By Danielle Newton. Last Updated 18th October 2023. An assault could change a victim’s life very suddenly and very significantly. Even if the sufferer makes a full recovery from physical injuries, they could still suffer psychological pain.
This is where Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) takes hold as the secondary consequence of the assault. If you are injured through a violent crime there are different avenues to claiming PTSD compensation payouts.
In this article, we concentrate on claims made through the Criminal Injury Injuries Compensation Authority CICA. However, depending on individual circumstances those injured through violent crime may be able to pursue a civil claim for compensation against the defendant.
Before you read ahead, feel free to get in touch with Public Interest Lawyers. Through a free initial consultancy session, we can answer those questions that you may have. We can also assess your eligibility to claim whether that be through the CICA or against the defendant. To contact us, you can:
- Call 0800 408 7825;
- Fill in the form;
- Or use the Live Chat
Choose A Section
- Case Study: £11,000 Compensation For PTSD Caused By Assault
- What Is Assault And When Could I Claim For PTSD Through The CICA?
- CICA PTSD Payout In The UK – How Much Compensation Could I Receive For PTSD?
- PTSD Claim – Do I Need Evidence To Seek CICA Payouts?
- Make A No Win No Fee Claim For PTSD Compensation
- Further Reads On PTSD Compensation Payouts
Case Study: £11,200 Compensation For PTSD Caused By Assault
The following is a fictional case study of a claimant who suffered physical and psychological injuries because of an assault. It examines the claim they made through the CICA for their PTSD and the CICA PTSD payout they received.
Mr Wilmslow is a teacher, who fell victim to an attempted robbery that turned violent. This happened after Mr. Wilmslow’s told the perpetrators that he did not carry any money with him. He was hit several times in the head.
The assault was captured on CCTV and made local headlines. Even after recovery from his physical wounds, the assault had greatly affected Mr. Wilmslow’s mental health. The attack being near his own home, meant it was something he was still reminded of every day.
Mr. Wilmslow later sought compensation for his injuries, both physical and mental. Compensation payouts for PTSD can be sought alongside compensation payouts for the physical injuries from an assault.
The case study above is created as an example to illustrate a payout for several injuries. For information about court cases involving PTSD in the UK, please reach out to our team.
What Is Assault And When Could I Claim For PTSD Through The CICA?
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) defines assault as any act (and not an omission to act) by which a person intentionally or recklessly causes another to suffer or apprehend immediate unlawful violence. The CPS decides which criminal cases to prosecute in England and Wales.
You may wonder what the eligibility for a CICA PTSD payout in the UK is if you suffered a mental health injury as a result of experiencing an assault. If you are seeking compensation for PTSD through the CICA, you must have:
- Reported the incident to the police. You will need your police reference number to make a claim.
- Adhered to the time limit. This is generally 2 years to start your claim. However, there are some exceptions.
- Suffered an injury in a crime of violence. This is an attack, an act that is violent in nature that causes harm, the threat of an attack where the person has reasonable firmness to be in fear, sexual assault and arson. Your injury could be physical, mental or both.
- Been a witness of the incident or the immediate aftermath where a loved one was criminally injured.
Additionally, the incident must have occurred in England, Scotland, Wales or another relevant place.
If you have any questions about claiming PTSD compensation payouts in the UK, please speak with one of the advisors from our team.
CICA PTSD Payout In The UK – How Much Compensation Could I Receive For PTSD?
You may want more information about the amount of compensation for assault or PTSD compensation you could receive. If you’re claiming through the CICA, the compensation would be assessed using their tariff. This is detailed in The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
If you suffer multiple injuries because of the assault, you can claim compensation for up to three injuries. When this is the case, you would receive 100% compensation for the primary injury, 30% compensation for the second highest-value injury and 15% for the third-highest value.
You can use the table below for more information about potential assault compensation payouts.
Type of Injury | Notes | Compensation Amount |
---|---|---|
Mental Injury | A permanent mental injury as confirmed by a professional, that is seriously disabling. | £27,000 |
Mental Injury | A permanent mental injury that is moderately disabling. | £19,000 |
Mental Injury | A disabling mental injury, as confirmed by a psychiatrist, that lasts for 5+ years but is not permanent. | £13,500 |
Mental Injury | For 2-5 years the person will suffer with a disabling mental injury. | £6,200 |
Mental Injury | A mental illness, as confirmed by a professional, that lasts between 28 weeks to 2 years. | £2,400 |
Mental Injury | A disabling mental injury that last between 6-28 weeks. | £1,000 |
Lung | Both lungs have been punctured. | £4,600 |
Lung | One lung has been punctured. | £1,800 |
Torso – Scarring | A serious disfigurement due to scarring on the torso. | £3,500 |
Torso – Scarring | Scarring to the torso that causes a significant disfigurement. | £1,000 |
If you would like more information about claiming a CICA PTSD payout, please contact our advisors for legal advice that is completely free. They can inform of your eligibility and connect you with an experienced solicitor from our panel who could help build your case.
PTSD Claim – Do I Need Evidence When Seeking A CICA Payout?
For your PTSD claim to be successful, you will need to provide the relevant evidence. For CICA claims, you will need to provide the following:
- A police reference number to prove that you reported the incident.
- Proof that you meet the residency requirements.
- Medical evidence about the injury you suffered. This could be a copy of your medical records stating that you were diagnosed with PTSD.
The CICA will be able to liaise with the police for information relating to the incident so you shouldn’t need to provide any further evidence.
Do not hesitate to contact our advisors today if you have any questions about post-traumatic stress disorder compensation claims through the CICA. Our advisors are available 24/7 and could offer you free legal advice regarding your specific claim.
Make A No Win No Fee Claim For PTSD Compensation
Are you looking to make a claim for PTSD? Compensation success stories can involve when a solicitor has succeeded in helping you make a claim.
Our panel of mental health solicitors can help you make a PTSD claim. Furthermore, a solicitor from our panel could help you out on a No Win No Fee basis.
Under a type of No Win No Fee agreement, known as a Conditional Fee Agreement, your solicitors take a legally capped percentage of your compensation if your claim succeeds. However, if your claim fails, you won’t be required to pay for your solicitor’s services.
Find out your eligibility to work with our panel of No Win No Fee solicitors by getting in touch. Our advisors are available 24/7 and can offer you a free consultation.
Now we want to hear your story. How did your assault occur? And how did your Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder take effect?
By establishing communication with Public Interest Lawyers, we can begin to answer these questions for you. Call us on 0800 408 7825, complete the form on our website, or message us on the Live Chat.
Further Reads On PTSD Compensation Payouts
Thank you for reading our guide about PTSD compensation payouts. For further information, you can take a look at the six links below.
You can firstly see all of the services courtesy of Public Interest Lawyers.
Additionally, you can read about public liability claims.
You can check out information on how to potentially reduce public liability claims.
Find out if you can claim compensation if you have a broken jaw after an assault.
The NHS has a page dedicated to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
They have an additional section on specific treatment for PTSD.
And they have a page outlining all of their services for patients.