By Stephen Hudson. Last updated 3rd July 2025. Do you need to know how to claim for a road rage attack? Do you need to find out how compensation can be claimed after another motorist assaulted you? This guide explains how you can seek damages through a government-funded scheme called the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), an organisation that can compensate victims of violent assault in certain circumstances.
Within this guide, we will address numerous questions regarding compensation claims for road rage incidents. These include:
- Am I entitled to claim criminal injury compensation after a road rage incident?
- How is a road rage incident report made?
- How common are road rage incidents in the UK?
- What steps should be taken if you wish to claim for injuries sustained in a road rage attack?
Road rage can be extremely distressing, leaving those affected by such violence with an array of long-lasting difficulties. The consequences can range from potentially life-changing physical injuries to psychiatric damage that can have a far-reaching impact on your daily life.
Our advisors are here to help. Whether you have questions about claiming or are ready to get started, they can provide you with tailored support 24/7. Speak to us now by:
- Calling our team on 0800 073 8804
- Contact us and request a callback online
- Also, our ‘live support’ option can offer immediate help
Select A Section
- What Is A Road Rage Attack?
- Types Of Road Rage Attacks
- What To Do If Injured In A Road Rage Attack
- How To Claim For A Road Rage Attack
- Road Rage Injury Claims Calculator
- Claim For A Road Rage Attack Using A No Win No Fee Solicitor
What Is A Road Rage Attack?
Road rage happens when people let their emotions get the better of them while driving, and this leads to aggressive behaviour. This could take the form of rude verbal insults or gestures, shouting, threats of physical violence, or even dangerous driving methods targeted at other motorists.
Most of the time, the incident does not escalate to physical violence, but it can. If you sustain injuries because someone assaults you, you may be able to claim compensation for the road rage attack.
What Can The Police Do About Road Rage?
Several crimes could be committed during a road rage incident, including road traffic offences and crimes of violence. Crimes the police could investigate include:
- Public Order offences: If someone threatens violence against another person, this is an offence under the Public Order Act 1986.
- Careless Driving: It is an offence to drive without due care and attention as detailed in Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
- Dangerous Driving: This involves driving in a manner that a competent and careful driver would deem dangerous. This is detailed in Section 2A of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
- Criminal Damage: If someone damages your car or other property during a road rage incident, they could be charged with an offence under the Criminal Damage Act 1971.
- Assault: If road rage turns into an assault, the perpetrator could be charged with actual bodily harm (ABH), grievous bodily harm (GBH) or a different offence under the Offences against the Person Act 1861.
The rest of this guide is focused on making a claim for criminal injury compensation following a road rage attack. If you would like to discuss any aspect of making a claim, please speak with one of our advisors today.
Types Of Road Rage Attacks
Road rage attacks that cause injury can arise from an array of different scenarios. Some typical ones are listed below, but if your attack is not detailed here, you may still have a valid assault claim after violence on the roads:
- A driver cuts you up, causing you to stop, and proceeds to assault you when you exit the vehicle to see what is going on.
- You are left in fear for your life after a driver makes violent threats following a road traffic accident. This experience leaves you with severe long-term anxiety.
- A driver pulls next to you at a red light and lunges at you through the open car door window. You are left with multiple head injuries from the attack.
What To Do If Injured In A Road Rage Attack
Whenever you are injured in an attack or accident, it is vital to seek out medical attention. Something that seems trivial, such as a small bump to the head, can still have serious health implications if not attended to by a medical professional.
Below, we have listed some steps you can take if you are considering making a criminal injury claim following an incident of road aggression that resulted in an attack. For example, you could gather evidence like:
- CCTV or dashcam evidence
- Witness contact details for anyone who is willing to provide a statement to your solicitor
- Photos or videos of the damage to you or your car
- Police or ambulance reports that support the claim
- Medical proof. You can sit for an assessment and request your medical records.
These pieces of evidence can help lay the foundation for both a private action and a CICA claim, so please get in touch to determine which course of action is most appropriate.
How To Claim For A Road Rage Attack
After a road rage assault, there are some practical steps that you can take to best position yourself to receive compensation. The CICA criteria to start a claim are summarised as follows:
- The road rage attack occurred in Great Britain or somewhere else relevant (such as on a British-registered boat, like a Ro-Ro ferry).
- You were the direct victim of a crime of violence.
- The claim must be made within 2 years of the road rage attack (although the CICA may consider exceptional circumstances if this is not the case).
- A report of the road rage incident was made to the police (CICA claims need a valid crime reference number).
The CICA can award compensation without a suspect or a decision to prosecute from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). This frees victims from the stress or delay of a missing suspect or prolonged wait for conviction.
Road Rage Injury Claims Calculator
Our road rage injury claims calculator can provide insight into how the CICA determines compensation payouts for successful claims. The CICA uses a tariff system outlined in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 to calculate compensation.
This tariff establishes fixed values for various physical and psychological injuries, based on factors like severity. In short, it means any amount you might receive for an injury will not differ from the sum specified by the tariff. You can see some examples in the table below, except for the first figure, which is not from the Scheme. Instead, it is the maximum amount that the CICA payout and accounts for multiple injuries, special expenses and lost earnings.
| Injury | Severity | CICA Compensation Tariff |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Serious Injuries with Special Expenses (e.g. Care Costs) | Serious | Up to £500,000 |
| Paralysis | Substantially Complete Quadraplegia | £250,000 |
| Substantially Complete Paraplegia | £175,000 | |
| Brain | Very Serious | £175,000 |
| Moderately Severe | £110,000 | |
| Permanent Mental Injury | Seriously Disabling | £27,000 |
| Moderately Disabling | £19,000 | |
| Scarring | Serious Facial Disfigurement | £11,000 |
| Arms | Ulma Fracture in Both Arms with Continuing Significant Disability | £11,000 |
| Pelvis | Fracture with Continuing Significant Disability | £11,000 |
How Does The CICA Calculate Compensation For Road Rage Injury Claims?
The CICA may consider multiple factors when calculating compensation for road rage injury claims, such as:
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- The kind of injuries you sustained and how severe they are: For instance, you might have been left with a disabling mental injury that means you are unable to perform certain day-to-day activities, like work. Or, you may have sustained brain damage that led to a personality change and other life-altering symptoms.
- Whether you suffered multiple injuries in the road rage assault: The CICA uses a multiple injuries formula, which means you get 100% of the tariff for the highest-valued injury. You would receive 30% and 15% for the second and third-highest valued injuries, respectively.
- The availability of medical evidence: You may need to show a prognosis of mental injury confirmed by a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist.
- Whether you experienced certain financial costs: These are referred to as special expenses in a CICA road rage attack claim. Special expenses can cover costs for care, specialist equipment like walking aids, and the installation of stairlifts or other home adaptations.
To claim for special expenses, you will need to demonstrate that the costs were reasonable, necessary, and not freely available elsewhere. In some cases, it is also possible to claim for a loss of earnings, provided specific eligibility requirements are met.
Would you like further information on CICA payouts? Our advisors are here to help and answer any queries you may have about the process. Next, we discuss how to claim for a road rage attack using a No Win No Fee solicitor.
Claim For A Road Rage Attack Using A No Win No Fee Solicitor
You can seek compensation through the CICA on your own or with the help of a criminal injury solicitor. Their insights and advice could help you maximise the amount you may ultimately receive. With this in mind at Legal Expert, all our criminal injury solicitors operate on a No Win No Fee basis.
Arrangements like this mean that it’s possible to hire one of our expert representatives without any upfront or ongoing solicitor fees as the case moves ahead. Additionally, in an unsuccessful claim, there will be zero solicitor fees to pay.
If there is a successful outcome, your solicitor will receive a percentage of the compensation to cover their work. This success fee is small, thanks to the percentage being capped by The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013.
Are you ready to see if you can claim? Our advice services are live 24/7, so why not start now by:
- Calling our team on 0800 073 8804
- Contacting us and requesting a callback online
- Accessing our ‘live support’ option
Further Information
Below, you can learn more about CICA claims via our other guides:
- See how much compensation you can claim for being stabbed?
- Get information on acid attack claims
- Read about sexual abuse compensation claims
You may also find the following resources to be of help:
- Government guidance on how to report a crime
- How to get support as a victim of violent crime
- Information for victims and witnesses from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
We hope this guide on how to claim for a road rage attack has been helpful.