Rape Compensation - How To Make A Criminal Injury Claim
In our guide to making a rape compensation claim we show how a No Win No Fee solicitor could help you.
£70 million in compensation
Rape Compensation - How To Make A Criminal Injury Claim
In our guide to making a rape compensation claim we show how a No Win No Fee solicitor could help you.
If you have suffered harm due to a sexual offence, such as rape or sexual assault, you could claim compensation. In this guide, we focus on how you could claim rape compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
This guide starts by looking at the eligibility criteria to claim compensation through the CICA. Next, you can find information on the process of making such a claim. This covers how long you have in which to make a criminal injury claim and what evidence you may need to provide.
In addition, we look at how rape compensation awards may be calculated and at whether you can claim for additional losses. At the end of this guide you can also find information on how one of our specialist No Win No Fee solicitors could help you claim. Finally, we have included information on support services which may be available to you.
If you still have any criminal injury claim questions, are ready to make a claim or simply need more advice, you can contact us. Contact our advisors by:
- You can use our online chat to get live support.
- You can ‘contact us’ to request a call from our team.
- Or you can call 0151 375 9916 to speak to an advisor.
Can I Make A Rape Compensation Claim?
Victims of rape or sexual assault could make a compensation claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). The CICA is an executive agency of the Government. It provides compensation to victims of violent crimes in Great Britain. It is Funded by the Ministry of Justice in England and Wales and the Justice Directorate in Scotland.
The CICA considers compensation claims where there is no other avenue to seek compensation. For example, the person who harmed you may not have been identified or caught. They can award compensation for a physical or mental injury.
In order to make a rape compensation claim through the CICA, you will need to show that you meet the criminal injuries compensation eligibility criteria. These are that,
- The incident took place in Great Britain (Scotland, Wales or England) or another relevant place. This can include a ship registered in GB.
- The incident was reported to the police.
- You suffered a physical or mental injury.
- You submit your claim in the relevant time limit.
Can I Claim For Child Sexual Abuse?
Victims of child sexual abuse could claim compensation via the CICA. This may include claims made on behalf of a child who has suffered sexual abuse or in cases of non-recent abuse (also called historical sexual abuse)
In order to make a sexual abuse claim through the CICA, you must meet the eligibility criteria highlighted above. This means the incident must have been reported to the police. It is recognised that children may not always be able to make such a report at the time of the incident.
Victims of historical sexual abuse must report the incident to the police as soon as they are able to do so as adults. In general, this is taken as reporting the incident when they turned eighteen. An exception to this may be made if you can show that there were extenuating circumstances which prevented you from doing so.
Please contact our team to find out if you could claim rape compensation.
How Long Do I Have To Claim For Sexual Assault?
If you are seeking compensation for sexual assault or rape through the CICA, you must do so within the applicable time limit. The standard limitation period is two years. This is taken from the date on which the incident occurred.
Where the person harmed was under eighteen at the time of the incident, the following will be applicable.
- If the rape or sexual assault was reported to the police at the time of the incident, but no claim was made, you must make your claim within two years of turning eighteen.
- If a police report was not made at the time of the incident, you will have two years from the date on which it is reported (if reported after turning eighteen).
There are exceptions to this time limit. You will need to prove that there were extenuating circumstances preventing you making a police report and claim. Examples of this may include instances of historical abuse.
Please get in touch with our team today for more information on how long you have to make a sexual assault claim.
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What Evidence Could Help Me Make A Rape Compensation Claim?
When submitting a claim via the CICA, you will need to include evidence which shows that you meet criteria such as residing in Great Britain and that you were the victim of a violent crime as defined by the scheme. You will also need to submit your crime reference number as proof that the crime has been reported.
Further to this, you can submit evidence which may support your claim for broken bones or claim for bodily scarring related to the sexual assault.
If you are claiming outside the two year time limit, you may provide evidence which shows that there were exceptional circumstances preventing you from having previously made a claim.
How Much Rape Compensation Could I Receive?
Criminal injury claims which are made to the CICA are valued in line with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the scheme). Under the scheme there are fixed tariff amounts which could be claimed for differing types and levels of injury.
If you suffered more than one injury from the main tariff, you will be awarded compensation in line with the multiple injuries formula. You may claim for up to three physical or mental injuries. Using this formula, the injury with the highest value will be awarded the full (100%) tariff value. The second and third highest (or of equal value) injuries are awarded 30% and 15% of the tariff value, respectively.
In addition to this, further payments may be awarded if you lost a foetus, became pregnant or contracted a sexually transmitted infection as a result of a violent crime, such as rape.
In the following table, we have taken relevant entries from the scheme tariff. The initial entry shows the maximum amount of compensation which you could claim via the CICA. The figure includes an award for loss of earnings and special expenses.
Compensation Table
| Injury | Severity | Tariff |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple types of injury | Serious | Up to £500,000 in cases where special expenses and loss of earnings are awarded. |
| Non-consensual penetration of the mouth, anus or vagina. | Causing serious internal injuries and serious mental illness. | £44,000 |
| Non-consensual penetration of the mouth, anus or vagina. | Causing serious internal injuries and moderate mental illness. | £33,000 |
| Non-consensual penetration of the mouth, anus or vagina. | Which causes permanent (severe) mental illness. | £27,000 |
| Non-consensual penetration of the mouth, anus or vagina. | Which causes permanent (moderate) mental illness. | £22,000 |
| Non-consensual penetration of the mouth, anus or vagina. | Which causes serious internal injuries. | £22,000 |
| Non-consensual penetration of the mouth, anus or vagina. | By two (or more) attackers. | £13,500 |
| Non-consensual penetration of the mouth, anus or vagina. | By one attacker. | £11,000 |
| Non-consensual penetration of the mouth, anus or vagina – where the victim is under the age of 18. | Repeated incidents over 3 (or more) years. | £22,000 |
| Non-consensual penetration of the mouth, anus or vagina – where the victim is under the age of 18. | Repeated incidents over a period of up to three years. | £16,500 |
Can I Claim For Financial Losses Caused By Sexual Assault?
If you are awarded compensation for your injuries you may also be compensated for both lost earnings and what are called special expenses.
Special expenses could compensate you for reasonable and necessary expenses which were directly caused by the violent crime. Examples may include the replacement of aids, such as glasses, damaged in the incident. Further examples may include equipment necessary to cope with your injury.
You may also be able to claim for lost earnings. You must meet specific criteria in order to do so.
Please contact our team for an assessment of your rape compensation claim.
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Can I Claim For Rape and Sexual Assault On A No Win No Fee Basis?
Claiming compensation for criminal injuries can be a complex process. At a time when you may already be distressed, having the support of an experienced solicitor can be valuable. If you choose to get in touch with our team and work with one of our solicitors, they could support and guide you through the CICA claims process.
Our solicitors are experienced in helping people seek compensation in sexual assault cases. They may offer to do so on a No Win No Fee basis, offering you a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).
By using a CFA you will not be put under any financial pressure to make a claim. You won’t have to pay any solicitors fees before or during the claims process. Instead, you pay a success fee only if and when your claim is successful.
If you win your case, your solicitor will deduct a percentage of the compensation as their fee. This is agreed upon in the CFA and the maximum percentage which may be deducted is capped by law. If your claim for rape compensation is not successful, you won’t have to pay for the solicitor’s work.
Please contact our team for more information on how we could help rape victims.
- Phone of one our advisors today on 0151 375 9916.
- Use the live chat on this page.
- Complete our call back form by clicking ‘contact us’.
Help And Support For Rape Victims
Through this guide, we have discussed how you could make a rape compensation claim. However, we recognise that victims of rape and sexual assault may need further help and support. In this section, we have included resources and services which provide support to sexual assault and rape victims.
Victim Support
Victim Support is a UK-wide charity which provides help and support to victims of violent crimes such as domestic abuse and other sexual offences.
Rape Crisis
Rape Crisis is a charity in England and Wales which provides help, support and information for women who have been the victim of sexual violence. Learn more here.
Rape Crisis Scotland
Rape Crisis Scotland is a charity which provides help to women who have experienced sexual violence. They can provide help in reporting the crime to the police as well as help you to find local support services.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)
The NSPCC provides information on what child sexual abuse is, such as the signs of abuse and the impact it has on people. You can also find information on what to do if your child has been abused.
NHS Help After Rape
In this NHS resource, you can find out more about what help the NHS could provide after either rape or sexual assault.
More Resources About How To Claim Compensation
Finally, in this section you can find further guides to making a criminal injury claim.
- In this guide we look in more detail at how to make a successful criminal injury claim with a specialist solicitor.
- You could make a CICA claim for broken bones. Learn more in this guide.
- You may make a CICA claim for bodily scarring caused by violent crimes. Read more here.
Further external references
- You can find out more about how to report rape or sexual assault in this government resource.
Find out more about what happens during a police investigation into rape, assault and other offences in this police guide.
Thank you for reading our guide. If you are ready to discuss your rape compensation claim our trained advisors are here to provied confidential support and advice.
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