Criminal Injury Claims (CICA)
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Criminal Injury Claims
Being the victim of a crime is traumatic enough, but when you are injured in the process it can be life-changing. If this has happened to you, we can help you claim compensation for your injury so you can focus on rebuilding your life.
Most crime victims are left feeling violated and angry, and often suffer from psychological damage just as painful as their physical damage.
We understand how difficult this time is, and we are here for you. We will be by your side and support you throughout the process of getting compensation for your suffering. This way you can move on and focus on recovering, knowing you don’t have to worry about any financial issues.
Get in touch for your confidential free consultation and find out how we may be able to help you claim the compensation you deserve.
Starting a CICA Claim
Claiming Compensation for Your Injury
Despite the clear legal systems in place to allow crime victims the chance to claim criminal injury compensation, many miss out.
It’s easy to become consumed by the process of recovering from an injury. Being a victim of a crime is often very traumatic and many people forget or just don’t want to think about the possibility of going through a claims process.
Feeling alone and overwhelmed is perfectly normal. As is feeling unsure about the possible costs of solicitor fees or feeling pessimistic about your chances of being awarded the compensation you deserve.
We are here to make the process as easy and comfortable as possible. If a claim feels like the right thing to do, we will help.
Taking a Positive Step Towards your Recovery
When dealing with the distress and anxiety caused by a criminal injury, it’s only natural to want nothing more to do with what happened to you. To never have to think about it again.
With the help of our dedicated team of experts, you can claim compensation for your injuries, emotional distress and financial losses. Our solicitors will ensure you feel safe and comfortable at each step, as we understand the concern such a process can bring.
Compensation can provide an important practical and emotional uplift to your recovery. Our expert solicitors can lead you through your criminal injury claim and get you justice.
You do not need to worry about expensive fees. This is because all the personal injury services we provide are on a no-win, no-fee basis.
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA)
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) are the government organisation overseeing compensation payments to innocent victims of violent crime. It covers people in England, Scotland, and Wales and can pay out compensation ranging from £1,000 to £500,000.
CICA criminal injury claims can be complex, but we understand the process intimately. We will put you at ease by keeping you fully informed throughout the process, and explain your rights at every stage. Whatever you’ve been through, we will do what we can to see you get the compensation you are entitled to.
What Does Compensation Cover?
Any compensation awarded by CICA takes into account several factors. These include:
- The type and extent of your physical injury
- Any disabling mental injury that occurs as a result
- The type of criminal offence that caused the injury; such as sexual or physical abuse
- A loss of earnings or increased expenses as a result of the criminal injury
- Damage to property
You may also receive compensation if criminal injury caused the death of a close relative, including funeral costs.
The Criteria for Making a Criminal Injury Claim
According to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012, you must meet the following criteria to make a criminal injury claim:
- The incident happened in England, Scotland, or Wales
- Any injuries sustained meet the minimum compensation award of £1,000
- The incident was reported to the police within 48 hours (where possible)
- The injured party meets the required nationality and residence requirements as outlined below
- The incident occurred within the last two years
The two-year limit has the potential to be put aside in the case of sexual abuse and assault.
You might also be able to claim if:
- You witnessed the crime happen to a loved one
- A close relative died as a result of a crime
Your Nationality and Residence
To make a criminal injury claim your nationality or residence status needs to meet specific criteria. This is not your status as it is now, but at the time when the crime occurred. At the time the crime occurred you must be either:
- A British citizen (or close relative of one)
- A national of the EU or EEA (or a close relative of one)
- A member of the armed forces (or the spouse or close relative of one)
- A potential victim of human trafficking on or before the date of your application (this needs to be confirmed by the UK Human Trafficking Centre and UK Visas and Immigration)
- An asylum seeker
- A national of a member country of the Council of Europe Convention on the Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes
If you are unsure of your eligibility for criminal injuries compensation, our team of personal injury lawyers are here to help. We will listen in detail to your circumstances and explain exactly what your legal options are and what we can do.
Expert Criminal Injury Claim Advice
Getting You the Compensation you Deserve
By working on a no-win, no-fee basis we can help relieve the stress associated with financing your legal claim. By making your well-being our priority, we will help you get the compensation you deserve and move on with your life.
Our team of dedicated and highly experienced personal injury solicitors approach every case in a sensitive, secure, and thorough way.
We take our time to understand what you have been through, and how we can best help and advise you. We tailor our advice to suit the individual.
Get in touch with our team to discuss your case and see how you can begin your criminal injury claim.
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