This guide will explain the specific criteria that must be met to be able to make a claim for criminal injuries through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). Additionally, this guide will discuss the evidence you must present when pursuing a claim through the CICA and the time limits you must adhere to when starting your claim. We will also discuss the different types of claims the CICA could handle.
Furthermore, we will share some of the various benefits of making a claim for criminal injury compensation with one of our experienced No Win No Fee solicitors.
You can also contact one of our friendly advisors if you would like to discuss your claim. They are available 7 days a week to offer you free legal advice. They could also connect you with legal representation from our panel of lawyers.
Talk to one of our advisors by:
- Calling on 0800 073 8801
- Using our live chat service.
- Contacting us online.
Select A Section
- What Compensation Could You Claim For Criminal Injuries?
- Who May Be Eligible To Claim For Criminal Injuries?
- What Evidence Could Help Prove Your Criminal Injury Claim?
- Types Of Criminal Injury Claims
- Claim For Criminal Injuries With Our Panel On No Win No Fee Solicitors
- Learn More About Criminal Injury Claims
What Compensation Could You Claim For Criminal Injuries?
Following a successful claim for criminal injuries through the CICA, the injuries you suffered will be valued in line with the tariff of injuries set out in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012. In the next section, we will discuss the criteria you must meet when pursuing a claim through the CICA.
We have used this tariff when creating the following table. This is to help you gain a clearer idea of how much compensation you could be awarded for your criminal injuries.
| Injury | Notes | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Arm | The dominant arm is paralysed or suffers an equivalent loss of function. | £44,000 |
| Leg | Loss of one leg below the knee. | £33,000 |
| Eye | Loss of sight in one eye. | £22,000 |
| Sexual Assault of a person of any age. | Sexual assault that results in serious internal injuries. | £22,000 |
| Mental Injury | A permanent mental injury that is moderately disabling and has been confirmed by a professional. | £19,000 |
| Physical/Domestic Abuse of an adult. | A persistent pattern of severe abuse that has lasted 3+ years. | £8,200 |
| Hand | One hand has been fractured, which results in a continuing significant disability. | £3,500 |
| Face | A fractured jaw bone that doesn’t require an operation but does result in a continuing significant disability. | £2,400 |
| Ankle | Both ankles have been dislocated or fractured but have made a substantial recovery. | £2,400 |
| Lung | One lung has been punctured. | £1,500 |
Special Expenses.
Additionally, you could claim compensation to reimburse you for special expenses. All of the costs you are claiming under special expenses must have been directly caused by your injury and not be available for free anywhere else. Under special expenses, you could claim for:
- Any care costs that relate to your bodily functions or preparing food.
- Equipment you need to cope with your injury, such as a specially adapted car.
- Home adaptations you need to help cope with your injury, such as a stairlift.
- Equipment that you relied on as a physical aid that was damaged in the incident, such as your glasses or hearing aids.
- A loss of earnings (however, you will need to meet specific criteria).
Contact our advisors today if you have any further questions about how much compensation you could receive for your injuries. They could also inform you of the criteria you must meet to be able to make a claim for a loss of earnings.
Who May Be Eligible To Claim For Criminal Injuries?
The CICA handle various claims for those who have been criminally injured. However, to be able to make a claim for your criminal injuries through the CICA, you must meet the following criteria:
- You must have suffered your injury in a crime of violence. Sexual abuse, violent attacks including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) or domestic violence, and arson are all considered a crime of violence by the CICA.
- The incident must have taken place in Great Britain (England, Scotland, or Wales) or another “relevant place” as defined by the CICA.
- You must have reported the incident to the police.
- Your claim must be made within the time limit stated in the section below.
Time Limits To Claim For Criminal Injuries
When making a claim for your criminal injuries through the CICA, you will have 2 years to start your claim. This time limit starts from the date you reported the incident to the police. You are generally expected to do this right away after the incident. However, exceptions could be made if you could prove that you could not report the incident due to exceptional circumstances.
Additionally, exceptions could be made to the 2-year limit if you can prove that you could not start your claim within this timeframe due to exceptional circumstances.
Contact our advisors today if you have any questions about how to make a criminal injury claim through the CICA. They could also inform you of the time limits for claims involving children.
What Evidence Could Help Prove Your Criminal Injury Claim?
When making a claim through the CICA, you will need to provide:
- A police reference number. This is to prove that you reported the incident.
- Proof that you meet the residency requirements.
- Medical evidence regarding your injury, such as a copy of your medical records.
It is important to note that you will not have to provide the CICA with any evidence about the incident. The police will investigate this, and the CICA can liaise with them for this information. They can also confirm other aspects of your circumstances, such as whether you have a criminal record that could affect your payout.
Contact our advisors today to see whether you could make a claim for your criminal injuries.
Types Of Criminal Injury Claims
As we have previously stated, the CICA handles various types of claims for those who have been injured in a crime of violence. This could include claims being made for:
- Sexual offences, including sexual abuse and rape.
- Physical assault
- Domestic violence.
- Historical abuse. This is abuse that someone who is now an adult experienced when they were under 18.
No matter what crime of violence you have been injured in, one of our experienced solicitors could help you with your claim. They have years of experience handling criminal injury claims.
Contact one of our advisors today to see whether you could make a claim for your criminal injuries.
Claim For Criminal Injuries With Our Panel Of No Win No Fee Solicitors
One of our friendly advisors could advise you whether you could make a claim for your criminal injuries. If they feel you could, may they connect you with one of our solicitors who could help you with your specific claim. Additionally, they may offer to represent you under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This is a type of No Win No Fee agreement.
When making a claim with a No Win No Fee solicitor, you are usually not expected to pay them anything upfront or during the process of your claim for their services. You will also not have to pay them for the services they have provided if the claim fails. However, you will be obligated to pay them a success fee if they succeed with your claim. The success fee will be deducted from your compensation by your solicitor. The amount they can take as a success fee is capped by law.
You can contact one of our advisors today if you have any questions about making a claim through the CICA with one of our solicitors.
Contact Us
If you are still unsure whether you may be eligible to make a claim for your criminal injuries, you can contact our advisors. Our team is available 24 hours a day to answer your questions. Additionally, they could provide you with free legal advice for your specific claim. They may also connect you with one of our experienced solicitors.
Talk to one of our advisors by:
- Calling on 0800 073 8801
- Using our live chat service.
- Or you can contact us online.
Learn More About Criminal Injury Claims
More articles by us about criminal injury claims:
- I have a criminal record, am I still eligible to claim criminal injuries compensation?
- Can I claim for rape if the rapist has not been charged or found guilty?
- Claiming if you were sexually abused by an ex-partner
Additional information and resources:
- UK GOV. – Criminal injuries compensation: a guide.
- Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) – Offences against the person, incorporating the charging standard.
- Mind – A-Z mental health.
Contact our advisors today to see if you could make a claim for your criminal injuries.
Guide by MR
Edited by FS