Last Updated 14th November 2025. No one should have to face the trauma of being assaulted. Such violence can have drastic effects on your mental and physical health, affecting all areas of your day-to-day life. While you might not have given thought to making a criminal injury assault claim, it could help provide financial relief and support you as you prioritise your recovery.
To make an assault claim, you’ll need to report the crime to the police, have sufficient supporting evidence, and consider connecting with an experienced solicitor. Our advisors are available 24/7 to provide you with support and further guidance on how to sue someone for assault. Whether you are seeking to better understand the process or are ready to assess your eligibility, they can help.
Key Questions About Assault Claims
- What injuries are common to assault claims? Lacerations, concussions, fractures, and organ damage are commonly found in assault claims.
- If I was assaulted, can I sue? Yes, you can sue through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) if you were assaulted in a violent crime in Great Britain and cannot seek compensation through other avenues.
- Does it matter if the perpetrator has not been prosecuted? No, claims can be made through the CICA without the attacker being prosecuted (though a police report must be made).
- How long does it take to get criminal injury compensation? Generally, the CICA will provide a decision on an assault claim within 12 months; however, this timeframe may vary.
- Can you sue someone who assaulted you by using a solicitor? Yes, a solicitor can help you with gathering evidence and navigating the CICA claims process.
You can reach out to our advisory team for direct advice tailored to your circumstances at any time. If you’re ready, you could be connected with one of the dedicated solicitors making up our panel today.
We are here to help you
Here at How To Sue, our expert advisors are on hand 24 hours a day 7 days a week to assess your compensation claim. Should you require free legal advice we can connect you to a specialist solicitor.
Choose A Section
- When Are You Eligible To Make An Assault Claim?
- Types Of Injuries That Could Lead To You Making A CICA Claim
- What Do You Need To Make An Assault Claim Through The CICA?
- How Long Will My Claim Take?
- What Compensation Could You Get From The CICA For An Assault Claim?
- Make A No Win No Fee Claim For Assault Compensation Using Our Panel Of Solicitors
- Learn More About Claiming Assault Compensation
When Are You Eligible To Make An Assault Claim?
If you have been a victim of assault, you might be able to make an assault claim through the CICA. However, there are certain eligibility criteria that you must meet in order to do so.
- Firstly, the incident must have been reported to the police.
- You must have been injured in a crime of violence as defined by the CICA. This can include physical attacks, certain threats and arson, for example.
- The crime of violence must have occurred in Scotland, England, Wales, or another relevant place, such as a boat registered in Great Britain.
An advisor from our team can provide you with more information on whether you could be eligible to make a claim through the CICA. Contact them today for free advice.
Types Of Injuries That Could Lead To You Making A CICA Claim
Assault is when someone intentionally or recklessly causes another person to suffer or fear immediate violence. It can occur between people who don’t have any relation to one another or, like in cases of domestic violence, between people who are personally connected to one another.
There are various incidents that are classed as assault. Some examples include:
- Common assault
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
- Assault occasioning grievous bodily harm (GBH)
There are a range of injuries that can be sustained due to assault, such as:
- A head injury, for example, a concussion.
- A break or fracture, such as a broken hip or broken rib.
- Dislocations, such as a dislocated shoulder injury.
- Cuts and lacerations.
- Facial injuries, such as a broken cheekbone. These can cause facial disfigurement.
Contact our advisors for further information about making an assault claim through the CICA. If you have a valid claim, you could be connected with a lawyer from our panel.
Is There A CICA Claims Time Limit?
Generally, you have two years to start an assault claim through the CICA. This begins from the date you reported the incident to the police. You are usually expected to do this right away unless you can prove that the reason you did not report the incident immediately was because exceptional circumstances applied that prevented this.
Certain exceptions can be made for this two-year time limit. Again, you will need to prove that you were unable to start your claim during this timeframe because of exceptional circumstances.
If you would like more information on other exceptions that could apply to this two-year time limit, please contact our advisors.
What Do You Need To Make An Assault Claim Through The CICA?
Regardless of the type of criminal injury claim you are making through the CICA, you must provide:
- Your police reference number to prove that the crime was reported.
- Proof that you meet the residency requirements
- Medical evidence regarding the injury you suffered.
The CICA will be able to communicate with the police for any further information they may need regarding the incident. For example, they might confirm that you cooperated with them as a failure to do so could see your award being withheld.
For more information on making an assault claim via the CICA, you can get in touch with our advisors. They may be able to put you in touch with a lawyer to work on your claim.
How Long Will My Claim Take?
If you are making an assault claim through the CICA, you likely want to know how long it will take before you receive a payout. The CICA states that they aim to assess most claims they receive within 12 months. It may take a longer time for more complex cases or if you’re still undergoing medical treatment.
However, the CICA cannot provide a definitive answer as to how long it will take to fully assess your claim. This is because it is dependent on the CICA obtaining evidence and considering it. This extra time is necessary to ensure that the compensation awarded reflects the severity of your injuries and their impact on your life.
The CICA will take steps once they receive your claim, including:
- Ask the police for evidence.
- Contact you for additional information if required.
- There will be a decision, which will be communicated to you via post.
You should also note that the CICA will contact you only if they need more information for the final outcome. They do not respond to any queries regarding updates.
If you need further information about whether you can sue someone for assault, please speak to a member of our team. 
What Compensation Could You Get From The CICA For An Assault Claim?
If you successfully claim for an assault through the CICA, you could receive payments for your injuries. These will be valued in line with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012, which contains a fixed tariff. This tariff can provide compensation for a maximum of three injuries.
The table below contains some of the figures from the CICA Scheme. Please note that the top row is the maximum amount which can be awarded under it.
| Injury | Severity | Compensation Tariff |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Serious Injuries and Special Expenses | Compensation for suffering multiple serious criminal injuries and for special expenses. | Up to £550,000 |
| Very Serious Brain Injury | Severe physical impairments as well as significant impacts to the senses and a shorter life expectancy. | £175,000 |
| Major Paralysis | Severe impairment in motor or sensory function in one half of the body, which is not the result of brain damage. | £110,000 |
| Hand | The effective loss of, or complete loss of, function in one hand. | £82,000 |
| Arm | Paralysis or the equal loss of function in the dominant arm. | £44,000 |
| Leg | Paralysis of one leg. | £27,000 |
| Ankle | Both ankles have been fractured or dislocated leading to a continuing significant disability. | £16,500 |
| Ear | Very severe tinnitus. | £16,500 |
| Hip | A significant continuing disability due to one hip being fractured or dislocated. | £11,000 |
| Face | Several face fractures. | £11,000 |
If your assault claim covers multiple injuries, they will be subject to the following formula:
- 100% of the full tariff amount will be awarded for the highest-valued injury.
- 30% of the full tariff amount will be awarded for the second-highest valued injury.
- 15% of the full tariff amount will be awarded for the third highest-valued injury.
Compensation can be awarded under a different formula if the incident resulted in you becoming pregnant, contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or losing a foetus.
Please contact our advisors for free for more advice on how much compensation you may be awarded, or to ask other questions about claiming, such as “Can you sue someone for assault?”
Special Expenses You Could Claim Through The CICA Tariff
Additionally, you could be awarded compensation for certain special expenses if your assault claim is successful.
Under special expenses, you could receive reimbursement for:
- Care costs that relate to your bodily function and food preparation.
- Damaged equipment you relied on as a physical aid, like glasses.
- Adaptations to your home, such as a stairlift or ramp.
- Specialist equipment, including for the kitchen.
All of these costs must have resulted from your injury and be necessary and reasonable. They also cannot be freely available from somewhere else.
You may also be able to claim back a loss of earnings as part of your claim. To find out more about the criteria that must be met to claim for a loss of earnings, contact our advisors. Our team could tell you whether you can make a claim through the CICA.
We are here to help you
Here at How To Sue, our expert advisors are on hand 24 hours a day 7 days a week to assess your compensation claim. Should you require free legal advice we can connect you to a specialist solicitor.
Make A No Win No Fee Claim For Assault Compensation Using Our Panel Of Solicitors
A solicitor from our panel could assist you with your assault claim, provided you have a valid case. Additionally, they may offer to represent you under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which is a type of No Win No Fee agreement.
Under this arrangement, you will not have to pay the solicitor working on your case any upfront or ongoing fees for their representation. Furthermore, should your claim fail, you will not be required to pay them for their services.
However, if your claim succeeds, you will have to pay them a success fee. This fee is a legally capped percentage of the compensation.
You can speak with an advisor to discuss your claim and receive free advice. They could also connect you with a solicitor from our panel if they believe you are eligible to work with them. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you.
To get in touch:
- Call 0800 652 3087
- Contact us online
- Use our live chat feature
Learn More About Claiming Assault Compensation
More of our guides:
Additional information and resources:
- CICA – Statistics at CICA.
- NHS – When to call 999
- Crown Prosecution Services – Offences Against The Person information
Contact our advisors if you have any further queries about making an assault claim via the CICA.