Physical & Sexual Abuse Claims

If you've experienced physical or sexual abuse, it may not feel like there's anyone you can turn to. But there are support systems in place for abuse survivors, and our solicitors could help you claim compensation from those responsible.

We understand that these cases require specialist knowledge, experience, and sensitivity. Our specialist team of criminal injury and abuse lawyers has acted for hundreds of abuse survivors over the past two decades.

We've helped people claim for abuse that occurred in a number of circumstances, and we have extensive experience with child abuse cases. Claims could be made against:

The individual who committed the abuse
An organisation responsible for that person, usually an employer
An organisation that should have taken steps to prevent abuse, but failed – such as social services

Whoever your claim is against, we'll work closely with you, in total confidentiality, throughout your case. Our solicitors have dedicated their careers to helping survivors of abuse, and we can help you too.

It's perfectly normal to have doubts about making a claim, and some of our clients worry about facing an abuser in court. But we handle every aspect of your case for you and, in our experience, the vast majority of 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.

Even if the abuse happened many years ago, you may still be able to claim. We've helped a number of our clients claim for non-recent sexual abuse that happened decades ago. Contact us online or call on 0800 022 3503 today for a free initial consultation with one of our solicitors – we're here to help.

Legal aid may be available in some cases

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Experienced physical and sexual abuse solicitors

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Physical & Sexual Abuse Claims - More Information

To make a compensation claim, 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:

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 as a result 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 have to look into their financial assets to find out if they'll be able to pay any settlement we agree.
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.
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.
Conclusion. If your opponent accepted blame, you'll be awarded compensation. If not, the case will be settled in court – although this is rare. If you do have to go to court, we'll be there 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 you were unsuccessful.

If you have any questions about the claims process, please contact us today on 0800 022 3503 for your free initial consultation.

I just felt that they were very competent and that I could trust them, which is very important in a case like this. It’s hard to explain – I have nothing but praise about how we were treated.”

Peter, London

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Does Physical And Sexual Abuse Occur?

Tragically, there are many circumstances in which physical and sexual abuse can occur, with abusers and paedophiles often using a position of trust or authority to take advantage of or cause harm to vulnerable people.

We have experience helping survivors claim compensation in a wide range of physical and sexual abuse claims, including cases against:

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

However, making a claim isn't limited to just these examples, and if you've experienced physical or sexual abuse of any kind then you still may be able to claim. It's not always a case of claiming against the person who actually committed the abuse, or the organisation they worked for – it could be that we can prove another organisation, such as social services, failed in their duty to protect you from someone else.

If you're not sure if you'll be able to make a claim, or who you'd be claiming against, contact us on 0800 022 3503 to discuss your circumstances with one of our solicitors in a free consultation.

Who Can Claim Compensation For Physical And Sexual Abuse?

If you're a survivor of physical or sexual abuse, then you could claim compensation from those responsible.

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

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 as a result 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 or 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 to adequately provide protection, then a claim could be made.

For example, it might not seem like it's possible to claim when abuse was from a family member, but 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.

You generally have three years from the date the abuse occurred to make a claim, or by your 21st birthday if you were under 18 at the time, but there is often a case to be made for pursuing compensation after this date. Whether or not you'll be able claim for non-recent child abuse is judged on a case-by-case basis by the courts, so it's best to get in touch with us for some advice.

Call us on 0800 022 3503 today to discuss your circumstances in a free consultation. One of our specialist lawyers will provide their expert advice on your case, and go over your options with you.

How Long Do I Have To Make A Claim?

Experiencing any kind of physical or sexual abuse can be traumatic, and it helps to have the experts on your side to help you seek justice from an abuser, or an organisation that allowed abuse to happen. Remember that you're not alone – we're here to help.

Our personal injury team is the largest in the UK, with specialists in physical and sexual abuse and a dedicated child abuse department. We've been incredibly active in developing laws around abuse over the last two decades, including being the first firm to recover over £1 million for a family subjected to severe abuse and neglect during childhood.

The team includes panel members with the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers (ACAL), as well as a Fellow and Senior Litigators with the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), and we regularly provide training to external organisations too.

Our work has seen us involved with a many different kinds of abuse claims, both large and small, including:

Compensation for over 30 women who were sexually abused and assaulted by their GP, which was allowed to continue despite several complaints – find out more about their claim.
A £4.3 million settlement to provide lifetime support for a 14 year-old girl who sustained a major brain injury at just four months. Physical abuse from her mother left her with significant disabilities that need round-the-clock care – find out more about her claim.
£77,000 for a young woman who was sexually assaulted by a fellow patient in Edgware Community Hospital after being left unsupervised against recommendations – find out more about her claim.

If you have any questions or concerns about making a claim, call us today on 0800 022 3503 for a free consultation with one of our solicitors and we'll be happy to help. Alternatively, you can contact us online and we'll get back to you.

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Physical & Sexual Abuse Claims

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Physical & Sexual Abuse Claims - More Information

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