Assault Compensation Claims — UK Guide (CICA)
If you were physically or psychologically injured in an assault, you may be entitled to compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) — a state scheme funded by the government, not by the person who attacked you. This matters because most attackers have no money and are never worth suing personally. CICA exists precisely so that victims of violent crime are not left with nothing simply because their attacker cannot pay.
In this guide
- What Counts as an Assault Claim?
- What CICA Requires
- Do I Need to Sue My Attacker Instead?
- What Compensation Could You Receive?
- Time Limits
- Evidence That Strengthens an Assault Claim
- No Win No Fee Assault Claims
- Common Questions About Assault Claims
- Related Guides
- Our Partner's Fees Explained
- Check If You Could Claim Compensation For Your Injury
This guide explains what counts as an assault claim, what CICA requires, what compensation typically covers, and how a solicitor can help on a no win no fee basis. For a broader look at how the scheme works across all types of violent crime, see our CICA Eligibility & Tariff Guide.
What Counts as an Assault Claim?
An assault claim covers any physical or psychological injury caused by an intentional, unlawful act of violence — whether or not the attacker was ever caught, charged, or convicted. Common scenarios include:
- An unprovoked attack in the street or a public place
- A physical altercation or fight where you were not the aggressor
- Being attacked while at work — see our assault at work guide
- An assault in a bar, club, or pub — see our bar, club & pub assault guide
- Being attacked by a partner or family member — see our domestic violence guide
- Being injured while stepping in to help someone else who was being attacked
Compensatable injuries range widely in severity, and commonly include:
- Fractures, lacerations, and soft tissue injuries from a physical attack
- Facial or body scarring, particularly where it causes visible disfigurement
- Dental damage from a blow to the face or mouth
- Loss of sight, hearing, or other sensory function
- Brain injury or paralysis from a serious assault
- Psychological injury, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression arising from the attack
What CICA Requires
To succeed with a claim, you generally need to show:
- The crime happened in England, Wales or Scotland and was a genuine crime of violence, not an accident
- It was reported to the police, and you cooperated reasonably with the investigation
- You applied within the time limit, and you meet the residency and nationality rules
You do not need to wait for a police investigation or court case to finish before applying, and a conviction is not required. Full detail is set out in the official CICA eligibility guidance.
CICA must also take into account your own conduct and any unspent criminal convictions when deciding whether to make an award, and at what level. This does not automatically bar a claim, but it can reduce or, in serious cases, defeat one — see the official CICA guide for how this is assessed.
Do I Need to Sue My Attacker Instead?
No. CICA claims are made against the state, not your attacker, so you do not need to identify, locate, or sue the person who hurt you. A separate civil claim directly against an attacker is legally possible, but in practice it is rarely worth pursuing, since most individuals have no assets or income to satisfy a judgment. CICA was set up as the practical route for exactly this reason.
What Compensation Could You Receive?
CICA pays a tariff-based injury payment, generally between £1,000 and £250,000 depending on the nature and severity of the injury, with a maximum total award of £500,000 where multiple heads of loss are combined. Decision-makers use a fixed “tariff of injuries” rather than assessing each case individually from scratch, which is why two people with similar injuries usually receive similar payments. For example, under the published tariff of injuries, significant facial scarring attracts a payment in the low thousands, sexual assault and bereavement payments are around £11,000, and complete paralysis or a very serious brain injury can attract up to £250,000.
If you suffered more than one injury, CICA does not simply add the tariff amounts together. You are paid the full tariff for your most serious injury, plus a percentage of the tariff for the next most serious injuries, so it is worth ensuring every injury is properly documented rather than assuming only the worst one counts. For the specific bands used to value different injuries, see our CICA tariff bands & compensation amounts page, or use our CICA compensation calculator for an estimate.
On top of the injury payment, you may also be able to claim for loss of earnings and certain expenses (such as care, home adaptations, or damaged personal items like glasses) if you were unable to work, or had very limited ability to work, for 28 weeks or longer. The first 28 weeks of lost earnings are not covered. A psychological injury must last at least six weeks and be diagnosed by a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist to qualify as a compensatable “disabling mental injury”. Where an assault tragically results in death, the family may instead be able to claim a bereavement payment and funeral expenses — a route we cover separately.
Time Limits
You must usually apply to CICA within two years of the assault — considerably shorter than the standard three-year limit for civil personal injury claims, so it pays to act quickly. Exceptions exist if you are claiming for childhood sexual or physical abuse, or if your physical or mental health genuinely prevented you from applying sooner. Late applications are not guaranteed to be accepted, so early advice matters.
Evidence That Strengthens an Assault Claim
- The police crime reference number for the incident
- Medical records from A&E, your GP, or hospital treatment
- Photographs of your injuries, taken as soon as possible
- Names and contact details of any witnesses
- CCTV footage, if available, from the location of the attack
- A diary or record of how the assault affected your work, sleep, and daily life
A solicitor will help gather most of this and liaise with the police and CICA on your behalf. See our evidence needed guide for more.
No Win No Fee Assault Claims
It costs nothing to apply to CICA directly yourself, and CICA does not pay your legal costs if you choose to use a solicitor. Claims Bible matches your case to a panel solicitor who will run your CICA claim on a no win no fee basis: if your claim succeeds, a success fee (up to 25% including VAT, or a smaller fixed amount on lower awards) is deducted from your compensation. If your claim is unsuccessful through no fault of your own, you pay nothing. Read more on our how no win no fee works guide.
Common Questions About Assault Claims
The person who attacked me was never caught or charged. Can I still claim?
Yes. CICA does not require a conviction, or even an identified attacker, provided the assault was reported to the police and the evidence supports a genuine crime of violence having taken place.
I have an old unspent conviction. Will that stop my claim?
Not automatically. CICA must consider your character and conduct, including any unspent convictions, when deciding whether to make an award and how much. Depending on the seriousness of the conviction, this can reduce the award or, in more serious cases, mean no award is made. It is worth getting advice on your specific circumstances rather than assuming either way.
I was hurt trying to help someone else who was being attacked. Can I claim?
Yes. CICA recognises claims from people injured while taking a justified and exceptional risk to stop a crime or protect someone else, even if you were not the original target of the attack.
It’s been more than two years since I was attacked. Is it too late?
Usually, yes, but there are important exceptions. If your claim relates to childhood sexual or physical abuse, or your physical or mental health genuinely prevented you from applying sooner, a late application may still be accepted. Speak to a solicitor promptly to check your options rather than assuming the door is closed.
How much compensation could I get for an assault?
It depends on the type and severity of the injury, using CICA’s fixed tariff. For specific bands, see our CICA tariff bands & compensation amounts page or use the CICA compensation calculator for an estimate.
How long does a CICA claim take?
Straightforward claims with clear evidence can be decided within 12 months, though CICA can take considerably longer where the police investigation is ongoing or the injury (particularly a psychological one) needs time to stabilise before it can be fairly valued. See our how long does a claim take guide for general timelines.
Related Guides
Assault at Work Compensation Claims
Bar, Club & Pub Assault Compensation Claims
Domestic Violence Compensation Claims
Sexual Assault Compensation Claims (CICA)
CICA Tariff Bands & Compensation Amounts
CICA Eligibility & Tariff Guide
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