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Assault Compensation Claims

England & WalesLast reviewed 18 September 2026

If you were assaulted you can apply to the CICA, whether or not the attacker is found, and may also have a civil claim against the attacker or, in some cases, a business or employer that failed to keep you safe. Reporting to the police quickly is the key practical step.

The CICA Route

Direct Answer: The CICA scheme compensates victims of violent crime in Great Britain by reference to a tariff of injuries, subject to time limits, cooperation with police and eligibility rules such as those about unspent convictions.

It is the most reliable route where the attacker is unknown or cannot pay. The award is decided on the papers, and if you disagree you can ask for a review and appeal to an independent tribunal. Legal advice is optional.

Suing the Attacker or a Third Party

You can bring a civil claim against the attacker for damages, but recovery depends on the attacker having means. A claim against another party can succeed if they owed you a duty of care and breached it, for example a venue that failed to take reasonable steps to protect patrons where violence was foreseeable, or an employer that failed to protect staff from a known risk of violence at work. These claims are fact-specific.

Preserving Evidence

Report the assault to the police and get a crime reference number, seek medical treatment and keep records, photograph injuries, identify witnesses and CCTV, and preserve messages. If it happened at a licensed venue or workplace, note the security arrangements and any earlier incidents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim compensation if I was assaulted?

Yes, potentially, through the CICA, and through a civil claim against the attacker or another party that failed in a duty to protect you. The best route depends on who is responsible and whether they can pay.

Does the attacker have to be convicted?

No, for the CICA. You should still report the crime promptly and cooperate with the police.

Can I sue a pub or club where I was assaulted?

Sometimes, if it failed to take reasonable steps to protect patrons and the violence was reasonably foreseeable, for example through inadequate door staff after earlier incidents. These claims turn on their facts.

What if I was assaulted at work?

You may have a claim against your employer if it failed to protect you from a known risk of violence, as well as a CICA application, and workers' injuries must be reported under workplace safety rules.

How long do I have?

The CICA generally requires an application within two years of the incident, and a civil claim for personal injury has a three-year period, with special rules for children and discretion for late claims.

Do I need a solicitor to apply to the CICA?

No. Applying to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority is free and you can do it yourself, and the scheme does not pay your legal costs. If you do use a solicitor or claims service, agree fees in writing first and check whether any charge will come out of your award.

You May Also Be Interested In

Criminal Injuries

Compensation for victims of violent crime

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How to Claim Criminal Injuries Compensation

The state CICA scheme, deadlines and eligibility

Read more

Domestic Violence Compensation Claims

Compensation after domestic abuse

Read more

Sexual Assault Compensation Claims

CICA and civil claims after sexual violence

Read more

Employers' Liability

Claims by workers injured through employer failures

Read more

Where this applies: This page covers England and Wales. The rules in Scotland and Northern Ireland are different.

Sources for this page

Every rule stated above is based on the primary sources below. Each link goes to the legislation, court rule or regulator itself so you can check it. Last verified 18 September 2026.

  1. Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, s.58 (conditional fee agreements)

    The provision that makes CFAs lawful and enforceable. CFAs derive from this section, not from LASPO.

  2. Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, arts. 4–5 · in force from 1 April 2013

    Art. 4 caps the success fee at 100% of base costs. Art. 5 caps what may be taken from damages in personal injury at 25% of PSLA plus past pecuniary loss, net of CRU, at first instance.

  3. Civil Procedure Rules, Part 44 (incl. rr.44.13–44.17, QOCS)

    Qualified one-way costs shifting and its exceptions. Rule 44.14 was amended with effect from 6 April 2023.

  4. Limitation Act 1980, s.11 (personal injury actions)

    Three years from the date of the accident or the date of knowledge. Property damage such as a damaged vehicle is a separate claim with a longer six-year period under s.2.

  5. Limitation Act 1980, s.14 (date of knowledge)

    The three-year period can run from the 'date of knowledge': when you first knew the injury was significant and attributable to the act or omission alleged to be negligent. Central in delayed-diagnosis cases.

  6. Limitation Act 1980, s.28 (extension for disability)

    Time does not run while a person is a child or lacks capacity to conduct proceedings. For a child's personal injury claim the three years generally starts on their 18th birthday.

  7. Limitation Act 1980, s.33 (discretionary exclusion of time limit)

    A court can allow a personal injury claim to proceed out of time where it is equitable to do so. It is a discretion, not a right, and should not be relied on.

  8. Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012

    State scheme for victims of violent crime in Great Britain. Applications must be made as soon as reasonably practicable and within two years of the incident (para 87), with special rules for those under 18 (para 88); awards are tariff-based to a maximum of £500,000, and unspent convictions and delay can reduce or bar an award.

  9. Criminal injuries compensation: a guide (GOV.UK)

    Official guidance on who can apply, what counts as a violent crime of a type covered, how to apply and what to expect. Applying is free, and you do not need a solicitor.

  10. Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme — injury payments (GOV.UK)

    Explains how the tariff of injuries is used to set the award for each injury type, and how multiple injuries are handled.

Who wrote and checked this page

Written and published by
Edward & Amaury Solicitors (Edward & Amaury Ltd, company no. 12195443), regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under no. 800525.
Legal review
Checked for England & Wales by Edward & Amaury Solicitors — Solicitors regulated by the SRA (no. 800525) (verify on the regulator’s register).Review is recorded against the firm. The individual reviewer is not named on this page.
Review dates
Last reviewed 18 September 2026. Next review due 18 March 2027.

Fee rules change. California’s medical malpractice fee limits changed on 1 January 2023, and the QOCS rules in England and Wales changed on 6 April 2023. If you spot something out of date, tell us — we publish corrections.

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Where this applies: This page covers England and Wales. The rules in Scotland and Northern Ireland are different.

Sources for this page

Every rule stated above is based on the primary sources below. Each link goes to the legislation, court rule or regulator itself so you can check it. Last verified 2 August 2026.

  1. Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, s.58 (conditional fee agreements)

    The provision that makes CFAs lawful and enforceable. CFAs derive from this section, not from LASPO.

  2. Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, arts. 4–5 · in force from 1 April 2013

    Art. 4 caps the success fee at 100% of base costs. Art. 5 caps what may be taken from damages in personal injury at 25% of PSLA plus past pecuniary loss, net of CRU, at first instance.

  3. Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, ss.44–46 · in force from 1 April 2013

    Ended recoverability of success fees and ATE premiums from the losing party. Did not create or regulate CFAs.

  4. Civil Procedure Rules, Part 44 (incl. rr.44.13–44.17, QOCS)

    Qualified one-way costs shifting and its exceptions. Rule 44.14 was amended with effect from 6 April 2023.

Who wrote and checked this page

Written and published by
Edward & Amaury Solicitors (Edward & Amaury Ltd, company no. 12195443), regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under no. 800525.
Legal review
This page has not yet been through independent legal review. It is written from the primary sources listed below, which you can check directly.
Review dates
Last reviewed 2 August 2026. Next review due 2 February 2027.

Fee rules change. California’s medical malpractice fee limits changed on 1 January 2023, and the QOCS rules in England and Wales changed on 6 April 2023. If you spot something out of date, tell us — we publish corrections.