If you suffer damage to your health in Germany as a result of an intentional, unlawful assault, for example bodily injury, you can apply for benefits in respect of this damage to your health.

The following benefits are available

• curative and medical treatment,
• welfare benefits
• pension and
• other cash benefits.

These benefits are based on the degree of the consequences of your health injury (degree of injury consequences) and your needs.

Financial losses or immaterial damages are not compensated. This also applies to self-inflicted injuries (e.g. if you started a fight).

You may be denied benefits if you, as the injured party, do not contribute to the investigation, for example, if you do not file a report.

For foreigners, the scope of benefits depends on the length of their legal residence. Your stay is also considered legal if your deportation is suspended ("Duldung"). On the other hand, people who are staying in Germany illegally are not entitled to benefits.

If you have become aware of a criminal act, regardless of whether you yourself were harmed or witnessed a crime, you can file a report with the police. In doing so, you inform the law enforcement authorities (police and public prosecutor's office) about the event and the course of events.