By Stephen Chambers. Last Updated 30th May 2024. If you have suffered an injury due to being assaulted, you may be able to make an assault claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). The CICA are a government body that can award compensation to those who have suffered a criminal injury.
In this guide, we will discuss the criteria you must meet to be eligible to make a claim through the CICA and the time limits you must adhere to. We will also provide examples of the compensation you could be awarded should your claim be successful. Furthermore, we will discuss how a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel could assist you with your case.
If, after reading this guide, you still have any questions, you can speak with an advisor from our team. They are available to help answer your questions and offer you free advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
To get in touch:
- Call 0800 652 3087
- Contact us online
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Choose A Section or Browse Our Guide
- 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?
- 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 to learn more 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 will need to provide the following evidence:
- 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 liaise with the police for any additional 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 through 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.
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 tariff of injuries outlined in the CICA Scheme.
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Hip | A significant continuing disability due to one hip being fractured or dislocated. | £11,000 |
| Face | Several face fractures. | £11,000 |
| Neck | A seriously disabling neck injury that is not permanent. | £3,500 |
| Skull | A simple fracture which requires an operation. | £3,500 |
| Eye | A blow out or other fracture of the eye that necessitates an operation. | £2,400 |
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.
- Equipment that was damaged in the incident that you relied on as a physical aid, such as your glasses.
- Adaptations to your home to cope with your injuries, such as a stairlift or ramp.
- Equipment that you need to cope with your injuries, such as special kitchen equipment.
All of these costs must have resulted from your injury and be necessary and reasonable. They also cannot be available for free anywhere else.
You may also be able to claim back a loss of earnings as part of your claim. To learn more about the criteria that must be met to claim for a loss of earnings, contact our advisors. Our team could inform you whether you could be eligible to make a claim through the CICA.
Make A No Win No Fee Claim For Assault Compensation Using Our Panel Of Solicitors
A solicitor from our panel could help 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 your compensation award.
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 questions about making an assault claim through the CICA.