If you have been involved in a violent act of crime through no fault of your own, then you could be able to make a criminal injuries compensation claim.

If you have been injured due to a violent crime, you may be able to claim for criminal injuries compensation. 

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is a public body of the government that provides compensation amounts to people who have been injured in violent crimes. The CICA was set up in 1996 and it covers the areas of England, Scotland and Wales and is funded by the Ministry of Justice and Justice Directorate (the latter is for Scotland specifically).

There are roughly 65,000 applications to the CICA each year and there is roughly £200 million paid out annually due to criminal injury compensation claims. Compensation amounts are decided upon through a scale which is set by Parliament in the form of a tariff. The tariff takes into account roughly 400 different types of injury and 25 levels of compensation attached to each one. Compensation amounts on the tariff range from £1,000 to £250,000. Like all other compensation claims, the amount you are due will depend upon the severity of the injuries and their impact upon your life.

To learn more or to start your claim, get in touch with our expert team on 0333 358 2345 or contact us online. 

How Can First Personal Injury Help With My Criminal Injury Claim?

In most cases, your criminal injury claim can be conducted through CICA but there are some circumstances when the help of a personal injury lawyer is valuable.

If your injury was very severe and you have suffered extreme losses then in some cases, there is room for us to help you receive the maximum amount of compensation you deserve.

If you believe you have a criminal injury case then please call 0333 358 2345. Our team can help give you a better indication of how much compensation for a criminal injury.

Types Of Criminal Injury Compensation Claims

There are hundreds of different types of claims which can be made through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. Acts of violent crime are those which demonstrate intent to physically harm another and the level of seriousness associated with each one will be judged by the extent of the physical and psychological injuries inflicted.

In our experience, as personal injury lawyers, we have seen many different kinds of violent acts of crime claims. Some of those include being assaulted by a gang of people and suffering from physical and psychological injuries following the event or being shot or stabbed during a crime like a robbery.

Common Criminal Injuries

Almost any injury can be sustained during a physical assault. Here are a few common types of criminal injury and the related compensation amounts:

In all cases, the extent of your symptoms; whether or not you have been able to work and your age will all be considered.

Head and brain injuries

Psychological injury

Am I Eligible To Make A Criminal Injuries Compensation Claim?

To check your eligibility for making a Criminal Injuries Claim, see below some of the prerequisites for making a claim:

• The case must be reported to the police
• You must have tried to get medical treatment for your injury or injuries
• You must be a resident of the UK or a member of the EEA (European Economic Area)
• The injuries being claimed for must have resulted because of a violent act of crime; CICA provides a detailed definition of a what this means, common examples include assault, rape and murder
• There is a two-year time limit for making criminal injuries claims, this is different from the usual three-year time limit applicable to all other personal injury cases. Some exceptions do apply in rare instances e.g. if a case involves a child. In most cases, time limits are strict with few exceptions being made
• If your claim is valued less than £1,000 then you will not be able to take it through the CICA
• When assessing your claim there will be a focus on all the details including your behaviour leading up to a crime of violence and also after the event. It will also be looked into as to whether or not you have a criminal record, plus the way in which you have cooperated with the police
• If you are claiming for a loss of earnings you must remember that you will not be compensated from CICA for the first 28 weeks you have not been working. There is also a cap on the amount of compensation you will get for a loss of earnings
• Free legal advice is often available for Trade Union members
• Finally, you will not receive legal costs as part of your compensation claim. You can deal with CICA directly or pay a fee to the personal injury lawyer who takes on your case

Who Will Help Me With My Criminal Injuries Case?

Not all crimes of violence need to be taken through CICA and some can be made against an employer or the individual who has attacked you, for example. If you conduct your crime of violence claim through CICA and also make a claim against an individual or an employer for the same case, then the amount you have made a separate claim for would need to be deducted from the amount from CICA.

In order to ensure you keep costs to a minimum, it is sometimes advisable to carry out the claim yourself, if this is possible. However, First Personal Injury do still help clients with CICA claims and can advise you of the validity of your case. Often, in situations where there has been a serious injury like a brain injury or a fatality, there can be complexities involved that would benefit from the assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer.

Criminal Injuries Claim Advice From First Personal Injury

You may be entitled to compensation for a range of compensation claims under accident claims. Our experts will help assess your potential claim going forwards and provide you with proficient advice.

Contact First Personal Injury to discuss your potential compensation claim today by ringing 0333 358 2345 or by filling out the online claims form.

To learn more or to start your claim, get in touch with our expert team on 0333 358 2345 or contact us online.