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How Much Compensation Will I Get for Assault?

By Stephen Hudson. Last Updated 23rd July 2024. This guide is for those wondering how much compensation for an assault they may receive if they are eligible to claim.

Assaults and other unwarranted physical attacks can occur in numerous different forms. They can include the following examples:

  • Unprovoked attacks by a stranger
  • Assaults by a spouse or family member
  • Sexual assault
  • Threatening behaviour
  • Aggravated assault
  • Assault with a deadly weapon

If you are a victim of an attack such as these examples listed, you may be eligible to make a criminal injury claim for assault compensation. In this guide, we’ll talk about the process of making a criminal injury compensation claim for an assault. This includes eligibility requirements, types of evidence that can support a claim and claiming with the support of a No Win No Fee solicitor. We’ll also address frequently asked questions such as “how much compensation will I get for an assault?”

To speak to an advisor about seeking victim of crime compensation, you can choose to contact our team here at Legal Expert. You can reach us by:

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How Much Compensation Will I Get for Assault

In order to qualify for compensation for being attacked, your injuries have to be valued above £1,000. This is the minimum amount of victim compensation that is offered in the tariff set out in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012. The CICA tariff outlines various injuries and their value in terms of compensation payouts.

Below we have created a table of injuries included in the CICA tariff and the compensation you could be awarded if your assault claim is successful. Please note that we have not listed every featured injury, so if you can’t find your injury, get in touch and we can confirm what compensation you might receive.

InjuryDescription Tariff
Multiple severe injuries plus financial lossesThis includes compensation for the claimant's pain and suffering plus loss of earnings and special expenses. Up to £500,000
Most severe brain injuryThe injured party has suffered brain damage that has resulted in leaving them with no useful movement and a significant effect on the senses but with some degree of insight. However, they demonstrate little or no meaningful environmental responses, language function and are doubly incontinent. They also require full time nursing care.£250,000
Loss of both thumbsThe injured party has lost both of their thumbs.£55,000
Hip fractures/dislocationsThe injured party has continuing significant disability from fractures to both of their hips.£16,500
Ankle fractures/dislocationsThe claimant has continuing significant disability from fractures or dislocations to both of their ankles.£16,500
Chest injuryThe claimant suffered a chest injury that needed a thoracotomy with either the removal or extensive repair of one or more organs.£16,500
FootThe tarsal bones in both feet are fractured and result in a continuing significant disability.£13,500
ElbowOne elbow is dislocated or fractured and results in a continuing significant disability.£6,200
FaceA fractured jaw bone that doesn't require an operation but does result in a continuing significant disability.£3,500

It’s worth noting that you may also claim special expenses that were caused because of your criminal injury. For example:

  • Your earning capacity may have been impacted by your injuries if you required time off work to recover. Keep hold of your wage slips to prove a loss of earnings. Additionally, you must have been unable to work for over 28 weeks.
  • Any damage to your property caused by the assault may be included in special expenses. This includes your clothes, dentures or glasses.
  • If the assault resulted in you needing specialist equipment, you may be compensated for this expense. This could happen if your attacker caused a foot injury that left you unable to move around without a wheelchair.

Get in touch and our criminal injury solicitors can discuss in further detail any compensation amounts you might be eligible to claim for in an assault claim.

Compensation For Assault – Can I Claim For Multiple Injuries Through The CICA?

When you claim for assault through the CICA, you could be awarded compensation for more than one injury. An example might be if you suffer a broken bone from physical violence, but also a psychological injury.

How much compensation for assault injuries you get is decided by the multiple injury formula. Essentially, this means that you will receive 100% of the compensation for the injury that is valued highest. Additionally, you’ll get 30% for the second-highest and just 15% for the third-highest.

However, it’s worth noting that you may be able to claim criminal injuries compensation for assault from a different tariff that does not apply this formula. For example, if you became pregnant, lost a foetus or contracted a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

Speak to our advisors at any time, and they can answer any questions about claiming assault compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority

Criminal Compensation Claim – Eligibility

Assault is a broad category of crimes that are loosely defined as a physical attack or causing the apprehension of immediate unlawful physical violence.

If you have suffered injuries due a violent crime, such as an assault, you could be eligible to make a criminal injury claim for assault compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). This executive agency administers the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012, providing the victims of such crimes with a means of claiming compensation.

The following eligibility criteria will need to be met in order to make an assault claim through the CICA:

  1. You were injured in a crime of violence. The Scheme provides some examples of this, one of them being assault.
  2. That crime occurred in Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales) or another relevant place.
  3. The crime was reported to the police.

To find out if you’re eligible to claim compensation for assault or to ask any questions about the criminal injury claims process, talk to our advisors today using the contact information given above.

Assault Compensation – Do I Need Evidence In Order To Claim?

To claim compensation for assault from the CICA, you will need certain types of evidence for your case. Evidence for your claim should include the following:

  • A crime reference number. A requirement for making a CICA claim is to report the crime that injured you to the police. A crime reference number will be provided for the crime once you’ve reported it. The CICA can then use this number to liaise with the police and acquire any information they may need for your case.
  • Medical evidence confirming the criminal injuries you have suffered and the treatment they needed, such as your medical records.
  • You’ll also need to provide proof that you meet the residency requirements to make a CICA claim.

If you are supported by a criminal injury solicitor, then they can assist with gathering evidence. To get advice and potential support from a solicitor with your assault claim, contact our advisors for free today.

Types of Assault

Generally speaking, there are 3 levels of assault under UK law depending upon the level of harm intended/caused, plus also sexual assault:

  • Common Assault – This is often the charge used by the police and Courts for slapping or hitting another person, and often there will be no marks or visible injury to the victim.
  • Assault causing Actual Bodily Harm – Crimes considered more serious than common assaults are typically dealt with under this category. As the name suggests, this type of assault usually leads to visible bodily injuries such as scratches and bruising.
  • Assault causing Grievous Bodily Harm – The most serious category of violent assault, where the assailant intended to cause serious harm to the victim, for example, by stabbing with a knife.
  • Sexual Assault Or Abuse – Any sexual contact or behaviour that occurs without the victim’s consent. It includes rape, groping, drug-facilitated sexual abuse or assault, child sexual abuse, and stalking.

Can I Claim Compensation If No-One Has Been Caught or Convicted for The Assault?

If you’re wondering ‘how much compensation will I get for assault?’, the circumstances of your case may affect your eligibility. For example, if you haven’t reported the incident to the police, then you won’t be able to claim. If you have, then you could have grounds to make a claim, regardless of whether anyone has been caught or convicted.

To be eligible to claim, all that is required is that you were the victim of a crime through no fault of your own and that the assault caused injuries of some sort that have affected your life after the incident. Those injuries don’t necessarily have to be physical – for many victims and witnesses of violent assault. It is the psychological effects that are most damaging, for example, a tendency to constantly play out the assault over and over again in your mind, difficulty sleeping, nightmares, and fear of leaving the house or of entering open spaces.

Quite rightly, UK law recognises how severe these psychological after-effects can be, how much they can affect your well-being and your ability to earn a living.

A black and white silhouette image of a man hitting someone.

Assault Claims Against A Vicariously Liable Party

In some circumstances, you might claim against a vicariously liable party instead of claiming through the CICA for assault compensation. For example, you could claim directly against your employer if you suffered injuries due to workplace violence.

However, if you are claiming compensation for assault from your employer, you will need to prove that your injuries occurred due to employer negligence. For example, if your employer was aware that you were being harrassed and assaulted in the workplace by another employee, and took no steps to prevent this, your employer could be liable for your injuries.

Previously in this guide, we looked at examples of the evidence that could be used in claims against a vicariously liable party.

Call our advisors to learn more about assault claims and when you might be able to claim against a vicariously liable party.

A man looking distressed with his face in his hands.

Criminal Injuries Compensation – How Long Does It Take?

Any compensation claim can take a while to resolve. After all, it’s a legal dispute where the facts about each unique case must be established beyond a reasonable doubt before an assessment can be made about the impacts on the victim’s life now and in the future. Only then can a financial settlement be awarded, according to the tariff system set by the compensation authority.

Usually, you can expect to wait between 6 months and, in the more complex cases, a few years for your case to be resolved and compensation paid. The key point is that if you have a strong compensation for assault case, then we will help you to get it no matter how long it takes or how much legal work is involved.

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

If you have strong grounds to make an assault claim, then you could seek support from a solicitor. If you speak to our team of advisors, they may connect you with one of our solicitors if they think you have a strong case.

One of our No Win No Fee solicitors could offer to support your claim for an assault under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Under such an agreement, you won’t have to pay upfront or ongoing fees for their services. You also won’t be required to pay your solicitor for their services if your claim is unsuccessful.

If your claim is a success, then your solicitor can take a legally capped percentage from the compensation awarded to you. This is often described as a success fee.

For more advice on claiming compensation for an assault with a No Win No Fee solicitor, please get in touch with our advisors for free. You can reach them by:

Useful Links

You are welcome to check out the relevant resources below:

Domestic violence and abuse

Government advice on how you can get help for yourself or a loved one subjected to domestic abuse.

NHS Domestic violence and abuse

NHS help those who are in a domestic abuse situation or if you know someone who is.

Below, you can learn more about CICA claims via our other guides:

To learn more about how you could claim for an assault, please get in touch today using the contact details featured in this guide.

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    • Patrick Mallon

      Patrick is a Grade A solicitor having qualified in 2005. He's an an expert in accident at work and public liability claims and is currently our head of the EL/PL department. Get in touch today for free to see how we can help you.

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