Liam Goggin
Director of Public Law Practice Area
English
When you are ready to talk, we are here to listen. Speaking about abuse can take many years and enormous courage, and our specialist Abuse Claims Solicitors understand that. You can trust our team to listen with compassion and explain your options clearly. We support survivors of abuse across England and Wales and, when the time feels right for you, we may be able to help you take the first steps towards making a claim.
Most survivors tell us that coming forward is not just about compensation. It is often about being heard, seeking answers and holding those responsible to account. We will handle your case with sensitivity and support you throughout the process. We can also give you the details of support organisations that specialise in helping people who have experienced abuse.
Our Abuse Team has extensive expertise helping survivors get the legal representation they deserve. We can support you in taking the first steps towards a civil claim or a criminal injuries claim, and we will do everything we can to make the process as straightforward as possible., and we will do everything we can to make the process as straightforward as possible.
Contact us for a no-obligation case assessment, and we will discuss how we may be able to help. Ask about whether you qualify for Legal Aid or whether we can deal with your claim on a No Win, No Fee basis.
Fill in the form below to get in touch with one of our dedicated team members, or call our team today on: 0800 260 5010
Civil legal action can be taken against a person or organisation responsible for abusing a child or adult or failing to protect them when they had a duty to do so. Abuse is never the survivor's fault. You have a right to seek compensation for the harm you suffered and to hold those responsible to account.
Abuse can take many forms, including sexual abuse, emotional abuse, domestic abuse, and physical abuse. Our solicitors provide a safe space for you to tell your story at your own pace, with our team beside you at every stage. We will listen without pressure or judgement and explain the legal process clearly, helping you understand the options available to you.
Abuse can take many forms, and it is not uncommon for survivors to experience more than one type. As you begin talking to specialist support services or our Abuse Claims team, you may recognise that more than one legal claim could be available to you in England and Wales.
Sexual abuse happens when someone forces or persuades you into sexual activity you do not want or cannot consent to. Child abuse is the physical, emotional, sexual, or mental harm of a young person, and can also include neglect. Historical abuse is abuse that happened in the past, sometimes decades ago. Domestic abuse is abuse by someone in your home, often a partner or family member. Emotional abuse involves words or behaviour used to control, humiliate, or isolate you. In contrast, physical abuse can include being hit, pushed, kicked, or harmed in other ways.
A survivor of abuse may be able to make a compensation claim. Our team will discuss with you the prospects of your claim early on, though gathering the necessary evidence can sometimes take time, especially in historical abuse claims. If the survivor is a child or is too emotionally distressed to deal with the process, a parent, guardian, or another responsible adult can bring a claim on their behalf as a Litigation Friend.
If we can take on your case, we will support you throughout the whole process. We are approachable and compassionate, and we will keep you updated on your claim's progress at every step.
Many survivors keep what happened to them private for years. Whilst compensation is one aspect of a claim, many people tell us that the process is also about seeking answers, holding those responsible to account and having the impact of their experiences recognised. For some, it can also be an important step towards rebuilding the confidence that was taken from them by the abuse.
You may be unsure whether what you experienced counts as abuse. Whatever your circumstances, we are here to listen so we can tell you whether you may be able to bring a claim. Whilst compensation cannot undo what happened, it can help pay for therapy, rehabilitation and the support you need as you move forward. Where a claim can be brought directly against an abuser, it can also hold that person accountable for the harm they caused.
"To leave a review for Simpson Millar is no easy task. The instructions given to their team were from events that happened decades ago. Yet with great patience and professionalism I was afforded the opportunity to right wrongs. This team is hugely experienced, diligent and above all compassionate to your situation - this makes facing the hurdles of the legal process less burdensome and manageable - no matter how difficult you think it will be. Excellent communications - even over protracted periods of inactivity from other parties. I would recommend this team wholeheartedly. Thank you Simpson Millar and especially deep thanks to N.Swanwick Solicitor (Abuse Department)"
H. Stewart
Cliet
"When I very first came to you, I was so confused, scared, worried, fearful, not understanding things very clearly. I was made to feel very understood, relaxed, at ease in a place where my complaint would be understood."
Mr. W
Client
"I am really pleased with Nathalie. She went above and beyond what I would have expected the service of a Solicitor to be. She was superb. I have no complaints about the service at all. It was all spot on and Nathalie made a very stressful situation as easy to handle as possible."
Miss J Walden
Client
"Really pleased with the service I received from Nathalie Swanwick, she goes beyond and above whats expected to keep you informed of the progress of your case and to fight for the best outcome. Keeps in regular contact and does not charge for every minute she talks to you like some greedy unscrupulous solicitors that are only in it for the money. Knows the law well and has a no nonsense approach would definitely use again."
Sheila
Client
"Thank you Nathalie, Amna and the team who dealt with my case. They were very professional from day one, discreet, friendly and very informative. My case was resolved very fast."
K.L
Client
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is a government-funded compensation scheme for survivors of violent crime, including abuse, where the eligibility criteria are met. In many cases, particularly those involving historic abuse, there may no longer be a living perpetrator or an organisation against whom a civil claim can be brought. In these circumstances, you may still be able to apply to the CICA, provided you meet the scheme's eligibility requirements. This is a different route to compensation from a civil claim and does not require a claim to be brought against a specific person or organisation.
There is no right or wrong time to seek legal advice. When you feel ready, our team is here to listen to your circumstances with compassion and help you understand the options available to you.
Your first conversation with us is completely confidential. One of our team will take some initial information surrounding your circumstances.
A member of our team will review your case and advise whether you may be able to make a successful claim. We would never put you through the claims process unless we were confident you had a good chance of success. We will also take time to understand what you want to happen and the type of support you feel you need while the claim is progressing. Whether you decide to proceed with a claim is entirely your choice.
Your legal team will gather evidence, which may include records, witness statements, and police reports.
We will often arrange for you to see an independent psychiatrist or psychologist who will assess the psychological impact the abuse has had on you and prepare an expert report to support your claim.
Most abuse claims settle without a final court hearing, but we will be by your side throughout, even if your claim does go to court.
If your claim is successful, we will explain to you the amount you will receive ensuring you fully understand the outcome of your claim.
Our team can put you in touch with support organisations if you want further help with your recovery.
Most abuse compensation claims settle before reaching court. We know how stressful court can be, especially after everything you have been through, so we do everything we can to reach an early settlement. If your case does go to court, we will be by your side supporting you throughout the process.
The time limit that applies to any claim that you may have will depend on the nature of the abuse you experienced, when it occurred, and whether you were a child or an adult at the time. The usual time limits that apply to abuse claims are as follows:
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Childhood sexual abuse |
There is no strict time limit for claims arising from childhood sexual abuse.
That said, where possible these claims should still be brought/issued at court before you turn 21. This is because after you turn 21, the Defendant may be able to argue that your claim should not be allowed to proceed if any delay in you bringing a claim has had a negative impact on the evidence available, meaning there can no longer be a fair trial. |
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Childhood physical abuse |
Claims arising from physical abuse in childhood need to be issued at court by your 21st birthday. |
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Abuse in adulthood |
Claims arising from abuse in adulthood, whether sexual or physical, need to be issued at court within 3 years from the date of the abuse. |
Although time limits are usually applied strictly, the court may allow some claims to proceed after the usual limitation period has expired. Our team has many years of experience advising survivors on whether an out-of-time claim may still be possible. If you have experienced abuse, it is still worth speaking to us, even if it happened many years ago. We can assess your circumstances and advise whether you may still be able to bring a claim.
For claims under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, there are a different set of time limits that apply. These are as follows:
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Child abuse, first reported to the police when you were a child |
The application must be made by your 20th birthday. |
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Child abuse, first reported to the police when you were an adult |
The application must be made within two years of the first report you made about the abuse to the police. |
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Abuse occurring when you were an adult |
The application must be made within two years of the abuse. |
We understand that speaking about abuse can be incredibly difficult, and we will always treat your personal information with the utmost confidentiality. If court proceedings become necessary, we may be able to apply for an Anonymity Order. Court proceedings are generally held in public, which means journalists and members of the public can attend hearings and report on them. An Anonymity Order can help protect your identity by preventing your name and other identifying details from being published or reported. Whether an order is granted will depend on the circumstances of your case.
Our team has a national reputation for being compassionate, caring, and driven to get survivors the support and compensation they need to move forward. Members of our team have also advised on national inquiries. By choosing us, you can trust that we will:
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It is helpful for us to have police reports as evidence, but it is not essential for you to have reported the incident to the police to bring a civil claim. If you are making a claim under the CICA scheme, you will have needed to report the abuse to the police.
Yes, you may still be able to bring a claim if the abuse happened many years ago, whether against the person who abused you, an organisation that should have protected you, or through the CICA scheme. We can talk you through the options available and the evidence needed for a historical abuse claim.
Yes, you can bring a claim on behalf of someone under 18 or who lacks the mental capacity to bring a claim themselves by acting as a Litigation Friend. We will provide all the support and legal advice you need.
Several organisations specialise in supporting survivors, including NAPAC, Childline, the National Centre for Domestic Violence, Rape Crisis, Refuge, and the Survivors Trust. We can put you in touch with services we know and trust.
Yes, you may still be able to bring a civil claim for compensation even if a criminal case did not succeed, or if no criminal case was brought at all. Not all perpetrators are prosecuted or convicted, and some cases result in no further action being taken. A civil claim is a separate process with a different standard of proof, so an unsuccessful criminal case does not necessarily prevent you from making a claim.
Yes, you may still be able to claim compensation if you were abused by another child. Depending on the circumstances, this may involve a claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), a civil compensation claim against an organisation that failed to protect you or, in some cases, both. For example, if the abuse took place at a school, children's home, sports club or another setting where an organisation was responsible for your care or supervision, it may be possible to bring a claim if reasonable steps were not taken to safeguard you. Every case is different, so we would need to consider the individual circumstances before advising on the options available.
There is no right or wrong time to seek legal advice. When you feel ready, contact us on 0800 260 5010 or request a call back at a time that suits you. If we believe you may be able to make a claim, we'll explain your legal options clearly and help you decide on the next steps.
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Vicarious liability is a legal principle that can allow organisations to be held responsible for abuse committed by people acting on their behalf. This guide explains how vicarious liability works in abuse claims, which organisations may be held accountable, how it differs from negligence, the evidence that may be needed, and how recent legal developments, including foster care cases, have strengthened survivors’ ability to pursue compensation.
Sexual abuse committed by another child can have lasting consequences, and compensation may still be available. This guide explains the legal options, including claims through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) and civil claims against organisations that may have failed to protect a child. It also covers how the age of the person responsible may affect a claim, the evidence that may be needed, and the time limits that could apply.
Historic child abuse survivors may still be able to claim compensation, even if the abuse happened decades ago or there was no criminal conviction. This guide explains the different routes to compensation, including civil claims and Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) applications, recent changes to time limits for child sexual abuse claims, and how specialist legal advice can help you understand your options.
Fill in the form below to get in touch with one of our dedicated team members, or call our team today on: 0800 260 5010
