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Sexually Abused By My Grandfather – Can I Claim Compensation?

By Stephen Hudson. Last Updated 24th August 2024. Knowing what to do if your child is molested by a family member can be incredibly difficult for anyone involved. If you have been sexually abused by grandfather, or your child has been abused by a family member, you should definitely proceed with securing compensation for the traumatic experience you’ve gone through. This is something that we can help you to do here at Legal Expert.

We have many years of experience, and we have helped many people with sexual assault claims. You can be sure that all conversations are 100 per cent confidential and that we will do everything in our power to secure the maximum amount of compensation for you. You can ring our team on 0800 073 8804 for more information. But before you do so, please read on to find out everything you need to know about making claims for molestation within family.

Sexual abuse by granddad

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Sex abuse definition

Sex abuse is a term that is used to describe any unwanted sexual activity or act. There are lots of different types of sex abuse. This includes ritual abuse, rape, sexual exploitation, sexual assault, trafficking, child sex abuse, female genital mutilation (FGM), sexual harassment, ‘honour’ based violence, and rape with relationships and marriage. Sex abuse is not always carried out by strangers. It can also be carried out by family members and people you trust. It is critical to remember that it is never, under any circumstances, your fault.

Different types of sex abuse

There are a number of different types of sexual abuse. Some examples are as follows:

  • Rape
  • Being forced to have a sexual relationship with another person or people
  • Being forced to take part in pornographic images or look at them
  • Being forced to wear clothes you have not chosen
  • Being forced to prostitute yourself
  • Sexual name-calling
  • Degrading treatment
  • Being forced to engage in sexual acts

Are you being abused by your grandfather?

You are being abused if:

  • You are made to do something sexual to another person that is wrong or does not make you feel comfortable
  • You are made to watch someone do something sexual
  • You are forced to look at sexual videos or pictures
  • You are forced to have sex
  • You are being touched in a manner you do not like

Please note that any of the above can be in the real world or in the online world. Being forced to watch something sexual online counts as abuse, as well as watching something in the real world.

Signs your child may be being abused

Rather than saying when something is wrong, children have a habit of showing us. Here are some of the signs you should look out for…

  • Regressing to younger behaviours, for example, bed wetting
  • Sudden unexplained personality changes, seeming insecure, and mood swings
  • Becoming unusually secretive
  • Becoming very clingy or withdrawn
  • Sleeping problems or nightmares
  • Acting out in an inappropriate sexual way with objects or toys
  • Self-harm whether ongoing or occasional
  • Unexplained gifts or money
  • New adult words for body parts and no evident source
  • Change in eating habits
  • Anger outburst
  • Unaccountable fear of people or places
  • Not wanting to be alone with a particular child
  • Running away
  • Physical signs, for example, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, bruises around mouth or genitals, and unexplained soreness

Signs a family member may be using their relationship with your child for sexual reasons

It is not always obvious to find out whether an adult is using their relationship with a child for sexual reasons. However, some of the behaviour you should be looking out for is as follows…

  • They pick on a particular child
  • They spend most of their spare time with children and have no interest in spending time with people their own age
  • They treat your child as a favourite
  • They insist on spending alone time with a particular child with no interruptions
  • They walk in on children in the bathroom regularly
  • They are overly interested in your child’s sexual development
  • They give your child money or expensive gifts for no apparent reason
  • They insist on physical affection with your child, for example, wrestling, hugging, and kissing, even when your child clearly does not want it
  • They regularly offer to baby sit your child for free
  • They take your child on overnight outings alone
  • They do not allow your child to make decisions
  • They do not allow your child sufficient privacy

The different ways you may get compensation

There are three different ways you can go about securing compensation. These are as follows:

  • Sue the abuser for any compensation
  • If the abuser has been prosecuted successfully, you could get a criminal compensation order
  • Make a claim via the CICA/ Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority

Don’t worry about the route you should go down, as we will figure this all out for you once we know about your case.

Time limits on sexual abuse claims

A lot of people are shocked to learn that they only have a certain period of time to make their claim. Unfortunately, this is something many individuals discover when it is too late and so they end up missing out on the compensation that they otherwise would have been entitled to. We don’t want this to happen to you.

All personal injury victims have three years to make a claim. This is three years from the date of the accident. Therefore, if you were involved sexually abused by grandfather on June 10th2017 you will have until June 10th2020 to make a claim. This personal injury claims time limit isn’t flexible. However, there are exceptions to the rule and this is when you have suffered an injury that has occurred over a period of time. This is often the case with abuse. Moreover, a lot of people take years to come to terms with abuse, and this can definitely be considered, so don’t rule out making a claim. The best thing to do is just give us a call and we will explain further.

So, now you know all about the time limits that are in place when it comes to making a claim. Nevertheless, three years may seem like a long time and it is certainly not advisable to wait around to make your claim. The sooner you find the best accident lawyers the better. You will find it much easier to make a claim, as the details will all be new and easier for you to remember. Not only this, but it will be a lot easier to get evidence as well.

Long-term injuries and psychological impact of sex abuse

There is no denying that molestation by family member can have a severe impact on a person. It can result in long-term injuries which impact the person for the rest of their life. The injuries, both physical and psychological, do differ from person to person. This will all be considered when determining the amount of money you will receive when claiming for sex abuse compensation.

What damages can I claim for when making a sexual abuse claim against my grandfather?

When it claims to claiming compensation after being sexually assaulted, you will be able to claim for a number of different things. This includes the following…

  • General damages – This is the payout you will receive for the injuries you have sustained. This relates to both physical and psychological injuries. The report that has been put together by your doctor will be used to determine this.
  • Treatment expenses whether for physical or psychological treatments
  • The cost of counselling to help you get over the trauma – This is often a necessity when it comes to how to deal with molestation years later.
  • Childcare expenses
  • Travel costs
  • Any other costs that you have sustained because of the child sex abuse
  • Loss of income – If you have been unable to work because of your injuries, you will be able to make a claim for this. A lot of people find themselves unable to work due to their injuries and the psychological trauma they have suffered.

Sexual Abuse By My Grandfather – Compensation Examples

You are likely interested to know how much compensation you may receive in a successful claim. The amount of compensation that may be offered to you in a sexual abuse claim will depend on certain factors. These include whether one or multiple incidents have occurred, how long the period of abuse occurred for and what type of injuries were caused.

In the table below, we’ve included different potential tariffs that may be provided for sexual abuse compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) scheme. If you have suffered multiple injuries after sexual abuse by a grandfather, then you will only receive the full CICA tariff for the injury with the highest value. If there are additional injuries, then you will receive 30% of the tariff for the second most valuable and 15% for the third most valuable.

However, there are exceptions to this rule. If you lost a foetus, contracted an STI or became pregnant, these would still be awarded at the full rate.

Edit
Injury/Abuse Type Description/Severity Standard Compensation Amount
Physical abuse of children (including domestic abuse) Minor abuse – Isolated or intermittent assaults £1,000
Physical abuse of children (including domestic abuse) Serious abuse – Intermittent physical assaults leading to an accumulation of healed wounds £2,000
Physical abuse of children (including domestic abuse) Severe abuse – Persistent pattern of repetitive violence that leads to moderate multiple injuries £5,500
Physical abuse of children (including domestic abuse) Severe abuse – Persistent pattern of repetitive violence that leads to significant multiple injuries £8,200
Physical abuse of children (including domestic abuse) Severe abuse – Persistent pattern of repetitive violence that leads to severe multiple injuries £13,500
Sexual offence where the victim is a child (under 18 at the time of the incident) Non-consensual penile penetration of one or more of the mouth, vagina or anus – One incident £11,000
Sexual offence where the victim is a child (under 18 at the time of the incident) Non-consensual penile penetration of one or more of the mouth, vagina or anus – Repeated incidents over a period of up to 3 years £16,500
Sexual offence where the victim is a child (under 18 at the time of the incident) Non-consensual penile penetration of one or more of the mouth, vagina or anus – Repeated incidents lasting 3 years or more £22,000
Sexual offence where the victim is a child (under 18 at the time of the incident) Non-consensual penile penetration of one or more of the mouth, vagina or anus – Resulting in serious internal bodily injuries £22,000

If you cannot find the injuries you have suffered above, you could still make a claim. Get in touch for a free eligibility claim today. One of our friendly and professional advisors will happily explain the sort of payout that you may receive. They will also answer any other queries you have about the claims process.

No Win No Fee sexual assault claims

If you are looking for accident lawyers, you will have two options at your disposal. You can go for a solicitor that charges by the hour, or you can choose someone that works to a No Win, No Fee arrangement. At Legal Expert, all of our claims for injury solicitors work on a No Win, No Fee basis. Read on to discover the reasons why.

Minimise financial risk

There is only one place to begin, and this is with the fact that you will minimise financial risk if you go for a No Win, No Fee personal injury lawyer. If you were to go down the other route, you would have to pay for the solicitor’s time and any additional services. You invest all of your money and then there is always the risk that you may lose your case. This is not how it works with No Win, No Fee accident. Instead, you do not need to make an upfront payment in order to start the claim process. Moreover, if the case does not prove to be successful you will not have to pay any legal fees.

Better service

The payment structure ensures that you benefit from a better service when you go for a No Win, No Fee solicitor. They are affected by the outcome of your case more than a traditional solicitor is. Consequently, they will give your claim the amount of attention it deserves. You cannot always be sure that this is the case with a traditional solicitor.

No time wasting

Last but not least, the final benefit is that the solicitor in question will not waste your time. If they don’t think you have a strong case for child sex abuse compensation, they will tell you. It is not beneficial for them to take on a claim that has no chance of being triumphant.

Why choose Legal Expert?

Making a personal injury claim can be intimidating and confusing for most people. After all, there are so many firms providing personal injury solicitors, and so it can often be difficult to know where to start. Luckily, you need not look any further, as Legal Expert provides the perfect solution. This is not something we simply expect you to believe, read on to discover all of the benefits associated with using our service when in need of a personal injury solicitor…

Experience

We are one of the leading sex abuse claims firms in the UK and boast a wealth of experience. Since our journey began, we have successfully helped thousands and thousands of personal injury victims. If you have been sexually assaulted by family member, we have the ability to help you. Our team of advisors and solicitors are the best you will find.

Free Advice

Where else are you going to find a company offering free legal advice? We are proud to be different at Legal Expert. We know how expensive compensation claims can be, and unfortunately this is the main reason why so many people miss out on the money they are entitled to. However, you don’t have to worry about this here. You can call our legal helpline at any time that is convenient for you. You will speak to a polite and efficient advisor who will answer any of your questions and begin the claim process for you.

No Win, No Fee Solicitor

We only have No Win, No Fee solicitors at Legal Expert. This is extremely beneficial for you, as it ensures you benefit from the best possible service. We will only take on your case if we truly believe you have a good chance of receiving compensation. We won’t waste your time. Moreover, by using a No Win, No Fee solicitor, you eliminate the financial risk that is associated with going down the traditional route.

Excellent Reputation

Last but not least, our reputation speaks for itself. We encourage you to read reviews that have been left by previous clients. We are certain you will be impressed.

Contact our team today

If you have the basis for an abuse compensation claim, the only thing you need to do is get in touch with Legal Expert. We have a team of experienced accident lawyers that work on a No Win, No Fee basis. We have plenty of experience in the industry, having been established many years ago. Our team will ensure everything is handled as quickly and smoothly as possible. You won’t pay any legal fees if your case is unsuccessful and you do not need to pay anything upfront to get the ball rolling. So, give us a call today. You will speak to one of our advisers. They will answer your queries and match you to the best solicitor from our team for you. The number you need is 0800 073 8804. This is available from 9.00 a.m. until 9.00 p.m. seven days per week, so you can call at any time that is convenient too. You will also find our other contact details on our website, and there is a live chat feature too.

Useful links

We hope you have found this guide useful while looking for more information on making a claim if you have been sexually abused by grandfather. However, if you need any more information, the links below may be helpful.

NHS – What to do after you’ve been assaulted or raped– This link takes you to the NHS website where you will find information on seeking help after rape and sexual assault.

NSPCC on Sexual Abuse

This NSPCC website page explains sexual abuse.

Childline Sexual Abuse

Childline is here to help you and can give victims advice and help.

Rape Crisis England and Wales

Rape Crisis England and Wales – this web page gives advice for victims of sexual abuse

Report a rape or sexual assault – GOV.UK

If you’re the victim of rape or sexual assault, Call 999 to report a rape or attempted rape after the crime as soon as possible.

You may also be interested in some of our other guides on criminal injury compensation claims:

We also have some other guides on sexual abuse compensation claims that you may find useful: