Criminal Injuries Compensation

What Is a Criminal Injury?

A criminal injury is where physical or psychological harm has been done to you or a loved one by someone committing a criminal act. Criminal injuries also include any mental health problems or emotional problems caused by abuse or a crime of violence.

Criminal injuries can be caused by:

• Assault – Where somebody physical hits, hurts or attacks you.
• Domestic Violence – Domestic abuse can be physical, emotional, psychological, or sexual abuse.
• Sexual Assault – This includes sexual assault, indecent exposure, and rape.
• Harassment and stalking.
• Robbery – Taking money by violence.

It’s not always clear if you have grounds for a criminal injury claim, but you can discuss your situation with one of our compassionate criminal injuries team who can give honest feedback. Fill out an assessment form or call us on 0114 2496 611 to book your free appointment today.

Types of Criminal Injuries Compensation Claims

Our experienced team of solicitors can help you with a criminal injury’s compensation claim for a wide range of criminal injuries, which can include:

Physical Assault

Assault can be one of the most devastating experiences of your life – not only affecting you physically, but mentally. You can make an assault compensation claim if you’ve been the victim of a physical attack or threat, such as:

• Common assault caused by physical harm or threat.
• Actual bodily harm (ABH) which is an assault that has caused more significant injuries.
• Grievous bodily hard (GBH) which is an assault that has caused serious physical injuries.

Sexual Abuse Claims

Sexual abuse includes any form of touching without a person’s true consent. We can help with compensations claims for both adult sexual abuse claims and child sexual abuse claims, or historic sexual abuse claims. If you’ve experienced sexual abuse in any form, you have every right to make a claim for damages, and we’re here to advise and support you through the legal process. This can include sexual abuse suffered:

• In local authority or foster care.
• By person of trust, such as a teacher or police officer.
• Within an organisation.
• By a family member.
• By a criminal during a criminal act.

Abuse and Neglect

Whether you were a child or an adult when you were abused, you are entitled to make a claim for the physical and psychological harm caused by abuse or neglect. This can include:

• Babies suffering an injury by abuse or neglect, such as shaken baby syndrome.
• Abuse or neglect by a hospital / doctor / nurse / medical professional.
• Abuse or neglect by a nursing or care home.
• Domestic violence.

Find out more on abuse and neglect claims.

Human Trafficking Claims

If you are a victim of human trafficking, you may be entitled to make a criminal injuries claim. Human trafficking, or modern slavery, can take many forms, such as:

• Sexual or forced prostitution.
• Forced labour.
• Forced marriage.
• Domestic servitude (such as forced housework or caring for children).

Fatal Injuries

You can potentially claim compensation for fatal injuries for the impact a fatal injury can have on victims’ families and provides compensation to eligible individuals who have lost a loved one because of a violent crime.

Find out more on our fatal accident claims.

What are CICA Claims?

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is an agency  a government funded scheme which pays compensation to victims of violent crime, whether they are physically or mentally injured.

We can help pursue a claim on your behalf through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority for any criminal injuries you have suffered.

Can I Make Criminal Injuries Compensation Claim?

If you were hurt in during that was someone else’s fault, you may be able to make a personal injury compensation claim. To better understand the claims process, here’s what you can expect if you choose to pursue a claim:

• The injury, illness or accident will need to have occurred in the last  2 years (exceptions may be made, for example in children’s claims). * CICA claims are generally 2 years but exceptions can apply, e.g. historic sexual abuse *
• You will need to be honest, and you need to tell us when, where and how you suffered your injury.
• We will listen, be sympathetic and listen to your story, and we will offer advice when suitable.
• We will help you gather all information and evidence needed for your case.
• We will then work with you to prove that your injury or illness was caused by someone else’s actions.
• We will work hard to help you receive interim payments where possible.
• We will try our best to use dispute resolution methods to keep your claim out of court.
• We can help with rehabilitation, therapy, and specialist medical care to help you get back on your feet.
• We can help get compensation for damage to personal property, vehicles and out of pocket expenses.

There are other factors that can impact your criminal injuries claim which can be discussed when you contact our personal injury team. Fill out an assessment form or call us on 0114 2496 611 to book your free appointment today.

No Win No Fee Injury Claim

We believe that everyone deserves access to justice, regardless of their financial circumstances. Our no win no fee agreement, also known as a conditional fee agreement (CFA), helps you take legal action. You don’t have to worry about upfront costs.*

In most cases, if accepted on a no win, no fee basis, you won’t pay a penny upfront for our legal services*. The basis of a CFA is that you will not be required to pay our legal fees if the compensation claim is unsuccessful. Meaning, you will not pay any fees to us unless we win your case for you*.

You can find more information on our no win no fee personal injury claim page. It includes a full list of terms and conditions.

*There are circumstances where you would be asked to pay any outstanding costs even if you don’t win your case.

You may need to pay for services from Howells Solicitors in certain situations. These include being dishonest, not giving your solicitor instructions, or rejecting an offer against their advice. Other examples are the death of the claimant, cancelling your claim, and moving without telling your solicitor.

In these cases, you might also have to cover the defendant’s costs. Client’s may be asked to pay disbursements up front or must stand to the cost of a medical report if a second opinion is obtained. In some instances, you may need to pay for medical reports or other third-party payments upfront. We would discuss this with you before making any decision.

Free Personal Injury Initial Appointment – Step by Step

Step 1 – Book Your Free Consultation
Contact our personal injury claims team by completing our online form or by calling 0114 2496 611. We’ll arrange a free appointment at a time that suits you, including during lunch breaks or after work.

Step 2 – Share Your Story
During your initial telephone appointment, our friendly solicitors will listen to your concerns with care and compassion. We’ll ask for some basic details about what happened and how you’ve been affected.

Step 3 – Get an Initial Assessment
We’ll let you know quickly whether we can help with your injury claim. Our team handles all types of cases, whether large or small.

Step 4 – Understand the Process
Your solicitor will explain the injury claims process in simple terms, guiding you step by step at your own pace.

Step 5 – Case Investigation
If we believe your claim requires further investigation, we’ll open a case and discuss your next steps, including funding options and legal costs.

Step 6 – Ongoing Support
From your first appointment onwards, our personal injury solicitors will provide expert advice, compassionate support, and clear guidance to help you secure the compensation and rehabilitation you deserve.

How to Make an Injury Claim – Step by Step

Step 1 – Free Consultation
Contact Howells Solicitors on 0114 2496 611 or complete our online form. During your free consultation, we’ll ask for some basic details about what happened and how you were affected.

Step 2 – Initial Assessment
Our specialist personal injury solicitors will review your case and let you know if further investigation is needed. We’ll explain your funding options, including No Win, No Fee agreements*.

Step 3 – Case Investigation
If your claim proceeds, we’ll collect and review any statements, evidence and medical records. We may also consult independent, 3^rd party professionals to help your case.

Step 4 – Letter of Claim
Once evidence is gathered, we will formally start legal proceedings by sending a Letter of Claim to the Defendant.

Step 5 – Interim Payments
Where possible, we will secure interim compensation payments to help cover immediate care, rehabilitation, or financial needs while your case continues.

Step 6 – Settlement or Court
We aim to resolve claims through negotiation or mediation, helping you achieve a faster and less stressful outcome. If necessary, we’ll represent you in court to secure the compensation you deserve.

Flexible Appointments

We understand that dealing with personal injury matters can be stressful, and finding time to attend in-person appointments isn’t always easy. That’s why we offer our full range of personal injury services remotely, offering a more efficient and convenient service. We can offer our personal injury legal support via telephone or secure remote online meetings.

This approach allows you to access expert legal advice from the comfort of your home, without the need to travel or rearrange your schedule. If your case requires a court hearing, many procedural matters are now handled remotely too, ensuring your legal journey is as smooth and accessible as possible.

Our remote services are designed to be just as personal and confidential as in-person consultations, with clear communication and full transparency every step of the way. Remote appointments are offered throughout the case, and most correspondence can be handled by email and Howells secure Client Portal.

Whether you’re dealing with sensitive personal injury matters or simply seeking guidance, we ensure a smooth, stress-free experience that puts your needs first. Whilst we appreciate that remote services offer convenience, they may not be suitable for everyone. If you do wish to meet us face to face, you can book an appointment at one of our offices in Sheffield, Barnsley or Rotherham.