Criminal Injury Claims

Criminal Injury Claims

Free Initial Discussion

For a no-obligation discussion, call our specialist Personal Injury Solicitors on 01642 247656, email us at info@watsonwoodhouse.co.uk or use our contact form, and we will call you back.

What is a Criminal Injury Claim?

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is a government scheme to help victims of crime recover compensation. You can make a CICA claim if:

• You have been the victim of a violent crime and suffered injuries (see ‘What injuries can you claim for?’)
• A family member has died as a result of a violent crime (including if you paid funeral costs)
• You witnessed a violent crime happen to a family member or loved one

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority recognise that it is not always possible to claim personal injury compensation from the perpetrator of the offence. Therefore, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority set up a scheme designed to offer compensation to victims of violent crimes. To make a successful CICA claim, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority you must ensure that you meet the following criteria:

• The incident was reported to the police within 48 hours or as soon as possible
• You have no unspent criminal convictions other than driving offences
• The incident happened within the last two years (in some limited circumstances this can be extended)
• The incident occurred in England, Wales or Scotland

You can still make a successful CICA claim even if the offender is not identified, caught or convicted.

Here are some examples of the types of cases we deal with:

• Single incidents of physical/sexual assault
• Physical/sexual assault by a family member, friend or stranger
• Physical/sexual assault by someone connected to a Local Authority (for example, those who work in foster care & Social Service)
• Physical/sexual assault by someone in a position of responsibility (for example, abuse from a priest or teacher)
• Physical/sexual assault by someone connected to an organisation/sports club
• Physical/sexual assault by Healthcare Professionals
• Historic abuse / Abuse suffered as a child or adult

What injuries can I claim for?

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme offers compensation to those who have suffered injuries following a violent crime. Your injuries must fall within the CICA’s tariff. The CICA tariff provides a list of injuries and the amount of compensation available depending on the nature and severity of the injuries that can be claimed for within the Scheme. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme also offers compensation to those who have suffered sexual abuse.

Our specialist team of lawyers understand that talking about violent crime and sexual abuse can be highly distressing and emotional for a victim. We offer a strictly confidential, free, no-obligation consultation. If you choose Watson Woodhouse Solicitors to assist you with your CICA claim, our specialist team will guide you compassionately through the CICA claims process and work hard to get you the justice you deserve.

We understand that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme does not provide compensation for all injuries. Therefore, if you are unsure whether or not the injuries you have sustained fall within the CICA Scheme, contact us to speak to an experienced and specialised lawyer today.

Can I claim for financial losses from the CICA Scheme?

Other payments available from the scheme include:

• loss of earnings – where you have no or limited capacity to work as the direct result of a criminal injury;
• special expenses payments – these cover certain costs you may have incurred as a direct result of an incident. You can only ask us to consider special expenses if your injuries mean you have been unable to work or have been incapacitated to a similar extent for more than 28 weeks;
• a fatality caused by a crime of violence including bereavement payments, payments for loss of parental services and financial dependency; and funeral payments.

What should I do if I have suffered injuries as a result of a violent crime?

Here at Watson Woodhouse, we understand that you may feel scared and confused after being a victim of a violent crime and you may not be sure what to do. We would recommend you take the following steps:

• It is important that you report the incident to the police without delay, otherwise, this could lead to your claim being rejected.
• If you are aware of any recordings or footage that may have captured the accident or incident taking place such as CCTV footage, doorbell footage, dash cam or body worn camera footage, request that the footage is retained and ask for a copy.
• Take photographs of your injuries.
• If you need medical assistance, keep a record of any treatment you receive.

We pride ourselves on the service that we offer our clients. Our dedicated lawyers specialise in representing those who have suffered injuries at work and offer you a free, no-obligation consultation. Contact us today to discuss your accident at work so we can answer any further questions you have.

How long do I have to make a Criminal Injuries Compensation Claim?

If you are a victim of a criminal injury and you have sustained personal injuries, you can make a claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). The CICA time limit for making a claim is two years after the incident. Therefore, it is important that you don’t wait too long before starting your personal injury claim.

However, you should always report the incident to the police and make a statement as quickly as possible as any delay can lead to your claim being rejected.

We recommend you seek advice as soon as possible to ensure that action can be taken in advance of any deadline. Our highly experienced lawyers can assess any deadlines and advise you on your next steps.

How are Criminal Injury Claims funded?

If you would like our assistance in making a Criminal Injury Claim, we offer a Contingency Fee Agreement. This type of agreement is another type of ‘no win, no fee’ agreement which means our clients do not have to pay our fees should their claim be unsuccessful. This means that you will only pay for your legal fees if your claim is successful.

Contact Us

Our specialist personal injury lawyers at Watson Woodhouse Solicitors are available for a free, no-obligation consultation so we can answer any further questions you have.

For more information about how Watson Woodhouse Solicitors can help you start a personal injury claim,  call our specialist Personal Injury Solicitors on 01642 247656, email us at info@watsonwoodhouse.co.uk or use our contact form, and we will call you back.