If you have been assaulted at work and suffered an injury, you should be entitled to claim compensation for your injuries and any related financial losses.
We are a trusted claims management company helping people make personal injury claims for over 15 years.
Assault at Work Claim
If you’ve been assaulted at work, whether by a colleague, customer, or another individual, you may be entitled to make an assault at work claim. Your claim could cover physical or psychological injuries, as well as financial losses, such as lost wages and medical expenses.
No matter what your job role is, you are entitled to certain protections from workplace violence. Employers are legally required to take steps to prevent assaults, ensure a safe work environment, and protect employees from foreseeable risks, so far as reasonably practicable.
If your employer has failed to take proper safety measures and you were assaulted at work, you might be eligible to claim compensation for your injuries and losses.
Call 0800 470 0472 today or request a call back to find out if you have a valid workplace assault claim. You will receive a free consultation with a legal adviser, without any obligation to proceed.
Key points about assault at work claims
- Eligibility: You may be able to claim if you were assaulted at work and your employer failed to prevent it or respond appropriately.
- Employer Duty of Care: Employers must assess risks and protect employees from known threats or violent incidents.
- Time Limit: Claims should usually be made within 3 years from the date of the assault.
- Compensation: May include payment for physical and psychological trauma, time off work, and medical treatment costs.
- No Win, No Fee: Your solicitor will provide a no win, no fee service, so you won’t pay upfront and only pay a fee if the claim succeeds.
Table of Contents
What counts as an assault at work?
Workplace assaults include any actions that cause fear of physical harm to a person. They can take many forms and don’t always have to result in serious physical injuries to justify a claim. Some of the most common types of violence at work include:
- Physical assaults, such as hitting, kicking, biting, pushing, or scratching.
- Verbal assaults, such as shouting, swearing, or derogatory remarks.
- Sexual assault, such as touching, groping, flashing or sexual comments.
- Aggressive behaviour, such as bullying, harassment, threats and intimidation.
- Assault with a weapon, such as a knife, gun, or any other object.
- Soliciting sex for promotions, hiring or career opportunities.
If you are unsure of whether what happened to you qualifies as an assault at work, a specialist solicitor can help clarify your legal options.
Can I make a claim if I was assaulted at work?
You could make a claim for compensation if you were threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to your workplace, and the following can be proven:
- Your employer owed you a legal duty of care.
- There was a breach of this duty, which led to a workplace assault.
- You suffered injuries as a result, whether physical or psychological.
For example, if your employer failed to act on threats of violence from a co-worker or to provide training on how to manage difficult customers, they may be liable for compensation.
A personal injury solicitor can assess your case within minutes and let you know whether you can make a workplace violence claim against your employer.
Is my employer liable for workplace assaults?
Most assault at work claims are made against an employer. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, they have a legal duty to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of employees.
You could make a workplace assault compensation claim against your employer if they:
- Allowed you to work alone or understaffed despite known risks.
- Ignored previous reports of violent behaviour from a colleague, patient or customer.
- Failed to improve security after a robbery or violent incident.
- Did not provide adequate security in a high-risk workplace, such as a nightclub.
- Failed to provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) against known risks.
- Failed to provide proper training on how to diffuse potentially dangerous situations.
What should I do if I was assaulted at work and I want to make a claim?
If you were unfortunate enough to have been assaulted and injured at work, there are several steps you should take if you decide to seek compensation at a later date:
- Report the incident to your supervisor or manager immediately and request a signed copy of the accident report.
- Seek medical attention immediately, even if your injuries seem minor, as your medical records will serve as key evidence in your claim.
- Gather evidence, including witness statements, CCTV footage, and any physical evidence of injuries or damage, such as torn clothing.
- Contact the police as soon as possible and get a crime reference number.
- Keep detailed records of the incident, your injuries, and any losses and expenses incurred as a result.
- Seek legal advice early on from an experienced solicitor who can explain your legal options and guide you through the claims process.
If you are eligible to make a personal injury claim, your solicitor will gather evidence, notify your employer and negotiate an appropriate settlement on your behalf. If liability is denied, they may issue court proceedings to seek compensation from your employer.
How much compensation can I claim for an assault at work?
The amount of compensation awarded for an assault in the workplace will largely depend on the injuries you sustained and how these have affected your work and personal life. Your compensation will include two types of damages:
- Special damages – include specific monetary losses, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and the cost of care and assistance during recovery. These are straightforward to calculate as they can be proven with receipts, invoices, and other documents.
- General damages – include non-monetary losses, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, scarring and loss of enjoyment of life. These damages are more difficult to quantify and are typically based on the severity of the injury.
Below are a few examples of guideline compensation brackets for general damages according to the guidelines provided by the Judicial College (18th Edition):
| Injury Type | Description | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| General Psychiatric Damage | Psychiatric damage significantly affecting life, education, work and relationships, but with a more optimistic prognosis | £25,000 - £72,000 |
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | PTSD with near-full recovery but some ongoing effects that are not grossly disabling | £11,000 - £31,000 |
| Sexual And/Or Physical Abuse | Short-lived abuse with mild psychological impact and a very good prognosis | £13,000 - £27,000 |
| Brain Damage | A brain injury with full recovery within three years | £2,900 - £17,000 |
| Hand Injuries | A minor hand injury recovering within six months, such as fractures | Up to £6,300 |
| Chest Injuries | Fractured ribs or soft tissue injuries causing pain and disability for a few weeks | Up to £5,200 |
| Fractured Nose | A displaced nose fracture not requiring surgery, with complete recovery | £3,300 - £4,200 |
To find out more about how much you could claim, you can refer to our compensation calculator or request a free consultation with a legal adviser.
Is there a time limit to make an assault at work compensation claim?
Under the Limitation Act 1980, you generally have three years from the time of the assault to start an accident at work claim against your employer. Exceptions include:
- If your injury developed over time, such as PTSD, the 3 years begin on the date of diagnosis.
- You have two years to make a criminal injury claim via the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
- If the injured party is under 18 years old, the 3-year limitation period begins on their 18th birthday.
- If the claimant lacks the mental capacity to handle their case, the time limit is suspended.
While it may seem like you have a lot of time to start your claim, it is better to contact a personal injury solicitor as soon as possible. That will give them plenty of time to arrange for medical reports, gather evidence to support your case and ensure you do not miss any crucial deadlines.
Can I start a workplace assault claim using a No Win No Fee solicitor?
If you are entitled to make an assault at work compensation claim, our team will represent you on a no win, no fee basis. This means that you will not have to pay any solicitor fees upfront and will only need to pay them if your claim is successful.
If you win, you will keep the compensation awarded to you, minus a success fee that you will pay your solicitor. This fee is agreed upon from the beginning and is capped at 25% of your general damages and past financial losses. If you lose, you don’t pay a penny.
Frequently asked questions about workplace assaults
- Cuts, bruises, and lacerations.
- Broken jaw injuries.
- Broken or bruised ribs.
- Head and brain injuries.
- Neck and back injuries.
- Soft tissue injuries.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Anxiety and depression.
- Facial scars and injuries.
- Damage to teeth.
The type and severity of your injuries will not affect your eligibility to claim compensation for an assault. However, this will determine how much you will be awarded if your case is successful.
- Not providing training on how to handle aggressive customers.
- Failing to take reasonable steps to prevent assaults.
If your employer took all reasonable precautions, they may not be liable, but you could still make a CICA claim, even if the person who assaulted you was not caught or convicted.
- Failed to keep patient care plans up to date.
- Did not warn you about patients with a history of violence.
They may also be liable if they did not provide training programs such as Managing Violence & Aggression (MVA) or Management of Actual or Potential Aggression (MAPA) to help you handle violent and aggressive patients.
- Protective service occupations – Police, paramedics, firefighters and security workers.
- Retail and shop workers – According to the British Retail Consortium, retail workers suffered over 2,000 incidents of violence and abuse per day in 2023/24.
- Taxi and Uber drivers – They often work alone at night and may deal with drunk people.
- Healthcare workers – They are at risk of being assaulted by patients, their family members, or visitors to healthcare facilities.
- Teachers – Can face verbal and physical aggression from students or parents.
You would only need an official diagnosis from a healthcare professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, confirming your condition and that it was caused by violence at work.
- You reported the incident to the police and have a police reference number.
- You suffered physical or psychological injuries as a result.
- You did not cause the assault or aggravate the situation.
You could also make a civil claim directly against the individual responsible for the assault, but this is rare.
To find out if you have a valid assault at work claim, call 0800 470 0472 or request a call back to receive a free case assessment with a friendly legal adviser.
