Abuse & Criminal Injury Claims

Neglect, abuse or violent crime all come with serious and long-lasting effects for those involved, and their loved ones, and it can be difficult to know who to turn to.

Many people are left feeling isolated and unsure of what to do next, but we can help.

If you or a loved one has been left with physical injuries or psychological trauma after abuse, neglect, an assault or a terrorist attack, our solicitors could help you claim compensation. We have the largest personal injury team in the UK, with specialist lawyers working solely on abuse claims and criminal injuries compensation.

We understand just how difficult these situations can be, particularly when injuries have been caused by someone you know and trust, such as a family member, or by those meant to protect and care for us, such as teachers, police officers, or medical staff. Our experience has seen us help people in a wide range of circumstances, including:

If you would like to begin making a claim, or have any questions about the process, please don’t hesitate to contact us for a free consultation with one of our team. You can call us on 0800 022 3503, or alternatively you can contact us online and we’ll get back to you.

Legal aid available in some cases

Experienced criminal injury and abuse lawyers

Members of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers

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Luke Daniels Partner Meet The Team

Abuse & Criminal Injury Claims - More Information

Seeing him suffer because of everything that happened was heartbreaking. He was a decent man that was damaged beyond repair due to what happened to him as a child. We all remain devastated that he is no longer here and if he was he could now receive the care he needed to try and come to terms with what happened.”

Client's sister

Client Story - Royal Air Force Cadets historical child abuse

“This substantial settlement, which we believe is one of the highest in the UK for this type of case, has been carefully calculated to reflect the gravity of what happened and the impact it’s had on her life.

“However, while no amount of money can ever make up for the years of suffering my client has been through, we hope it means she can now try and start to look to the future as best she can.” – Tom Fletcher, Partner

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s The Difference Between Criminal Injury, Abuse And Neglect?

Criminal injury is a broad term for injuries sustained as a result of violent crimes, which could include:

Assaults
Physical and sexual abuse
Hit-and-run incidents
Infant assaults (often known as “shaken baby” cases)
Terrorist attacks

Criminal injuries that aren’t related to abuse usually need to be claimed for through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), but in abuse cases we can often make a claim directly against the abuser, or an organisation responsible for them, such as a local authority.

Abuse is classed as a deliberate act of harm, but generally refers to:

Physical abuse
Sexual abuse
Emotional abuse

Neglect is defined as a lack of basic care, which could include someone being:

Left unsupervised
Left unwashed
Denied food and drink
Denied medical care
Left to develop pressure sores through lack of assisted movement

This could be deliberate, or it could be because of a lack of staff or resources within a particular organisation that means people can’t always get the support they need.

If you’re not sure exactly how your claim would be classified, or have any other questions about the claims process, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on 0800 056 4110 for a free consultation with one of our solicitors.

Who Can Claim Compensation For Criminal Injury Or Abuse?

If you’ve been injured or experienced psychological trauma because of an assault, attack, neglect or abuse, then you could be able to claim compensation.

You may be able to claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), or against the person responsible. You may also be able to make a claim against an organisation responsible for your assailant or abuser, such as social services.

If you’re claiming through the CICA, you’ll need to have reported the attack to the police, and helped them with their enquiries, as this is a key part of building your case.

However, a criminal conviction isn't always necessary. We can and have helped victims of violent crime claim compensation when an attacker was never caught, identified or convicted. In many abuse cases, it’s also a sad fact that the police have not believed a report, and we can help in these situations too.

You can also claim on behalf of someone else in the following circumstances:

If your child has been a victim of a violent crime or abuse, and is still under 18
If a relative lacks the mental capacity to make their own legal decisions
If a loved one has died as a result of a violent crime or abuse

You may also be able to claim if you were the witness of a violent incident that has caused you psychological distress, particularly if the person involved was a friend, relative, child or partner.

If you're unsure whether or not you'll be able to claim compensation, it's best to seek some advice from the experts. Contact us today on 0800 056 4110 for a free initial consultation with one of our team, who will advise you on your options.

Why Choose Irwin Mitchell For A Criminal Injury Or Abuse Claim?

Abuse or criminal injury, in any form, is a serious, traumatic and life-changing experience, and claiming compensation in what is already a difficult time can seem like an incredibly daunting prospect. That’s why it helps to have the experts on your side.

Our personal injury team is one of the largest in the UK, made up of dedicated criminal injury and abuse lawyers recognised as leaders in their field. The team includes panel members with the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers (ACAL), as well as a Fellow of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), and we regularly provide training to external organisations too.

Our work has seen us involved in a diverse range of injury and abuse claims, including:

£4.3 million for a 14-year-old girl who sustained a major brain injury at just four months old, leaving her with significant disability. We helped make her claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA)
Compensation for over 30 women who were sexually abused and assaulted by their GP, which was allowed to continue despite several complaints
Compensation for a historic case of child abuse within the Catholic church that took place in the 1990s. We challenged laws on time limits and persisted with the claim to ensure our client received compensation
Maximum compensation awards for two children who were subjected to horrific child abuse by the family of their foster parents, leaving them in need of therapy for the rest of their lives. The case was originally dismissed by the CICA but we were able to secure the settlement they deserved
A five-figure settlement for a client with dementia who suffered head and shoulder injuries after falling at home, following a failure to carry out a risk assessment.

We've been extremely active in developing laws around abuse over the last two decades, including being the first firm to recover over £1 million for a family subjected to severe abuse and neglect during childhood.

If you have any questions about the claims process, or would like to begin making a claim, contact us today on 0800 056 4110 for a free consultation with one of our team.

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