Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA)
If you have been the victim of a criminal injury you may be able to claim compensation from the Government for those injuries under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 1995. A criminal injury means one or more personal injuries sustained in Great Britain as a result of and directly caused by one of the following:
- A crime of violence including unprovoked assault, rape, attempted rape, arson, fire-raising or poisoning.
- An offence of trespass on the railway or the apprehension.
- The attempted apprehension of an offender or suspected offender or helping police engaged in such activity.
It can be an injury resulting from one event of unprovoked assault or injuries resulting from an arson attack or poisoning or over a period of time in the case of sustained criminal abuse or sustained assault eg physical abuse from a partner, family member or criminal or poisoning in several doses over time. You have two years from the date of the incident to apply. Cases will not usually be considered after that time unless there are exceptional circumstances for why you have not claimed within the time limit.
The award is made at the discretion of Criminal Injury Compensation Authority (CICA) and is based on a Tariff system. There is a set amount of money for each injury claimed. If there are two or more injuries then the second and subsequent injuries are awarded on a reduced basis. The most serious injury is always classed as the first injury. For example one of our clients was unlawfully pushed down a flight of stairs by a bouncer, then followed and assaulted again. She was awarded £2,500 for a back injury and 30% of £1000 (£300) for her second, less serious knee injury.
CICA also may refuse to make an award or reduce the amount of the award if they feel that you did not aid the police in apprehending the assailant of if you yourself have a criminal conviction or you have spent time in prison.
If you have been the victim of a crime and have received personal injury (either physical and / or psychological) we may be able to help you. We can act for you on a 'no win- no fee' basis. This means if your claim is not successful we do not get paid. If, however, your claim is successful we do not receive any money from the government for helping you to claim and so to pay our legal fees we take 30% (including VAT) from the award made to you by the CICA.Call Freephone 0800 093 0531 or use the apply online box to make your enquiry.
Why choose Recover! Personal Injury Solicitors?
Recover! was created by like minded solicitors who are committed to providing accident victims with a fast, efficient service through the convenience of the internet.
Recover! will arrange for one of our solicitors to contact you to discuss your case and advise on the best way forward entirely free of charge. We will guarantee to deal with you in an ethical manner, using plain language. The solicitor will guide you through the claim and explain how if you win your case you will receive all of the damages awarded. Should you lose, you pay nothing.
Recover! will ensure that the lawyer appointed to your case will remain with you throughout the entire claim process.
