Criminal Injuries Compensation Claims
If you’ve been the victim of a criminal act, such as an assault or grievous bodily harm, we can help you claim compensation for your physical injuries and the psychological trauma you may have suffered.
The psychological effects of an attack can often outlast the physical injuries, so we know that claiming compensation can be difficult and bring back memories. However, we aim to make the process as quick, clear and simple for you as we can whilst ensuring you get the compensation you deserve.
Our specialist team provides expert legal advice in different languages to clients who have suffered criminal injuries. They operate on a No Win No Fee basis, meaning that you won’t pay any fees unless your case is successful.
What sort of criminal acts can I claim for?
The following are some of the most common offences that the CICA receives claims for:
- Assaults including sexual, aggravated or armed assaults
- Domestic violence including violence towards children
- Assault in the workplace
- Mugging
- Grievous bodily harm
Claims can be made even if the assailant is unknown or was never caught. For fatal crimes, it is also possible to claim for the loss of a loved one or family member.
How are criminal injury claims funded?
Claims are funded by the CICA (Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority) – an agency of the Ministry of Justice which provides compensation to victims of criminal injury. The CICA provides compensation ranging from £1,000 to an upper limit of £500,000.
The compensation awarded is based on a tariff of injuries, each with a standard amount. Many claimants suffer multiple injuries affecting different parts of the body. A CICA compensation claim is based on the figures for the three most significant injuries.
How much compensation might I receive?
The amount of compensation you receive very much depends on your specific circumstances. That’s why we recommend that you get in touch with us promptly so that we can discuss the details of your accident with you.
You may be able to claim for the following if they are a direct result of your injuries:
- Compensation for distress and upheaval
- Loss of earnings and financial losses incurred
- Medical costs, prescription fees, care and rehabilitation costs
- Damage to your property
- Travel expenses incurred
Compared with other types of personal injury claims – such as claiming against an organisation or your employer – claims for loss of earnings and rehabilitation may be more limited under the CICA scheme.
Do I have a valid claim for compensation?
Criminal Injuries claims are handled somewhat differently to other types of personal injury claims. As well as the compensation being funded by the CICA, there are differences in what is expected of you as a claimant and also the time limits for making a claim, for example:
- You must be an innocent victim of crime
- The incident must have been reported to the police
- The incident must be no more than two years ago
- Your injuries must be included in the CICA’s tariff of injuries
- You must co-operate fully with the police and the CICA throughout the process
- Any unspent criminal convictions on your own record may affect your ability to claim
Given the shorter time limit and the many nuances of the CICA scheme, we highly recommend that you contact us promptly to discuss the specific details of your case. We can then advise you accordingly and if appropriate we can help you process your claim with the CICA.
How do I begin a CICA compensation claim?
Call us on 0208 1111 911 or contact us through the website and we’ll arrange a time and date to discuss your circumstances with you.
