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Stabbing Victim Compensation – What Could You Claim?

By Stephen Hudson. Last updated 5th March 2024. In this guide, we will explain how to claim stabbing victim compensation. Stabbing is the act of wounding or killing another person with a weapon or bladed or pointed article.

Stabbing victim compensation guide

Stabbing victim compensation guide

If you were the victim of a stabbing incident, you might have experienced serious or life-threatening injuries. Moreover, the trauma of the violent attack may have caused psychiatric injuries. For example, you may have developed post-traumatic stress disorder following the attack.

Please read on to learn more about what exactly a stabbing injury claim is and how making one works. We’ll also answer popular queries such as how much do you get for victim compensation for those seeking a stabbing compensation calculator or example payouts.

You can claim compensation for being attacked with a knife or pointed object. You can make a criminal injury claim for your injuries through the Criminal Injury Compensation Authority (CICA). The CICA is a government agency set up to help victims of violent crimes. You can claim compensation for being stabbed through the CICA even if your attacker was not identified or prosecuted.

To begin your claim, please get in touch with a Legal Expert today. We can provide you with a skilled criminal injury claims lawyer to manage your case.

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What Is A Stabbing Victim Compensation Claim?

A claim for stabbing injuries can potentially be made through the CICA. If the compensation claim is a success, the payment can include compensation for your injuries. You can also potentially receive compensation to reimburse you for financial losses incurred because of your injuries.

In some cases, you might be able to claim directly against the perpetrator of the crime. However, in order to do this, you’d need to know who injured you, and they would need to have the funds available to pay you compensation. When claiming through the CICA, there’s no requirement for the perpetrator to be identified or have the means to pay you.

Stabbing is an illegal act of assault. The act of stabbing can be classed as an offence against the person, such as grievous bodily harm, manslaughter or murder (or attempted murder). Moreover, stabbing puts the victim’s life at risk. The victim may bleed to death or die because the knife damaged one of their vital organs.

Types Of Stab Wound Injuries

You could claim stabbing victim compensation if you were wounded in a crime of violence. Below are some examples of common stab wound injuries:

  • Minor cuts from a stab wound may still require medical treatment, as they can cause an infection if they are not cleaned and dressed. Furthermore, they might cause scarring that can have a psychological impact.
  • A deep cut or laceration can cause tissue damage. If an artery or vein is cut, the person may bleed profusely and need emergency treatment.
  • A stab wound can go deep enough to damage an organ. This might cause injury to your lungs, heart, kidney or stomach.

Assault And Criminal Injury Statistics

According to the Office for National Statistics, the year ending March 2018 saw the highest number killings using a knife or sharp instrument since 1946, when the Home Office Homicide Index started. One in four of the victims were men aged 18 to 24. 80% of the stabbing homicides happened in a public place, compared to 44% of homicides overall.

Can I Claim If The Assailant Was Not Caught Or Charged?

You can claim stabbing victim compensation through the CICA, even if the police have not identified or prosecuted the assailant. However, the crime must have been reported to the police in order for you to claim.

Normally there is a two-year time limit to make a criminal injury claim. This runs from the date that you reported the incident to the police, which is usually expected straight away. However, if you can show that exceptional circumstances meant that you could only report the incident at a later date, then this can be extended.

Similarly, if you report the incident to the police right away, but do not claim within the two-year time limit because of exceptional circumstances, then you could still be allowed to claim. In both cases, you will need to provide evidence that shows why you weren’t able to make the claim sooner.

For more information on claiming stabbing victim compensation, speak with a member of our team today. You could be connected with a solicitor from our panel to work on your claim.

How To Prove A Stabbing Injury

You can collect evidence to prove that you were the victim of a stabbing injury. This evidence can then be used to support your claim.

  • Please seek medical attention if you have not yet done so. A doctor must diagnose and treat your injuries, so your medical records can be evidence.
  • Take photographs of your injuries. What’s more, if the incident was recorded on CCTV, you can request this footage.
  • Collect witness contact details so that they can give a statement.
  • Seek legal advice. The help and support of a lawyer could help you navigate the process of claiming.

The CICA will require medical evidence if you make a stabbing injury claim through them. If you choose to hire a criminal injury claim solicitor to support your claim, then you should receive support in gathering such evidence.Call us for more information. Alternatively, get in touch for guidance on proving a claim for stab victim compensation in the UK.

How Much Do I Get For Victim Compensation In A Stabbing Incident?

You can use the table below to estimate how much compensation you can claim. The compensation table covers criminal injury compensation payouts for stabbing injuries. The figures are taken from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012

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Injury Notes Settlement
Kidney Injury (A16) An injury resulting in permanent serious damage to a kidney or the loss of the kidney. Could affect both or the only functioning kidney. £55,000
Kidney Injury (A8) Loss of the kidney £11,000
Punctured Lung (A6) Puncturing both lungs. £4,600
Punctured Lung (A2) Puncturing one lung. £1,500
Pancreas (A10) Injury resulting in the loss of the pancreas. £16,500
Scarring – Head (A5) Causing serious disfigurement. £3,500
Scarring – Head (A2) Causing significant disfigurement. £1,500
Scarring – Face (A8) Causing serious disfigurement. £11,000
Scarring – Face (A4) Causing significant disfigurement. £2,400
Scarring – Neck (A6) Causing serious disfigurement. £4,600

When claiming through the CICA, you might also receive special expenses. This can compensate you for any financial impact that your injury has had. For example, you can receive loss of earnings and compensation to cover any physical aids that you rely on and that were damaged in the attack.

When you claim special expenses, you need to show that you lost earning capacity for at least 28 weeks following the incident. Most payments will be backdated to the date of the incident; however, loss of earnings will only be compensated from the 29th week onwards.

Please get in touch with us today to discuss how much you could get for criminal injuries.

Get Help With A Stabbing Victim Compensation Claim

To begin your stab victim compensation claim, please contact us today. If you are eligible to claim compensation, we may be able to connect you with a No Win No Fee solicitor to support your claim.

Traditionally when you claim compensation, you pay a solicitors fee upfront. And if you do not win your claim, you cannot get the costs back.

However, you don’t pay a solicitors fee upfront or as the claim progresses when you make a claim on a No Win No Fee basis. Instead, you pay a success fee if you win your claim. If your claim is lost, there’s no success fee to pay your solicitor at all.

To begin your stabbing victim claim for compensation, please contact us today. If we can see that you are eligible to claim, we can connect you with one of our skilled solicitors to help you.

  • Call our claims helpline on 0800 073 8804.
  • Contact us in writing to start your claim online.
  • Ask a question using our Live Support widget.

Helpful Criminal Injury Victim Resources

If a violent crime has injured you, you may find these online resources helpful.

A guide from Victim Support on your rights if you are the victim of a crime.

Information about taking safety precautions when you are out in public

A CICA guide to claiming criminal injury compensation from the Ministry of Justice

Below, you can learn more about CICA claims via our other guides:

Are you looking for more advice or support regarding a claim for stabbing victim compensation? You are welcome to contact our advisors here at Legal Expert on the phone or online.

Written by Chelache

Edited by Stocks