Last Updated 17th December 2025. After experiencing a violent crime, you likely want to know what legal rights you have. Many claimants have experienced immense physical and psychological stress, so they seek out the services of Criminal injury compensation solicitors in Scotland to make the claims process simpler. A compensation award can help you recover your financial losses and prioritise your health.
You can contact one of our advisors about making a claim for criminal injury compensation. They have experience in advising on such cases and will handle your enquiry with the empathy you deserve. You could be eligible to work with one of our expert solicitors, who have years of experience in navigating the criminal injuries claims process. However, our advice is offered with no strings attached, so you are welcome to simply ask questions.
Questions You May Have
- How do I make a Scottish criminal injury claim? If eligible, you can proceed through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), which is the body responsible for paying compensation to those affected by violent crimes.
- How do Scottish criminal injury compensation solicitors help claimants? They provide expert legal guidance and can help you to appeal the CICA’s decision if necessary.
- What are common examples of CICA claims? Such cases often relate to violent robberies, assault and rape.
- Do Scotland criminal injury solicitors work through No Win No Fee contracts? Yes, they can represent you without charging upfront or ongoing fees for their work.
- What are special expenses? These are costs you can recover through a compensation payout, such as payments to replace damaged physical aids, lost income, and professional help with managing administrative affairs.
Get in touch with a member of our team to learn more about Scotland’s criminal injury solicitors and the services on offer.
4.8 (466 reviews) A Guide To Claims With Criminal Injury Compensation Solicitors Scotland
If you have been the victim of a crime in Scotland, a common question might be ‘How do I claim criminal injuries in Scotland?’ You might also ask, ‘How does criminal injuries compensation Scotland work?’ Here at Legal Expert, we have put together this guide to give you information about making such claims, whether you were injured as a blameless victim in a robbery or assault, or whether you’ve suffered harm due to historic abuse.
You may be surprised to know that, despite the crime having happened in Scotland, you would not have to use criminal injury compensation solicitors in Scotland to make your claim. You could choose a solicitor based anywhere in the UK to fight for the maximum criminal injury compensation for your case. This gives you a wider choice when it comes to choosing a solicitor to help you.
Within the guide below, you can find out more about how to claim compensation for injuries sustained due to the criminal activity of someone else. We will explain how to go about making a claim and how we could help you. We also have information relating to how much compensation you could receive for your claim.
What Is A Claim For Criminal Injuries In Scotland?
If you suffer an injury from a criminal act, you may wonder how you could claim compensation. The UK government has an executive agency that deals with claims for compensation for victims of violent crime. It is known as the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, or CICA, with its foundation being in 1996. And it helps to compensate those suffering injuries due to violent criminal acts.
Those who could make a claim for a criminal injury in Scotland include:
- People suffering mental or physical injuries as a direct victim of a crime.
- Those with emotional harm after witnessing a violent criminal act.
- People suffering injuries attempting to stop a violent crime.
- Parents claiming for their children’s injuries.
- Dependents of those who pass away due to criminal injuries.
Find out how criminal injury compensation solicitors in Scotland or covering Scotland could help you.
Criteria To Claim With Criminal Injury Compensation Solicitors Scotland
To claim compensation as a victim of crime in Scotland, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority requires you to fulfil certain criteria, including:
- Reporting the incident to the police without unreasonable delay.
- Co-operating with the police to bring the person responsible to justice.
- Being blameless for the incident (for example, if you provoked violence or voluntarily engaged in a fight, you may not be compensated).
Your conduct and any criminal records could also be taken into account when the CICA decide whether to accept your claim. You may be given a reduced offer of compensation due to this, or the CICA could reject your claim. It could be worth consulting with our team if you think this could be the case. We could offer you some further guidance on criminal injuries compensation Scotland.
Assault Claims In Scotland
Criminal injury compensation solicitors in Scotland or those covering Scotland could handle assault injury claims. Whether you were assaulted in a random or targeted attack, your injuries could range from minor to severe. There are various categories when it comes to assault. These include:
- Common assault – Where someone commits an act of battery or assault against another. A battery could involve spitting at someone, pushing them or slapping them, for example, and is classed as an application of unlawful force. An assault, however, is when a victim is made to fear that they are going to be subjected to immediate force. This could include someone raising a fist at the victim, for example.
- ABH – Actual bodily harm – this could be classed as battery that causes actual harm to the victim. There would usually be physical evidence of this.
- GBH – Grievous bodily harm – this could be classed as a battery that causes serious harm to the victim or where there is an intention to cause serious harm.
How Do I Claim Criminal Injuries Compensation In Scotland For Assault?
If you have been injured in an assault, criminal injury compensation solicitors covering Scotland could help fight for compensation on your behalf through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
GBH Claims In Scotland
Grievous bodily harm, or GBH, involves very serious harm being caused to the victim. This could involve a stabbing, for example. If serious harm was not caused but the perpetrator intended for there to be serious harm inflicted on the victim, a charge of GBH could still be appropriate. No matter how serious or minor the injuries you sustained were, you could consider pursuing a claim for compensation against the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
A claim of this kind could include compensation for both the physical injuries and the emotional trauma you may have suffered as a result of your injuries. Criminal injury compensation solicitors in Scotland or those covering Scotland could handle such claims.
ABH Claims In Scotland
ABH stands for actual bodily harm, and it is an offence in which actual physical harm is inflicted upon the victim. While ABH does not have to mean a victim sustains a serious injury, it would involve more than a shove, and evidence such as scratches, bruising and bite marks could be sufficient as physical proof of such an assault.
If you have been a victim of ABH, then you may be wondering if you could claim criminal injury compensation. Our team could help assess your case and provide you with criminal injury solicitors covering Scotland to help fight for compensation on your behalf.
Rape Claims In Scotland
Whether you have been raped by someone you don’t know or by someone you were in a relationship with, you always have the right to say no to sexual advances. Rape is a violation of your body and your rights and is a horrific and heinous crime.
Whether the rape has left you with physical marks or not, it could have affected you mentally, and this could take you a long time to recover from. If you have not consented to sexual activity, or someone has forced you into sex, you could claim compensation for the mental trauma as well as the physical injuries caused. This is where criminal injury compensation solicitors in Scotland and those covering Scotland could help.
Our dedicated team of advisors could talk to you in confidence about how we could help you.
Sexual Assault Claims In Scotland
Sexual assault could lead to a victim suffering more than just physical injuries. Research has shown that victims of many different types of sexual abuse and sexual assault can suffer trauma symptoms. Not only could criminal injury solicitors covering Scotland help you claim for any physical harm you have suffered due to the sexual assault you were a victim of, but they could also help you claim for emotional trauma suffered as a result.
You would have to be assessed by a psychologist/psychiatrist as part of your claim to evidence the effect that the assault has had on you. We understand that talking about your experience may not be comfortable, but some victims of sexual assault may find that talking about their experiences may be somewhat cathartic.
Historical Sexual Assault Claims In Scotland
Being abused could have a significant impact on someone, and if you’ve been unable to process or talk about the abuse until years later, you may be under the impression that it could be too late to report the abuse or claim compensation for the harm you’ve suffered because of it. This would not be the case, as our criminal injury compensation solicitors in Scotland can explain.
If you suffered historic sexual assault or abuse and now feel ready to take action, you can still report historical abuse or assault to the police, and you may still be able to apply for criminal injuries compensation for the harm you’ve suffered. This is because there could be an exception to the criminal injury claims time limit for historical abuse cases.
Criminal injury solicitors covering Scotland could help to fight for the compensation you deserve for the traumatic experience you’ve been through.
Robbery Victim Claims In Scotland
Have you been the victim of a robbery in Scotland? Whether you’ve been injured in a mugging or a home burglary, this could be a very traumatic experience, and it could lead to you suffering both physical and psychological harm.
Criminal injury compensation solicitors covering Scotland could help you prove that you were a blameless victim of a robbery, and this could lead to you being awarded compensation, not just for the physical trauma you’ve sustained but also the emotional harm it has caused you.
You may even be able to claim for costs associated with the robbery, such as loss of earnings, physical aids and more. You can learn more about criminal injuries compensation in Scotland by contacting us today.
Could Criminal Injury Solicitors Help Me If No One Has Been Caught Or Convicted?
While you may be under the impression that the person/s who caused your injuries would have to be caught and convicted for you to be able to claim criminal injury compensation for Scotland-based crimes, you may be surprised to learn that this is not the case. If the crime has been reported, and you have suffered an injury as a blameless victim, and you meet CICA eligibility criteria, you could still claim compensation for your injuries.
How Long Do I Have To Claim With A Solicitor For A Criminal Injury In Scotland?
The usual criminal injury claims time limit is shorter than the personal injury claims time limit that applies to personal injury claims. You would usually only have 2 years from the date of the incident to claim compensation. However, there could be some exceptions to this. If you’re unable to make an application to the criminal injury compensation scheme in Scotland due to exceptional circumstances, or the evidence for your claim would not require extensive investigations by claims officers, your claim might be possible outside of the 2-year time limit.
Other special exceptions could apply if you’re a child when the incident happens, and no parent or guardian claims on your behalf. You could usually have until your 20th birthday to claim in these cases.
We should mention that the earlier you claim, the easier it may be to gather the evidence needed to prove your claim, thereby improving your chances of success. Speak to our criminal injury compensation solicitors in Scotland for further information. And we can help you from there.
Could A Solicitor Help You Claim Compensation Through Courts?
Criminal injury compensation solicitors covering Scotland could help you if your case goes to court. If you must attend court to give evidence in your case, you could receive compensation for these costs. In addition to this, if the accused person pleads guilty or is found guilty, the court may order them to pay you compensation by way of a compensation order.
Claiming For The Return Of Property
If your property was taken from you to be used as evidence in your case, it would usually be returned to you by the police once the case was concluded. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Police Scotland have guidance on the return of property. You can find more information on this here.
Scottish Criminal Injury Compensation Claims Calculator
Some claimants who are looking into applying for criminal injury compensation in Scotland may like to know how much compensation could be achievable for their claim before they decide on whether or not to go ahead with it. Unfortunately, it is not possible to get an accurate figure from a compensation calculator regarding this. This is because all claims focus on their unique facts. And without assessing the case as a whole, it would not be possible to conclude how much compensation could be appropriate for your case.
Also, you would have to undergo a medical assessment with an independent professional who could review your medical notes, examine you and compile a report that details your condition and your prognosis. This gives your solicitor a more accurate idea of the level of compensation they could achieve for your case.
We understand this could be quite frustrating, which is why we have some rough payout amounts for specific injuries that we believe could relate to this type of criminal injury claim. If, however, your injury doesn’t appear here, we could give you some further guidance on payout amounts over the phone.
The figures we have in the table below come from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Tariff covering England and Wales. However, please contact our criminal injury compensation solicitors in Scotland if you want more advice.
Keep in mind that the highest-value entry represents the maximum award the CICA can pay out for a successful claim.
| Injury | Tariff Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple injuries and special expenses | Up to £500,000 | Multiple forms of harm with the associated financial losses |
| Paralysis (Major) Not caused by brain damage | £27,000 | Mild motor or sensory function impairment (Hemiplegia) |
| Paralysis (Major) Not caused by brain damage | £110,000 | Severe motor or sensory function impairment (Hemiplegia) |
| Paralysis (Major) Not caused by brain damage | £55,000 | Moderate motor or sensory function impairment (Hemiplegia) |
| Mental Injury (Disabling) | £27,000 | Where the injured party is seriously and permanently disabled. |
| Mental Injury (Disabling) | £13,500 | Not permanent, but injury could last for more than 5 years. Injured parties would have to have an assessment from a clinical psychiatrist/psychologist to confirm condition and prognosis. |
| Sight loss | £22,000 | Sight loss in one eye |
| Facial Scarring | £11,000 | Seriously disfigurement |
| Jaw bone fracture | £6,200 | When disability continues after surgery. |
Special Damages You Could Claim
So, you’re wondering, ‘How much compensation do you get for criminal injuries?’ It may be important for claimants to understand that they could be eligible to claim for special damages as well as for their pain and suffering. Special damages compensate you for any financial losses or expenses as a direct result of the injury.
Some of these could relate to:
- Physical aids – This could include wheelchairs and walking sticks. However, you would only claim these if you couldn’t get the aids from another organisation, such as the NHS.
- Damage to property – Should your personal property be damaged due to the criminal act, this becomes claimable.
- Care costs – If you need help with things like cooking, cleaning or dressing, these costs are claimable. However, you would only be able to claim for these costs if they’re not free by another source.
- Home adaptations – If your injuries require home adaptations, these could be claimable.
- Wage losses – Have you been unable to work due to your injuries for more than 28 weeks? If so, you may be able to claim loss of earnings as part of your claim. However, this usually comes as the statutory sick pay rate at the time your claim begins. You would also need to provide a 3-year employment history to be eligible for this. And you must also explain any other gaps in your employment history during the 3-year period.
Further Details
There are two things we should make very clear when talking about special damages for CICA claims. Firstly, you would only be able to claim for expenses if the benefits office or local authority doesn’t cover them. Secondly, they must be reasonable. Thirdly, you would have to be able to prove these costs. To do so, you might need to keep things like bank statements, bills, payslips or receipts to provide as evidence. Remember, you do not have to claim with criminal injury compensation solicitors in Scotland. Our team could help you.
No Win, No Fee Claims With Criminal Injury Compensation Solicitors Scotland
Do you need assistance from criminal injury solicitors covering Scotland but fear having to pay upfront for their services? It may be a surprise, and a relief, to know this isn’t necessary. In fact, there’s a method for getting legal assistance without paying anything until your claim successfully ends in compensation. These are No Win No Fee claims.
Instead of paying a retainer to your solicitor, you would instead sign a Conditional Fee Agreement. This promises them a small success fee with a legal cap percentage of your compensation payout. You only have to pay this success fee if the lawyer can agree on a compensation payout for you. And if they aren’t successful in doing so, you would not have to cover their costs of pursuing the claim. You would also not have to pay any fees upfront or during the claim.
Here at Legal Expert, we can provide you with one of the criminal injury solicitors covering Scotland. We work with who could help with a criminal injuries compensation application for claimants in Scotland. To ask us anything more about making a claim, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Start Your Claim For Compensation With Solicitors Covering Scotland
We hope this guide to claiming with criminal injury compensation solicitors in Scotland helps you. If you’re still wondering, ‘How do I claim for criminal injuries in Scotland?’, please get in touch with your queries. We would be glad to offer you free, no-obligation expert advice on your claim. And we’re ready to provide you with a solicitor to fight for criminal injuries compensation on your behalf. You can reach us in several ways:
- By phone 0800 073 8804
- Through the Live Chat Service
- Via our contact form.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Essential References
- Claiming Compensation For Criminal Injury – This government resource explains more about criminal injury compensation.
