Sexual Abuse Compensation Claims

There are various stages to go through when making a claim, and sexual abuse, sexual harassment and rape claims can take a long time. It is not uncommon for them to continue for many years. 

Time limits do apply to rape compensation and sexual abuse claims, so it’s important to seek sexual abuse advice as soon as you can. But you may also be able to claim compensation even if the abuse occurred many years ago. 

Get in touch with us on 033 0300 1103 or request a call back and we’ll be in touch to arrange a free, no obligation meeting with a member of the team.

At the start of your claim, your lawyer will begin with an investigation stage to gather evidence in support of your case. This initial work can take many months, depending on the type of evidence we need to gather and whether it’s an abuse, sexual harassment or rape claim being brought forward. 

We will often need to access historical documents such as social services records, education records and medical records. It can be harder to obtain these documents if you suffered abuse a long time ago, as they may have been destroyed or misplaced. 

Locating and speaking to other survivors who have reported abuse at the same institution or by the same individual is also a key part of the investigation stage. Often abusers targeted more than one victim and in these cases the claims can be pursued as a group action. The more people who disclose similar accounts of abuse, the greater the prospect of persuading a court that the abuse occurred. 

In sexual abuse claims, your lawyer may advise you to make a report to the police if you haven’t already done so. Whilst we understand this can be daunting, it does assist in obtaining the evidence needed to proceed with an abuse claim. The civil claims process can seek compensation but it is not designed to punish the abuser, this is a matter for the criminal courts. If the police are investigating your allegations, we will work in conjunction with them to help whenever possible. 

A criminal conviction against your abuser could greatly improve your prospect of recovering sexual abuse, harassment or rape compensation. Therefore it is common to wait for the outcome of the criminal case before progressing a compensation claim. 

At the end of the investigation stage, your lawyer will be in a better position to advise on the merits of your claim and can decide on how to proceed. In our experience, the vast majority of claims settle out of court and we will push for an out of court settlement when it is in your interests to do so. However, it is important that you are aware when starting a case that you may be required to give evidence in court. 

Appearing in court can be demanding and stressful but if your case gets this far, your solicitor will be there to prepare and support you every step of the way. It is important to remember that sexual abuse claims can take a long time to conclude and it is not uncommon for them to continue for many years.

The civil claims process can seek compensation for the abuse suffered. We understand that whilst nothing can change what has happened in the past, compensation can help you to take control of your life and help you to move forward, seek any support you require and start to rebuild your life. 

However, civil claims are not designed to punish the abuser - this is a matter for the criminal courts. If the police do investigate your allegations, we will work in conjunction with them to help wherever possible. A criminal conviction against your abuser could greatly improve your prospect of recovering non-recent abuse compensation. It is therefore common to wait for the outcome of the criminal case before progressing a compensation claim.

The amount of sexual abuse compensation that is recoverable depends on the extent of the injuries suffered and how it has affected every aspect of your life. In addition to payment for any injuries, you can also recover money for other financial losses directly related to the abuse, such as lost earnings.

Following an initial interview, your lawyer will be able to give you guidance about the best way to recover the damages to which you are entitled. Your sexual abuse claim might be against the individual who caused the harm, however it is more common for claims to be pursued against an organisation or employer who is closely connected to the abuser.

In cases involving non-recent sexual abuse, the courts have used their power to allow claims to proceed outside the usual limitation deadline. This is not an automatic right and any further delay in starting your claim could affect your chances of being allowed to proceed. For more information see non-recent abuse claims.

If there is a criminal case proceeding in respect of the abuse, it’s likely your civil claim will be put on hold until the criminal investigation is complete. Because of the deadlines for bringing civil claims, it’s important you start your claim as soon as possible and then agree a postponement with the other parties rather than taking no action at all.

It is not uncommon for civil claims to take many years – an ongoing police investigation can delay cases. Whether the defendant is prepared to admit responsibility and whether it is necessary to issue court proceedings will also impact how long your case takes to settle.

The vast majority of civil claims for compensation are settled out of court. However, you should be prepared give evidence about the non-recent abuse in court if necessary. If you do need to attend court, we will fully support you throughout the whole process.

We offer a “no win, no fee” agreement, which means that you do not have to pay any legal costs if your claim is unsuccessful. We will advise you on the most appropriate funding option for you at the start of your claim.