If you have been sexually abused by a grandparent, you could claim compensation for the pain and suffering it caused. Sexual abuse is a criminal offence, no matter who commits the crime. And the physical and psychological effects of sexual abuse can affect the victim in the long term. In some cases, they may be permanent.
How To Claim For Sexual Abuse By A Grandparent
Sexual abuse by a grandparent compensation claims guide
In our guide to seeking compensation for sexual abuse by a grandparent, you will find information on how to start a claim. We will examine the routes available for you to claim compensation for your injuries.
You may assume that if you’ve been the victim of sexual abuse, whether it’s by a family member, family friend or while at school, that you’re not eligible to claim compensation for the injuries you have sustained. However, this isn’t the case. You can claim compensation either against the perpetrator directly or through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
To find out more about claiming compensation for sexual abuse by a grandparent, please click on the sections that follow. To get in touch with one of our expert advisers, please fill out the online contact form or call the number at the top of the page.
Select A Section
- A Guide On Claiming If Sexually Abused By A Grandparent
- Calculate Compensation If Sexually Abused By A Grandparent
- Types Of Damages Awarded In Criminal Injury Claims
- What Is Sexual Abuse By A Grandparent?
- Are There Different Types Of Sexual Abuse?
- Injuries Which Sexual Abuse Can Cause
- What Are The Warning Signs Of Sexual Abuse By A Grandparent?
- What Should I Do If A Grandparent Sexually Abused Me?
- Reporting Sexual Abuse And Sex-Based Violence
- Could I Get Help From A Litigation Friend?
- How Much Time Do I Have To Make A Sexual Abuse Claim?
- No Win No Fee Claims If Sexually Abused By A Grandparent
- Why Choose Our Friendly Team?
- Contact Us
- Related Guides And Victim Support Resources
- Statistics On Sexual Abuse
- FAQs On Claiming If Sexually Abused By A Grandparent
A Guide On Claiming If Sexually Abused By A Grandparent
In our guide, we will look at some of the signs that could indicate someone is being sexually abused by a grandparent. We will also examine the different types of sexual abuse, all of which constitutes a criminal offence.
In addition, we will look at the time limits associated with sexual abuse claims and how these can differ depending on the route you take to pursue your claim. Furthermore, we provide a rough idea of how much this type of claim could be worth and the compensation payouts awarded.
You will also find valuable information on how a No Win No Fee Agreement, also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) works, and what to expect from a No Win No Fee solicitor. If you have any questions about claiming for historical sexual abuse by a grandparent or need more advice, a member of our team can help.
Please get in touch by filling out our contact form; an adviser will provide free legal advice. You can also speak to a member of our team by calling the number at the top of the page.
Calculate Compensation If Sexually Abused By A Grandparent
Our table on compensation payouts offers a rough idea of how much you could receive in general damages. General damages are the part of your compensation settlement that covers the pain and suffering you have experienced.
We have based the amounts paid out in general damages on the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). Personal injury lawyers, as well as courts and insurers, can refer to this legal document to help them calculate the value of a claim.
| Mental harm | Severity | Potential compensation based on the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) |
|---|---|---|
| Psychological harm | Severe | £51,460 to £108,620 |
| Psychological harm | Moderately Severe | £17,900 to £51,460 |
| Psychological harm | Moderate | £5,000 to £17,900 |
| Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | Severe | £56,180 to £94,470 |
When you seek sexual abuse compensation, you must provide a medical report detailing the harm and injuries you were caused. You will usually be invited to an appointment with an independent medical expert local to you as part of your claim. They will detail their findings and prognosis in a medical report. This medical report would serve as evidence when you claim for being sexually abused by a grandparent.
Please get in touch with a member of our team by filling out the contact form, calling the number at the top of the page, or you can speak to an adviser on our Live Chat.
Claiming Sexual Abuse Through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
You could make a CICA claim for compensation if you were sexually abused by a grandparent. This is a route that you can take if your assailant does not have sufficient funds to pay the compensation you could be awarded. We’ve included a table below.
| Harm suffered | Severity of assault | Amounts awarded through the CICA Scheme |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual abuse | Vaginal/anal penetration which results in serious internal bodily harm | £22,000 |
| One instance of non-consensual penile penetration of one or more of vagina, anus or mouth that involves one or more attackers | £13,500 | |
| Repeated sexual assaults over 3 years | £16,500 | |
| Repeated assaults that last more than 3 years | £22,000 | |
| Victim suffers permanently disabling moderate mental harm | £22,000 | |
| Victims suffer permanently disabling severe mental harm | £27,000 | |
| Victims suffers severe bodily harm and moderate mental injury | £33,000 | |
| Victim suffers severe bodily harm together with severe mental illness | £44,000 |
When you make a claim through the CICA, the incident must have been reported to the police as soon as it is reasonably practicable. However, there’s no requirement for the perpetrator to have been arrested, charged or even identified in order for you to claim.
If you have multiple injuries, the CICA will not award you the full amount for each. Instead, you will be awarded:
- 100% of the tariff amount for the injury with the highest value
- 30% of the tariff amount for the injury with the second-highest or equal value
- 15% of the tariff amount for the injury with the third-highest or equal value
Awards will not be made for more than 3 injuries through the CICA. However, additional tariff payments can be awarded if your injury or assault caused you to become pregnant, contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or lose a foetus.
If you have a criminal record, this may affect your ability to claim through the CICA. For more information about how your claim could be impacted, get in touch with our team.
Types Of Damages Awarded In Criminal Injury Claims
As well as general damages, you can also receive compensation for financial losses you’ve incurred as a result of your injury. In personal injury claims made against the perpetrator directly, these are referred to as special damages. In CICA claims, they’re referred to as special expenses.
Special damages are based on actual losses and expenses. This means you must provide evidence in the form of relevant documentation and receipts. The losses and expenses you could claim include:
- All medical expenses not covered by the NHS that you paid for yourself. This can include things like the cost of prescriptions, private treatment/therapy, and medical aids.
- Travel expenses for things like getting to a hospital or visiting a solicitor. You can claim travel costs whether you go by car, bus, taxi, or train.
- Care costs if you need assistance at home while you recover. You can claim these costs even when a family member or friend takes care of you during your recovery.
- Loss of income for the time you are off work recovering
- Loss of potential future income when you cannot work because of the mental harm/injury you suffered.
Special expenses
When you make an application for sexual abuse through the CICA scheme, financial losses will be compensated through ‘special expenses‘. You must also provide proof of your expenses and losses when claiming through the CICA; however, there are some limitations as to what you can claim.
For instance, you are only able to claim loss of earnings provided you’ve been unable to work for more than 28 full weeks. You won’t be compensated for the first 28 weeks.
You can also only claim for expenses that are necessary, reasonable and incurred as a direct result of the injury you’re applying for. For example, you may be able to claim for the cost of adapting your home to improve your independence or for the cost of something you relied on as a physical aid that was damaged in the attack.
In order to claim special expenses, you will also need to show that you lost earning capacity for a full 28 weeks. However, unlike loss of earnings, this will be backdated to the date of the accident.
For more advice on the sort of losses and expenses you could claim, please reach out to a member of our team today. If you need a personal injury lawyer, they may be able to connect you with one.
What Is Sexual Abuse By A Grandparent?
Sexual abuse is defined as being unwanted acts that are sexual in nature. The law defines sexual abuse as a criminal act according to the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Sexual assault is characterised by a lack of consent. This means that an adult who is subjected to unwanted sexual touching is a victim of sexual assault. Because the legal age of consent in the UK is 16, anyone under this age cannot legally consent to a sexual act. Any sexual contact between an adult and a minor is assault.
To speak to a member of our team, please get in touch on the number at the top of the page. An experienced adviser will review your claim and provide free advice on how best to go forward.
Are There Different Types Of Sexual Abuse?
There are a number of different ways that someone can be a victim of sexual abuse. Some sexual abuse can involve touching or penetration, but this isn’t always the case.
Contact sexual abuse is the term used when there’s physical contact between the abuser and their victim. It can include things like:
- Rape
- Unwanted sexual touching
- Kissing or groping
- Assault by penetration
However, sexual abuse can also occur when there is no contact between the perpetrator and the victim. This can include:
- Forcing someone to watch pornography
- Making someone masturbate
- Flashing or exposing
- Forcing someone to have sexual conversations online
Please contact one of our advisers to discuss claiming compensation for having been sexually abused by a grandparent. A member of our team can assess your claim and provide you with free legal advice.
Injuries Which Sexual Abuse Can Cause
When you are sexually abused, it can cause serious, long-lasting injuries. These injuries can be physical or psychological and may cause you issues with life, work and relationships for years to come.
Types Of Physical Injuries Sexual Abuse Could Cause
The sort of physical injuries sexual abuse can cause includes the following:
-
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Bruising
- Internal injuries
- Pain, itching or bruising in genital area or anus
- Urinary infections
- Pregnancy
Types Of Psychological Injuries Sexual Abuse Could Cause
The mental harm of being sexually abused by a grandparent can be far-reaching. You could suffer:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Thoughts of suicide
- Eating disorders
Please reach out to a member of our team who will treat your call with the utmost confidentiality and sensitivity. An adviser can review your claim and could connect you with a No Win No Fee lawyer.
What Are The Warning Signs Of Sexual Abuse By A Grandparent?
If you think someone or a child is being sexually abused by a grandparent, there are signs to watch out for. There are also some signs in the perpetrator that could indicate they’re sexually abusing their grandchild or someone else.
Warning signs that a child is being sexually abused by a grandparent
Children may feel uncomfortable coming forward to talk about the sexual abuse that they’re experiencing. This may particularly be the case if the person abusing them is in a position of trust as they may have been groomed into thinking it is normal behaviour.
A child who is being sexually abused may exhibit signs such as:
- A dislike or fear of a particular person
- Sexual behaviour or language that’s inappropriate for their age
- Health problems such as pregnancy and STIs
- Behavioural changes
- Difficulty in school
Of course, the presence of one of the signs above does not prove that a child is being sexually abused. These behaviours may come about as the result of a number of different circumstances. But if you believe a child is being abused, you should seek support right away.
Warning signs that a grandparent is committing sexual abuse
The signs that a grandparent may be committing a crime against a child is not always evident at first. But there are some signs that could indicate abuse is occurring:
- A grandparent always wanting to be around a specific child and spend as much time as they can with them
- They walk into the bathroom when a child is in there
- A grandparent shows too much interest in a child’s sexual development
- A child is given lots of gifts or money by a grandparent even though it is not a special occasion
- They like to take the child out on their own
If you have been sexually abused by a grandparent and would like to know more about making a claim, you can get in touch with our team today. They will be happy to offer you free legal advice.
What Should I Do If A Grandparent Sexually Abused Me?
When you are a victim of sexual abuse or are the parent or guardian of someone who is a victim, you should seek medical attention as soon as you can. You should do this even if there are no apparent physical injuries.
This is because treatment may still be required for the psychological impact that the abuse has had on the victim. Furthermore, STIs may not have any immediately apparent symptoms but, if left untreated, can cause severe issues later on in life.
It’s also important that you report the incident to the police. Not only may this help prevent the abuse from continuing or stop the abuser from moving on to another victim, but it’s also a requirement for you to make a claim through the CICA.
You will also usually be invited to a medical appointment with an independent expert as part of your claim. This will provide evidence of your injuries and details of your prognosis, which will be used to help value your claim.
Reporting Sexual Abuse And Sex-Based Violence
There are a number of charities and organisations that are available to provide help and support after you’ve been the victim of sexual abuse. These include:
When you or someone else is in immediate danger, you should contact the police by calling 999. You can also report a crime online if nobody is in immediate danger.
Could I Get Help From A Litigation Friend?
When a minor is sexually abused by a grandparent, a litigation friend can be appointed by a court to claim on behalf of the child. This is because a child cannot represent themselves in a claim.
A litigation friend must be appointed by the court. Anyone can be appointed a litigation friend as long as they can prove that their interests do not conflict with the child and they can make decisions fairly and competently.
With claims made through the CICA, a litigation friend will not be appointed. Instead, the person claiming on behalf of the child will need to be their parent or guardian. They will have to prove their relationship to the child.
How Much Time Do I Have To Make A Sexual Abuse Claim?
For personal injury claims, the time limit is generally 3 years from when the abuse occurred. However, there are exceptions to this.
For example, if you were under the age of 18 when the abuse occurred, then the time limit is suspended while you’re underage, and a litigation friend will be able to claim on your behalf until you’re 18. Once you become an adult, you have until your 21st birthday to claim.
If the injured person lacks the mental capacity to claim, then the time limit is also suspended. The 3-year limit starts again in the event that the injured person regains their mental capacity; otherwise, it’s suspended indefinitely.
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Time Limits
Generally, the time limit for claiming through the CICA is 2 years from when the incident occurred. However, an exception may be made if you can prove that exceptional circumstances prevented you from claiming within this time frame. To claim outside this time limit, you would also need to provide sufficient evidence to support the claim so that further extensive enquiries by a claims officer aren’t required.
In cases of historic sexual abuse that occurred when you were a child, there are also exceptions to the time limit. If the abuse was reported while you were under 18, then you will have 2 years from your 18th birthday to claim. If it wasn’t reported, you have two years from reporting the incident to claim. You should report the incident to the police as soon as you can.
Because claiming sexual abuse compensation through the CICA scheme is extremely complex, we advise that you seek a specialist personal injury lawyer’s advice and representation. This is something we can help you with. An adviser can review your case and may be able to connect you with a lawyer who can represent you on a No Win No Fee basis.
No Win No Fee Claims If Sexually Abused By A Grandparent
If you are considering claiming for sexual abuse by a grandparent, you may want the support and guidance of an expert solicitor to do so. However, you may be worried about the cost that this can incur.
We can assess your case, and when we find you have grounds to sue for compensation, we can connect you with a solicitor from our panel who can represent you on a No Win No Fee basis. This means that you won’t have to worry about paying the solicitor any upfront or ongoing fees. You only pay the solicitor when you win your claim and receive sexual abuse compensation for the harm you suffered.
You pay a No Win No Fee lawyer when you win your claim, and the amount, which is referred to as a ‘success fee’, is deducted from the compensation you receive. If your case is unsuccessful, you don’t pay anything to your solicitor.
To find out more about making a No Win No Fee claim against a grandparent, please reach out to an adviser today.
Why Choose Our Friendly Team?
Our knowledgeable team of advisors are happy to offer you free legal advice about claiming for sexual abuse by a grandparent. They are on hand 24/7 to take your call.
We review claims free of charge and with no obligation to proceed. Once we establish a claim is valid, we may be able to connect you with a No Win No Fee lawyer.
Contact Us
Please call our team today to find out more about claiming compensation if you were sexually abused by a grandparent. You can reach one of our friendly advisers in the following ways:
- By calling 0161 696 9685
- By filling out the contact form – a member of our team will get back to you at your convenience
- Through the live chat to the bottom right of this screen
Related Guides And Victim Support Resources
Below you will find answers to several frequently asked questions relating to sexual abuse compensation claims.
External links to helpful websites:
Find a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC):
Advice on what to do if you are the victim of rape or sexual assault:
NHS advice to rape and sexual assault victims
The Childline Sexual abuse helpline:
Internal links to useful guides
A guide to frequently asked questions about sexual abuse:
Sexual Abuse Frequently Asked Questions Guide
Sexually abused by your stepfather claims guide:
A guide to claiming for sexual abuse by your stepfather
Rape victim compensation guide:
A guide to rape victim compensation
Other Criminal Injury Claim Guides
- Criminal Injuries Compensation
- How Much Compensation Will I Get For An Assault Claim?
- Sexual Abuse Compensation Claim Amounts
- Sexual Abuse Compensation
- Historical Sexual Abuse Compensation
- How To Report Historical Sexual Abuse FAQ
- Negligent Breast Augmentation Surgery Claims
- Stab Victim Compensation Claims
- How Families Of A Murder Victim Could Claim Compensation
- Sexual Abuse By A Father Compensation Claims
- Sexual Abuse At School Claims
- Criminal Injuries Compensation – How Much Will I Receive?
- How Long Does A CICA Claim Take?
- Sexual Abuse By A Family Member Claims
- Making A CICA Claim With A Criminal Record
- Sexual Abuse Claims Guide
- Husband Sexual Abuse Claims
- Family Friend Sexual Abuse Claims
Statistics On Sexual Abuse
Sexually abused by a grandparent statistics graph
The graph above from the Crime Survey for England and Wales shows the relationships between victims of abuse and those who abused them. It shows that 15% of men and 24% of women who were victims of sexual abuse were abused by another family member, which would include a grandparent.
FAQs On Claiming If Sexually Abused By A Grandparent
We have included several answers to frequently asked questions regarding sexual abuse, which you may find helpful.
What is the average compensation for sexual abuse?
The amount of compensation you could receive for sexual abuse will vary depending on the circumstances. Instances with more severe injuries are likely to attract higher awards.
Do victims of abuse get compensation?
Victims of sexual abuse can be compensated through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). They can also pursue compensation against their abuser directly; however, this may not be successful if they don’t have the funds to compensate you.
Can you claim from the CICA twice?
You can only claim once through the CICA. However, you may be able to claim for up to three injuries.
How long does a CICA claim take?
The CICA Annual Report and Accounts revealed that, in 2019/20, 81% of new applications were decided within 12 months.
Thank you for reading our guide on making a claim after being sexually abused by a grandparent.