Legal Rights

It is becoming increasingly recognised that children and other vulnerable members of Society including adults with learning disabilities are vulnerable to abuse. This can take the form of for example physical, sexual, emotional or psychological abuse. In addition, abuse can be due to neglect, inappropriate restraint the provision of inappropriate services and treatment or the withholding of appropriate services and treatment. Abuse can potentially occur wherever there is a power imbalance in a relationship, for example, in Residential Care Homes, respite and day care organisations and in Schools.

Any person who has experienced abuse may be entitled to claim financial compensation. In many cases, compensation could be recovered by pursuing a claim for compensation in the Civil Courts.

In many instances where a person has suffered an injury as a result of a crime of violence, that person may be entitled to receive Criminal Injuries Compensation. Often however, the amount of Criminal Injuries Compensation can be relatively small.

Often a civil claim for compensation can be pursued in addition to an Application for Criminal Injuries Compensation is also being pursued and whether or not there has been any criminal investigation into the acts of abuse.