In this guide, we discuss the role of child sexual abuse solicitors when looking to claim compensation. We explain how to make a child sexual abuse claim and how a solicitor could support you in this process.
Child sexual abuse solicitors – a guide
Also, we look at the eligibility criteria for making this type of criminal injury compensation claim and outline what historic abuse is. Furthermore, this guide explores how a value could be assigned to the harm suffered due to a violent crime and what could be included in your compensation.
To conclude, we examine the benefits of instructing a No Win No Fee legal professional should you want expert advice and have a valid criminal injury claim. To discover if you could be eligible to work with a solicitor from our panel, contact our team of advisors now for a free case assessment.
You can contact our advisors by:
- Calling us on the above number
- Filling in the contact us form on our website
- Speaking with us via live chat on our website
Browse Our Guide
- How Could Child Sexual Abuse Solicitors Help You Claim?
- When Can You Claim For Child Sexual Abuse?
- Compensation You Could Receive From A CICA Claim
- What Evidence Do You Need In CICA Claims?
- See If You Can Claim With No Win No Fee Child Sexual Abuse Solicitors
- Learn More About Claiming Historic Abuse Compensation
How Could Child Sexual Abuse Solicitors Help You Claim?
If eligible, you could claim compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), an agency of the Ministry of Justice. Although there’s no requirement to use child sexual abuse solicitors when making criminal injury compensation claims through the CICA, there are several benefits to doing so. For example, they could help by:
- Assisting you with gathering evidence
- Ensuring you understand the CICA requirements when making a compensation claim
- Corresponding with relevant parties throughout the claims process
- Providing you with an idea of how much your violent crime claim could be worth
What’s more, our panel of solicitors provide the above as part of their service on a No Win No Fee basis; we’ll explain just what this means later on in this guide. Contact one of our advisors today for a free consultation. If they determine that your case is eligible, they may offer to pass you over to one of the child sexual abuse solicitors from our panel.
When Can You Claim For Child Sexual Abuse?
You could be entitled to make a child sexual abuse claim through the CICA, provided you adhere to the eligibility criteria set out in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (2012 Scheme). This is as follows:
- You must have suffered as the result of a violent crime, the definition of which is outlined in the 2012 Scheme
- You need to have reported the incident to the police
- The incident must have occurred in England, Scotland or Wales or another place that the CICA deems relevant. These “relevant places” are set out in the 2012 Scheme
In addition, you must adhere to the CICA time limits. When reporting the incident, you must do so as soon as it is practicable. Typically, it’s expected that this is done as soon as possible, but a reasonable delay because of exceptional circumstances might mean your claim can still be considered.
After the incident was reported, you generally have two years to begin your violent crime claim from the date it was reported. An exception could be made if there are exceptional circumstances that stopped you from being able to do this, such as in certain cases of historic abuse.
A solicitor from our panel could support your child sexual abuse claim if valid. Contact our team of advisors now for a free case assessment.
What Is Historic Abuse?
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) provides a definition of child sexual abuse. It’s classed as when a child is forced or incited into participating in sexual activity. A child might not be aware that they’re being abused, and such incidents don’t necessitate a high level of violence. Historic abuse describes abuse suffered by someone who is now an adult when they were under 18.
To discover if you could work with one of the child sexual abuse solicitors from our panel, contact our team of advisors now. If your case is valid, they may offer to pass you over to a solicitor from our panel.
Compensation You Could Receive From A CICA Claim
Successful criminal injury claim settlements include compensation for the harm you suffered due to the violent crime. The CICA’s injury tariff from the 2012 Scheme will be used to value your claim.
You can claim sexual abuse compensation for up to three types of harm suffered because of the incident. These would be subject to the below formula, and you would receive:
- 100% of the amount displayed for the highest-value injury
- 30% of the amount displayed for the injury with the next highest value or an equivalent tariff value
- 15% of the amount displayed for the injury with the third highest value or an equivalent tariff value
Below we have extracted examples of CICA payouts using their injuries tariff.
Compensation Table
| Injury | Compensation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual assault involving non-penile penetrative and/or oral genital act(s) | £27,000 | A pattern of incidents that cause severe mental illness. |
| £22,000 | A pattern of incidents that cause moderate mental illness. | |
| £22,000 | A pattern of incidents that cause serious internal injuries. | |
| £8,200 | A pattern of incidents over 3 or more years. | |
| £6,600 | A pattern of incidents over up to 3 years. | |
| £4,400 | Two or more isolated incidents. | |
| Sexual assault (Victim under 18) | £3,300 | Serious. Repeated sexual acts underneath clothing that don't involve penetration. |
| £2,000 | Serious. Sexual act(s) underneath clothing that don't involve penetration. | |
| £1,500 | Minor. Frequent sexual physical acts that happen over clothing and don't involve penetration. | |
| £1,000 | Minor. Sexual physical acts that happen over clothing and don't involve penetration. |
Special Expenses In Sexual Abuse Claims
You could also receive compensation for special expenses. These are certain costs and losses you have incurred. They must not have been available for free elsewhere and must have been necessary, reasonable and incurred directly because of the harm you suffered.
Some of the special expenses you can receive compensation for include:
- Care costs relating to bodily functions
- Home adaptations to increase independence
- Equipment such as physical aids
Additionally, you might be able to claim for any earnings you lost. One of the child sexual abuse solicitors from our panel could give you an idea of how much this head of your claim could be worth. To chat with someone about the validity of your criminal injury claim, contact our team of advisors now.
What Evidence Do You Need In CICA Claims?
To make a criminal injury claim via the CICA, you must provide the following to them:
- The police reference number that you would have been supplied when you made a report about the incident
- Medical evidence that highlights how the violent crime has affected you
- Evidence that shows you satisfy the CICA residency requirements
The CICA will be able to communicate with the police to collect any relevant information about the incident or their investigation. They may also confirm details about factors such as your conduct and criminal record, as they can affect an award made by the CICA.
One of the child sexual abuse solicitors from our panel could help gather evidence to support your criminal injury claim as part of their service if your case is valid. Speak with one of our advisors now for a free consultation.
See If You Can Claim With No Win No Fee Child Sexual Abuse Solicitors
If you have an eligible criminal injury compensation claim and want expert advice, working with a solicitor under a Conditional Fee Agreement might benefit you. This is a type of No Win No Fee agreement, and it ensures that:
- You wouldn’t have to pay any costs upfront to begin instruction
- No legal fees would be necessary to continue the case
- An unsuccessful claim would require you to make no payment for the legal services you received
- A successful claim would require the deduction of a small percentage of the compensation you were awarded, which is legally capped and known as a success fee
One of the child sexual abuse solicitors from our panel could offer you this type of agreement. They also have years of experience and only work with claimants they believe have a good chance of success.
If you suffered sexual abuse as a child, contact our team of advisors now to see if you have a valid criminal injury claim by:
- Calling us on the number at the top
- Filling in the contact us form on our website
- Speaking with us via live chat on our website
Learn More About Claiming Historic Abuse Compensation
We hope this guide answers your questions regarding child sexual abuse solicitors. We have included links to further helpful guides below:
- How do I claim for sexual abuse by my father?
- Claiming for sexual abuse by your mother
- Information about school sexual abuse claims
For some external resources, please look here:
- A Government guide about criminal injuries compensation
- A guide from the NSPCC about non-recent abuse
- Information from Victim Support about the help and support they offer
Writer Will Grey
Publisher Fern Scrimshaw
