third or equally greatest value.

It is not possible to receive compensation for more than three injuries but additional tariff payments can be made if you became pregnant, lost a foetus or contracted an STI due to the injury or assault.

Injury payments are valued in line with the tariff of injuries set out in the Scheme 2012. We have included amounts from the tariff in the table below.

Compensation Table

InjurySeverityCompensation
Brain Very Serious£175,000
Moderate£82,000
ArmParalysis Or Loss Of Function£82,000
Finger and ThumbAmputation£55,000
HipFracture Or Dislocation Of One Hip£11,000
BackRupture Of Invertebral Disc£11,000
HandFracture Of Both Hands£6,200
KneeDislocation Of One Knee£3,500
AnkleSprain Of Both Ankles£1,800
ElbowDislocation Or Fracture Of One Elbow£1,500

Financial Losses In An Assault Compensation Claim

You could also receive a payment for loss of earnings if you were unable to work as a direct result of the criminal injury. Additionally, you could be reimbursed for costs, known as special expenses, incurred as a result of your injury.

However, there are a set of requirements that need to be met to be eligible to receive a payment for each of these.

To learn whether you could qualify for either of these, please contact an advisor on the number above.

Make A Criminal Assault Claim With A No Win No Fee Solicitor

A solicitor from our panel could represent your case under No Win No Fee terms. They offer services such as help gathering evidence to support your case and guidance on the steps you need to take to seek compensation through the CICA. 

The terms under which they offer their services will be presented in a Conditional Fee Agreement which is a No Win No Fee contract. This typically means: 

  • You don’t have to pay any continuing fees, or any costs at the start of your claim, to your solicitor for the work that they complete on your case.
  • There are no costs to pay for the work they provide if your case has a failed outcome.
  • If your claim succeeds, you will pay a small percentage of the compensation you were awarded. This is subject to a legal cap.

To find out whether you could instruct a criminal injury solicitor from our panel to represent your criminal assault claim, contact an advisor by:

  • Calling on 0800 408 7827
  • Completing our ‘Contact Us‘ form
  • Speaking with an advisor using the live chat feature on our website

Learn More About Making A Criminal Assault Claim

We also have guides on personal injury claims:

You can also find additional external resources below:

We hope this guide has answered your questions about making a criminal assault claim. If you need any other information, please contact an advisor on the number above.

Article by GRE

Edited by MIT