ABH Compensation Claims – Criminal Injury Solicitors

A violent assault can leave you in pain long after the immediate injuries have been treated, particularly when sleep is disrupted, or everyday situations no longer feel as safe as they once did. If the assault caused actual bodily harm and was reported to the police, you may be able to claim ABH compensation through the government-funded Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). When you want clear answers on whether you qualify for CICA compensation and where to begin, Legal Helpline’s panel of criminal injury claims solicitors is here to provide straightforward guidance and help you take the best step forward with confidence.

With that support by your side, you will have an experienced legal representative guiding your application with a clear understanding of what you have been through. Drawing on their knowledge of CICA claims, your solicitor will make sure the physical and emotional effects of the assault are presented with care, while also considering any financial strain the injuries have caused. Their understanding of how each part of the claim fits together means they can deal with the CICA on your behalf and give the application clear direction. As this work is handled on a No Win No Fee basis, you can focus on your health knowing that your claim is in experienced hands. Contact our advisors today for a free, no-obligation assessment to explore your options in confidence.

Jump To A Section

• What Is Actual Bodily Harm?
• How Much ABH Compensation Can I Claim Through The CICA?
• What Factors Will Determine The Amount Of CICA ABH Compensation?
• Can The CICA Compensate Financial Losses Resulting From ABH?
• Who Can Claim For ABH From The CICA?
• What Injuries Could ABH Cause?
• The Process For Claiming ABH Compensation Through The CICA
• Why Use Our Panel Of Solicitors To Make A CICA ABH Claim?
• Can ABH Be Claimed Through The CICA On A No Win No Fee Basis?
• Learn More

What Is Actual Bodily Harm?

Actual bodily harm, often shortened to ABH, refers to an injury caused by an assault that goes beyond something fleeting or minor. The offence is known in law as assault occasioning actual bodily harm and sits below grievous bodily harm (GBH) in seriousness. Injuries that can amount to ABH include significant bruising or damage to teeth, as well as harm that has a noticeable effect on the person who experienced them.

Whether an injury amounts to ABH depends on the harm caused and its effect on the person, rather than the amount of force used during the assault. Our advisors can help you understand how that distinction might apply to your circumstances and explain what it may mean for an ABH compensation claim.

How Much ABH Compensation Can I Claim Through The CICA?

The amount of ABH compensation you can claim through the CICA depends on the severity of the injuries you sustained in the assault and the impact they have had on your life and finances.

Criminal injury compensation is calculated differently compared to personal injury claims. Rather than valuing every effect of the injury individually, the CICA uses a fixed tariff set out in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012. Each injury recognised under the tariff has a set award, and the Scheme also considers psychological harm or situations where more than one qualifying injury has been sustained. These factors can influence the final amount you may receive.

The table below provides a selection of CICA tariff awards that may apply to ABH compensation claims. Please note that the first entry shows the maximum amount the CICA can award for any claim, while the remaining figures are taken from the Scheme.

Injury	Severity	Compensation Tariff
Multiple Severe Injuries + Special Expenses	Severe - Several injuries severe in nature as well as payments for special expenses, such as care and equipment costs, as well as lost income.	Up to £500,000
Mental Injury	Seriously disabling disorder - permanent, lasting 28 weeks or more	£22,000
	Seriously disabling disorder - not permanent, lasting 28 weeks or more	£6,200
Fracture of the Jaw	Operation required, causing continuing significant disability	£6,200
	No operation required, with a substantial recovery	£1,500
Soft Tissue Damage	Damage to one or more of tendon, ligament or cartilage - both legs causing continuing significant disability	£3,500
	Damage to one or more of tendon, ligament or cartilage - one leg causing continuing significant disability	£1,500
	Damage to one or more of tendon, ligament or cartilage - one arm causing continuing significant disability	£1,000
Teeth	Damage to one or more teeth requiring apicectomy	£1,800
	Loss of one front tooth	£1,500

For tailored guidance about ABH compensation, please feel free to have a chat with a member of our advisory team.

What Factors Will Determine The Amount Of CICA ABH Compensation?

Several factors will determine the amount of CICA ABH compensation you receive, including the severity of your injuries and the wider financial effect the assault has had on you. The CICA will use your medical evidence to decide which injuries meet the tariff requirements. That assessment will take account of how long your symptoms lasted and whether you have been left with any ongoing effects.

Other factors that may affect the amount awarded include:

• Whether you suffered more than one qualifying injury.
• Whether you sustained a recognised psychological injury that qualifies for a separate tariff award.
• Whether you qualify for additional payments, such as loss of earnings or special expenses under the Scheme.
• Whether the qualifying injuries fall within different tariff categories under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.

What If Multiple Injuries Are Sustained After ABH?

If multiple injuries are sustained after ABH, the CICA can compensate up to 3of them under its multiple injuries formula. Where the formula applies, payouts are determined as follows:

• 100% of your highest-valued qualifying injury.
• 30% for your second highest-valued qualifying injury (or another injury of equal value).
• 15% for the injury that has the third highest value (or another injury of equal value).

Up to 3 qualifying injuries are included under the multiple injuries formula. However, where the assault also caused pregnancy, loss of a foetus or a sexually transmitted infection, additional payments can be awarded in full.

Legal Helpline’s advisors can help you understand how the formula applies to your injuries and connect you with a specialist solicitor who can explain how your case might be valued.

Can The CICA Compensate Financial Losses Resulting From ABH?

Yes, the CICA can compensate certain financial losses caused by your injuries. These costs are known as special expenses. To qualify, they must be necessary and reasonable, with no equivalent support available free of charge elsewhere. Depending on how your injuries have affected your daily life, special expenses may include:

• Replacing essential physical aids, such as glasses or hearing aids, damaged during the assault.
• Funding essential home modifications or mobility equipment needed to help you safely manage your daily routine.
• Meeting necessary personal care costs if your injuries require paid assistance with day-to-day tasks.
• Paying for supervision where this is needed to protect you or another person from substantial harm.

Beyond these expenses, you may also be able to recover lost earnings, although strict qualifying criteria apply. If an assault has left you facing unexpected costs and you want to find out where you stand, our advisory team is here to provide guidance. Get in touch today for a free, confidential conversation about whether you can pursue a claim for ABH compensation.

 

Who Can Claim For ABH From The CICA?

Most people can claim for ABH compensation from the CICA if they have suffered a qualifying physical or psychological injury as a direct result of a violent crime in Great Britain. However, it is important to note that having an unspent criminal conviction can affect whether compensation is awarded or reduce the amount you receive.

To have a valid application, your circumstances will need to meet specific conditions:

• You suffered physical or recognised psychological injuries as the direct result of a crime of violence.
• The assault has been reported to the police.
• The incident took place in Great Britain or another location covered by the CICA.
• Your claim is made within the relevant CICA time limits, unless exceptional circumstances apply.

Do I Need To Report ABH To The Police To Claim?

Yes, you need to report ABH to the police to claim through the CICA, as the authority uses police information to understand the circumstances of the assault and decide whether it qualifies for compensation. Reporting the incident as soon as reasonably practicable also helps create a clear official record, giving the CICA the information it needs to assess your claim.

What If The Attacker Is Not Caught Or Convicted?

You can still claim ABH compensation through the CICA if the attacker is not caught or convicted. This is because the CICA does not depend on the outcome of a criminal case and will instead consider the available evidence when reaching its own decision. You can therefore pursue compensation even where no prosecution follows.

Can I Claim ABH Compensation For A Child?

Yes, you can claim ABH compensation for a child through the CICA if they were injured in a violent assault. Since children cannot submit an application on their own, you can step in as a parent or guardian to make sure their interests remain protected throughout the claim.

Can I Claim ABH Compensation Outside Of The CICA?

Yes, you can claim ABH compensation outside the CICA by bringing a civil claim against the assailant or, in some workplace cases, an employer who was legally responsible for what happened. When an assault happens at work, an employer can often be held responsible if they failed to protect you from a known risk or if the incident was connected to their business. You may also have the option of taking legal action against the perpetrator directly, provided they have the means to pay any compensation awarded.

Legal Helpline’s advisors can explain which claims route may be most appropriate for your circumstances, so please get in touch today for a free, confidential consultation.

What Injuries Could ABH Cause?

ABH can cause injuries such as deep cuts and minor fractures, while the impact of the assault can also affect mental health. Depending on the nature of the assault, injuries that fall under ABH typically include:

• Lacerations that require stitches or further medical treatment.
• Significant bruising or soft tissue damage that leaves you in pain or restricts your movement.
• Facial and dental trauma, including broken teeth or cuts and swelling that leave lasting marks.
• Minor fractures, such as broken ribs or a damaged nose.
• Psychological harm, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or anxiety.

Whether an injury amounts to ABH will depend on the harm caused and how it has affected you. Legal Helpline’s advisors can help you understand how your injuries may be assessed and what that could mean for an ABH compensation claim.

The Process For Claiming ABH Compensation Through The CICA

Claiming ABH compensation through the CICA begins with creating a clear record of the assault and the injuries it caused. From there, the application needs to show how those injuries have affected your recovery and whether the assault has also left you with qualifying financial losses. A solicitor from our specialist panel can bring those details together in a way that gives the CICA a clear understanding of what you have experienced.

• Keep records of the medical support you receive: These documents can show how your ABH injuries have affected you over time and help your solicitor present your recovery clearly.
• Report the assault: Taking this step creates the official record the CICA will need when considering your claim, so keep hold of the crime reference number you receive.
• Gather supporting evidence: Medical records can help show the injuries you suffered, while police reports give the CICA the detail it needs to understand the assault and consider your claim fairly.
• Record the ongoing impact: Simple notes of changes to your work or everyday routine can help your application reflect how the assault has continued to affect your life.
• Meet the relevant time limits: While claims must be started within the applicable time limit, the CICA can consider an extension in certain circumstances.
• Prepare and submit your application: A solicitor from our specialist panel can bring the evidence together and present the consequences of the assault clearly, giving the CICA a fuller picture of what you have experienced.

For more information on the CICA claims process in ABH compensation cases, please get in touch with our advisory team today.

Why Use Our Panel Of Solicitors To Make A CICA ABH Claim?

When you use a solicitor from Legal Helpline’s specialist panel to make a CICA ABH claim, you are supported by an expert legal representative who understands how compensation applications for victims of violent crime are assessed. They take responsibility for the practical legal work, preparing your application with the care it deserves while you focus on recovering from the assault.

That support continues throughout the application, with your solicitor working carefully to:

• Prepare and submit your application in a way that clearly sets out what happened and how the assault has affected you, giving the CICA the information it needs from the outset.
• Explain how the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme applies to your circumstances and advise on the evidence that will help support your case.
• Obtain medical records and other supporting documentation needed to present a well‑supported application that reflects the impact of the assault.
• Look carefully at how the assault has affected your ability to work or left you with extra costs, so that the financial consequences are properly considered by the CICA.
• Manage communication with the CICA throughout the application and respond to requests for further information. If the decision does not fairly reflect the evidence, they will also advise you on requesting a review or making an appeal.

With this level of support in place, the next step can feel much clearer. Speak with our advisors to see if you can make an ABH compensation claim with a solicitor from our dedicated panel.

Can ABH Be Claimed Through The CICA On A No Win No Fee Basis?

Yes, ABH compensation can be claimed through the CICA on a No Win No Fee basis if a solicitor from our specialist panel accepts your case. Our panel works under a contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), allowing you to seek compensation without paying upfront or ongoing solicitor’s service fees while your claim is being pursued. These fees are also not payable in the event that your ABH claim is unsuccessful.

If your case succeeds, a success fee will be deducted from your compensation. This legally capped percentage will be clearly explained and agreed before your claim begins, giving you a straightforward understanding of how No Win No Fee works before deciding whether to continue.

Contact Legal Helpline

Ready to find out whether you could claim ABH compensation? Legal Helpline’s advisors are here to listen carefully to what happened and explain how the CICA claims process applies to your circumstances. From there, they can connect you with a solicitor from our panel, giving you direct access to experienced legal guidance from the beginning of your claim.

With the right support in place, you can move forward with a clearer understanding of the process and confidence that your application is being handled by someone who knows how ABH claims are assessed.

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Learn More

Read some of our other guides about:

• Can you make a domestic abuse compensation claim?
• How to make a claim for patient abuse in hospital
• Frequently asked questions about criminal injuries compensation

Helpful external resources:

• Learn about CICA statistics from GOV.UK
• Accessing support as a victim of crime, GOV.UK
• Find out when to call 999, NHS.UK

Thank you for reading our ABH compensation guide today.