Physical and Sexual Abuse Claims

If you're a survivor of physical or sexual abuse, you might be able to claim compensation from those responsible.

If you're the parent or guardian of a child who’s been abused, you could make a claim on their behalf—find out more about making a child abuse compensation claim here.

You could also make a claim on behalf of a parent or older relative in cases of elder abuse.

You can also claim on behalf of a loved one who has died because of abuse, or who lacks the mental capacity to make their own legal decisions.

As technology has developed, the type of abuse claims we've handled has grown to include the use of online messaging services and explicit pornographic imagery, and we take these cases just as seriously as any other.

It doesn't matter who the abuser was—if someone has taken advantage of their position of trust or authority, or if an organisation responsible for your safety has failed you, then you might have a case.

For example, it might not seem like it's possible to claim when abuse was from a family member. However, we may be able to prove that a local authority or social services failed to recognise that abuse was being committed and didn't do enough to protect you.

To make a compensation claim for abuse, the first thing you need to do is get in touch with us for a free consultation. We'll discuss the circumstances of your abuse, advise you on whether or not we think you can claim, and work out whether you could benefit from legal aid or a No Win No Fee* arrangement.

If you decide to make a claim with us, we'll usually follow the same four stages:

1. Investigation. We'll take a full history from you, taking time to understand what happened and when. We’ll note any injuries or psychological trauma you've experienced and we may refer you for a medical or psychological examination to investigate the full impact of your abuser's actions. We may also look into records kept by the police, courts, schools, Local Authorities, or medical institutions. We'll also need to work out who the claim will be made against. It could be an individual, or an organisation either responsible for that person's actions, or for your safety. If it's an individual, our investigators will look into their financial assets to find out if they'll be able to pay any settlement we agree.
2. Rehabilitation. Abuse, whether physical, sexual or emotional, can have long-lasting impacts on both physical and mental health, and we'll help you to access any medical or psychological care and support you need, both now and in the future.
3. Compensation. We'll work out how much compensation you should get based on the severity of your injuries or trauma, your pain and suffering, any medical expenses you've had to pay, and whether your abuser has impacted your ability to find work.
4. Conclusion. If your opponent accepted blame, you'll be awarded compensation. If not, the case will be settled in court, but this is rare. If you do have to go to court, we'll be there to support you every step of the way. If we agreed to handle your claim under a No Win No Fee* arrangement, then you won't have to pay anything if your case is unsuccessful.

If you have any questions about the claims process for abuse compensation, please contact us today on 0808 303 8228 for your free initial consultation.

How much compensation you receive for an abuse claim depends on several factors that vary from case to case, including:

• The type of abuse experienced
• The extent and duration of the abuse
• Physical injuries experienced as a result, and any treatment needed both now and in the future
• Psychological trauma, and any therapy or counselling needed both now and in the future
• The extent the abuse has had an impact on your education
• Impacts on your ability to find work because of abuse.

The compensation you receive may also depend on who the claim is being made against.

We'll investigate and advise on whether it's possible to make a claim against:

• The abuser themselves
• The organisation the abuser worked for or was associated with
• An organisation that should’ve done more to protect you from abuse.

Positions of trust can be taken advantage of by abusers and paedophiles in a range of scenarios. Survivors like you have been able to claim compensation for physical and sexual abuse against many types of institutions, including:

• Individual abusers, including health professionals and family members
• Schools
• The Scouts Association
• Religious organisations
• Charitable organisations
• Youth clubs
• Sports teams
• Hospitals
• Care and nursing homes
• Children's homes.

It might not always come down to the institution or organisation itself—claims are also valid if it’s possible to prove that another organisation like social services failed in its duty to protect vulnerable people from harm.

It's perfectly normal to have doubts about making a claim, and some of our clients worry about facing a sexual abuser in court. It’s important to note, however, that most cases get resolved before needing to go to court.

We handle every aspect of your case for you, and, in our experience, most sexual abuse claims are settled out of court.

Of course, if you do have to appear in court, we'll be there to represent and support you at every step of the way.

Many of our cases are funded with a no win no fee agreement. This means that there’s no financial risk to you when making a compensation claim.

There are other funding options available for abuse claims, but don’t worry, we’ll discuss all of them with you before we start working on your claim.