Abuse is an incredibly sensitive and difficult topic to talk about. For anyone who suffered abuse as a child or an adult, its effects can be so hard to overcome. Physical scars can heal over time – but emotional scars can stay with a victim for years to come. But we believe that justice should be within reach for survivors of abuse. And that is where our abuse claims solicitors can help.
Abuse is when an individual causes significant harm or distress to another. It can take the form of physical violence, sexual assault, emotional, mental and online abuse. But it can also be the intimidation, manipulation and loss of self-esteem that survivors suffer. We appreciate how immensely hard it is for someone to come to terms with what happened. Our team want to help make sure abusers and the organisations who facilitated them, face justice – which can play a part in a survivor’s healing.
If you are the survivor of abuse, it is not unusual to feel scared or powerless. But it is important to know that you are not alone. At Bolt Burdon Kemp, our specialist abuse claims solicitors are here to help you get the justice you deserve. We support survivors of abuse who decide to make a claim for compensation against those who caused them harm – no matter what form that harm took.
Our abuse solicitors have extensive experience in claims involving:
Child abuse: This is any action committed by an adult or child that causes significant harm to a young person under the age of 18. We are one of the UK’s largest teams of specialist child abuse solicitors. We will support you in seeking justice for the wrongs you have suffered.
Adult abuse: This is when another individual uses power or control over a person to cause them significant harm or distress. There are many different types adult abuse of – such as physical, emotional, financial or sexual abuse. It can also include neglect or exploitation.
Are you seeking help on behalf of yourself or someone you know? We have highly trained abuse compensation solicitors who can support your claim. We appreciate this process can be overwhelming. So, we’ll make sure every step along the way is handled with sensitivity, empathy and compassion.
Watch the video below to hear from our specialist abuse claims solicitors about their experiences of representing survivors of abuse and situations where they have made a difference.
We are one of the country’s largest teams of specialist child abuse lawyers. We will support you in seeking justice and treatment for the wrongs you have suffered, even if that means changing the law.
We understand how immensely difficult it can be to, firstly, come to terms with what has happened and, secondly, to take the necessary actions to seek justice for the crime.
Online abuse is on the increase. So what is it, what support is available, and how can we help you get justice?
Our team can offer significant expertise and knowledge to victims of abuse who are looking for justice. We have a proven record of success when it comes to supporting our clients and their abuse claims. And we are here to fight for you too.
The cost of making a claim should never stand in the way of achieving the justice you deserve. That is why Bolt Burdon Kemp’s abuse solicitors may be able to act for you on a “no win, no fee” basis. If you are unsuccessful, there is nothing to pay.
To help you rebuild and recover, we can put you in touch with our partner organisations around the UK. We also offer an early therapy funding initiative to ensure that you get the support you need at the earliest opportunity.
We represent survivors of abuse which took place anywhere in England or Wales. We will travel to see you at a place of your choosing if you instruct us to support your physical or emotional abuse claim.
We have been recognised for our abuse claims expertise in two independent guides – Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500.
In The Legal 500, we are regarded as being “Very much a premier firm in the area of child abuse compensation claims“.
Bolt Burdon Kemp recently secured a £200,000 settlement on behalf of our client who was sexually abused by a teacher at Clifton College.
Our client was a pupil at Clifton College Preparatory School and Clifton College Upper School in the late 1980s. Whilst at the Preparatory School, our client’s teacher ‘groomed’ him by singling him out for special treatment and praise and would make our client sit on his knee during school lessons. When our client graduated to the Clifton College Upper School, the teacher would invite him to his house and from there, he repeatedly sexually abused our client over a period of four years. When our client left Clifton College to attend another school, the teacher maintained his contact with him and continued to abuse him.
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H5: What type of abuse can I make a claim for?
Abuse can take many forms – and its effects are not always visible on the outside. Our team is dedicated to helping all victims of abuse to get the justice – and closure – they are looking for.
We can support claims involving all forms of physical, emotional, online or sexual abuse. We can also offer experience in specialist current and historic abuse claims that may :
It is not uncommon for survivors to suffer abuse at the hands of someone in a position of trust or authority. The police are no exception to that – and it is certainly possible to claim police abuse compensation. This could include wrongful arrest or injuries sustained while in custody.
Get in touch with us today if you think you have an abuse claim against the police.
There are two ways that you can choose to make an abuse claim.
The first is to bring a civil case against the person who abused you. In some cases, you might want to bring a claim against an organisation that had overall responsibility for the abuser. An example of this could be a local education authority or medical institution.
The second option is to make a CICA abuse claim. CICA (or the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority) is a government agency that awards compensation for violently and sexually abused victims in the UK. In some instances, it may be possible to pursue both options.
The decision is ultimately yours. But it is not one that you have to reach alone. When you get in touch with Bolt Burdon Kemp, we can advise you on all your options. This includes which option might be most suitable for you – plus other considerations such as whether to tell the police.
We want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to make a claim when they have been the victim of abuse. As such, we will find the most appropriate way to fund it.
For some claims, we can act on a “no win, no fee” basis. This means you will not pay anything in the event that your claim is unsuccessful.
See our legal fees guide for more information about how to fund an abuse claim.
Each case is unique and is judged on its own merits. So, there is no one-size-fits-all amount of compensation for mental abuse, sexual assault or physical violence.
Like other personal injury claims, the amount is based on the elements that are relevant to your case. This can include the extent of your injuries, the impact it had on your life including your career, how long you were abused for and who the claim is being made against.
For CICA abuse claims, the minimum pay-out is £1,000 – with the amount you receive based on a tariff of injuries. The maximum, however, is £500,000 – awarded for the most serious injuries.
We know that making an abuse claim is a big decision for any survivor to take – not least when it comes to trusting your solicitor. As such, you are entitled to change your solicitor if you are not happy with the service you are receiving.
Bolt Burdon Kemp can help you even if you’ve already started your claim with another solicitor. We will contact your old solicitor to get all the information we need to transfer your case. After all, the litigation process is stressful enough. We are here to make life easier, not harder.
If you’d like to talk about moving from your current firm to our abuse claims solicitors, just give us a call or send us a message using our contact form.
You can also find out more about this process in our guide to changing your solicitor.
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Want to talk to one of our experienced lawyers? We can call when it suits you for a no-obligation, strictly confidential chat.
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