At Emmott Snell Solicitors, we understand how deeply abuse can affect a person’s life physically, emotionally, and financially. When pursuing a civil compensation claim for abuse, expert evidence often plays a critical role in building a robust and persuasive case. These professionals help establish the full impact of abuse on a person’s life and provide the court with reliable, independent expert opinions on complex matters such as mental health and educational impact.
In this blog, we explore the different types of expert witnesses commonly used in compensation claims arising from sexual abuse, and how their input can make a significant difference to the outcome of a case.
1. Consultant psychiatrist
One of the most frequently used experts in abuse cases is a consultant psychiatrist.
They are medical doctors who specialise in mental health and are able to assess the psychological effects of abuse. Their job is to provide a detailed report that explains how the abuse has affected various aspects of a person’s life, both in the past and how it may continue to affect them in the future.
Psychiatrists can diagnose conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, or other trauma-related issues. They may also recommend specific treatments such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Their report will usually include how many sessions of therapy you might need, how much each session would cost, and whether further treatment might be needed later in life, for example, if you're likely to experience a relapse or a worsening of symptoms. The costs of the treatment can be built into the value of the compensation claim.
Importantly, a psychiatrist can also help separate the effects of the abuse from other life experiences. For example, if there have been other traumatic events in your life, such as bereavement, a serious accident, or abuse by someone else, they can give an opinion on how much of your current difficulties are due to the abuse you're claiming for, and how much might be linked to those other experiences. This helps make your claim clearer and more focused.
Their report will also cover how the abuse has affected your ability to work, succeed in education, form relationships, and where relevant any sexual difficulties that may have developed as a result of the abuse. All of this information is used to help build a full picture of the harm you’ve suffered and is included in the claim we present to the defendant.
2. Educational psychologist
Abuse, especially when it happens during childhood or teenage years, can have a serious impact on a child’s education. Missed days of school, difficulty concentrating, or emotional distress can all affect academic performance. An educational psychologist aims to help us understand how the abuse may have affected someone’s learning and what they might have achieved if it hadn’t happened.
As part of their assessment, the educational psychologist will meet with the client and carry out a range of tests, including measuring IQ (intelligence quotient) and other cognitive abilities. This helps them form a clear picture of the person’s natural potential and abilities, which may then be used to support a loss of earnings claim.
We may be able to argue that, had it not been for the abuse, the client would have achieved better qualifications, higher earnings, and more opportunities.
3. Employment consultant
In some compensation claims, particularly where our client had a specific career path in mind that was disrupted or delayed due to the abuse, an employment consultant may be engaged to carry out a "labour market assessment". This is especially useful for clients who have followed, or wish to follow traditional employment routes, such as becoming a teacher, doctor or vet for example. Employment consultants are also helpful in cases where the career is more difficult to quantify, such as performing arts, creative industries, or freelance work.
The role of the employment consultant is to research and provide a detailed analysis of what someone with our client’s background could reasonably have expected to earn. This includes forecasting earnings from the date they would have likely entered the profession (had not been abused), all the way through to retirement. They consider factors such as pay scales, promotions, specialist roles, and geographical differences. For example, in the NHS, salary bands and career progression can vary significantly depending on location, role, and experience.
To carry out this work accurately, the employment consultant is provided with detailed information about a person’s education, qualifications, work history, and ambitions.
They will also conduct a one-to-one interview with our client to gather more information about their career intentions, capabilities, and motivations. This allows the consultant to tailor their research and findings specifically to the individual, rather than relying on general assumptions.
The outcome of the expert’s report is a realistic roadmap of what our client would likely have earned or will earn throughout their working life.
This information becomes a key part of a loss of earnings claim, helping the court to understand the financial opportunities the client has missed and the long-term economic impact of the abuse.
4. Forensic accountant
As discussed above, abuse can have a long-lasting effect on a person’s ability to work, whether due to missed education, mental health difficulties, or difficulties holding down jobs.
A forensic accountant is a financial expert who helps work out how much someone has lost in earnings, both in the past and in the future as a result of the abuse they suffered.
Forensic accountants are able to model potential earnings into the future, as well as calculate past earnings, based on a particular career trajectory. They will usually use the report of the employment consultant to predict actual lost wages, bonuses, pension contributions, and other work-related income. Their role is to calculate a realistic figure for a loss of earnings claim, taking into account tax implications, life expectancy and other relevant matters, tailored to that specific client’s circumstances.
Their input assists in building a strong claim by clearly showing how the abuse affected a person’s earnings and future losses, something that can be hard to explain without expert support.
5. Camouflage makeup expert
For some survivors of abuse, the trauma has led to visible scarring, particularly from self-harm. These physical reminders of past pain can affect day-to-day life, confidence, and how someone feels in social or professional situations. A camouflage makeup expert is someone who helps people cover up visible scars or skin damage using specially formulated, medical-grade makeup products.
The process starts with an initial assessment to see whether camouflage products will actually work for the individual. Not all self-harm scars respond well to this treatment, so the expert will give honest advice about whether it will be helpful.
If it is suitable, the client is offered a full appointment where the specialist will:
- Match the right colours and tones to the client’s skin.
- Show them exactly how to apply the makeup safely and effectively.
- Recommend specific products, brushes, removal techniques, and skin protection items like setting or fixing sprays.
- Explain how often these products will need to be replaced, and how that might change over time as skin ages or reacts differently.
The expert will then provide a report, which includes a breakdown of the estimated annual costs for everything required, including brushes, creams, sprays, removers, and any future follow-up assessments. They also estimate how much the total cost will be over the person’s remaining life. This ensures that the cost of these products and support is factored into the civil compensation claim.
Conclusion
Expert evidence is essential in civil compensation claims, helping to credibly show the full impact of abuse on a person’s life. At Emmott Snell Solicitors, we carefully identify specific experts to fully amplify our client’s losses and injury to maximise compensation. These experts will prepare balanced, robust reports to help support our clients in seeking the justice and compensation they deserve. If you would like to speak confidentially to a member of our team, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to help.
