A Guide To Criminal Injury Claims

Even without a suspect, a criminal injury claim can still be made if you are the victim of a crime and are injured. In cases where the suspect would be unable to pay you any compensation, we look at how you could claim.

This guide explains the criminal injury claims process for applying for compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). The CICA is a government-funded agency established to give those injured in crimes of violence in Great Britain a means of claiming compensation.

Within this guide, we explain who the CICA are and the eligibility criteria that needs to be met to begin a claim with them. Additionally, we will discuss the evidence that is needed to make a claim through the CICA, and the time limits that must be adhered to.

This guide will also share examples of the compensation you could be awarded for different injuries following a successful claim, using the fixed tariff amounts from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012, which is administered by the CICA. Furthermore, we will discuss some of the benefits of making a claim with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors.

Our team of advisors are available 24/7 to address any questions you may have about the claims process. They can also offer a free consultation on your eligibility to begin a claim through the CICA. To get your potential criminal injury compensation claim started, get in touch using the following contact information:

 

A solicitor in a suit and tie sits behind a desk with a gavel, a clipboard and fountain pen

Eligibility Criteria For Criminal Injury Claims

As stated in the introduction, the CICA is a government-funded agency that was established to provide the victims of crimes of violence in England, Scotland, or Wales, with a means of claiming compensation for their injuries.

There are other methods of claiming compensation for a violent crime, such as claiming against the perpetrator directly or against a vicariously liable party, but for the purposes of this guide, we’re looking at criminal injury claims being made through the CICA.

In order to submit a claim to the CICA, you must be able to meet the following eligibility criteria:

  1. You were injured in a crime of violence. The CICA Scheme provides a definition of a crime of violence. Some examples of incidents covered by this definition include sexual abuse, arson and assault.
  2. The incident occurred in Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales) or another relevant place, such as a boat registered to one of the previously mentioned countries.
  3. The crime was reported to the police.
  4. Your claim must be made within the relevant time limit. We will discuss what these are in a later section of this guide.

What Evidence Is Required By The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority?

When making your criminal injury compensation claim, you will need to submit some supporting evidence. This can include:

  • Your police reference number, which proves that you reported the incident to the police.
  • Evidence you meet the residency requirements.
  • Medical evidence highlighting your injuries can be compensated for by the Scheme.

The CICA will liase with the police to obtain any additional information they may need in regards to the crime.

If you have any questions regarding how to support your criminal injury claim, you can contact one of our advisors today. Additionally, if it seems like you may have a strong case, they could connect you with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors who can help you build your case and seek compensation.

Crime scene tape beyond which multiple police cars are responding to an incident.

How Long Do You Have To Make A Criminal Injuries Claim?

Generally, those making criminal injury claims will have two years from the date of the incident taking place to start legal proceedings. Exceptions could be made to this two-year timeframe, however, you will need to show that you could not begin proceedings within the two years because of exceptional circumstances.

The time limits for those under the age of 18 are as follows:

  • If the incident was reported to the police before they turned 18, they will need to begin the claiming process by their 20th birthday, unless exceptional circumstances apply.
  • If the incident was reported to the police on or after their 18th birthday, they will have two years from the date they first report it to the police to begin the claiming process, unless exceptional circumstances apply.

If you have any questions regarding the criminal injury compensation claim time limits, you can contact a member of our advisory team today.

Criminal Injury Compensation Claim Calculator - How Much Could You Receive?

If you make a successful claim through the CICA, you will be awarded compensation for the criminal injuries you have suffered.

Compensation for criminal injury claims is awarded in line with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 tariff of injuries.  The tariff includes amounts for physical injuries, as well as mental injuries. You can see some examples in the compensation table below. These amounts are fixed.

Compensation Table

InjuryTariff AmountNotes
Multiple Serious Injuries plus Financial LossesUp to £500,000Compensation for multiple serious criminal injuries as well as special expenses and loss of earnings.
Major Paralysis£175,000Quadriplegia impairing motor or sensory function that is substantially incomplete to upper limb level but complete to lower limb level.
£110,000Paraplegia, the sensory and/or motor impairment of the lower body, that is moderate but substantially incomplete.
Moderate Brain Damage£82,000Significant deficit of intellect, change in personality, sensory impact and reduction in the ability to work.
Arm£55,000Loss of one dominant arm.
£44,000Paralysis or equivalent loss of function in one dominant arm.
Facial Burns£27,000Facial burns causing severe disfigurement.
Torso – Abdomen£13,500Laparotomy with one or more of permanent ileostomy, ureterostomy or colostomy.
Facial Injuries£6,200Fractured jaw that requires an operation and results in significant continuing disability.
Elbow£6,200One elbow is dislocated or fractured causing continuing significant disability.
Femur£4,600Fracture of femur on one leg causing significant continuing disability.

When making a claim through the CICA, you could also receive compensation for up to three injuries. Under the multiple injuries formula successful claimants will receive compensation for their injuries in the following increments:

  • 100% of the tariff amount for the most serious injury sustained.
  • 30% for the second most serious or an equal value injury.
  • 15% for the third most serious or an injury of equal value.

If you have become pregnant, lost a foetus or contracted an STI as a direct result of the violent crime, you may be able to receive compensation from a seperate tariff that is not subject to this formula.

Loss of Earnings And Special Expenses In Criminal Injury Claims

You may also be eligible to receive special expenses following a successful claim. This refers to certain costs incurred as a result of your criminal injuries. As such, a special expenses payment could be made for the following:

  • Any equipment needed to help cope with your injuries, such as a wheelchair.
  • Any home adaptations needed to help cope with your injuries, such as a ramp or stairlift.
  • Equipment that was damaged in the incident that you depended upon as a physical aid, such as hearing aids.
  • The cost of care that relates to your bodily functions or preparing food.

You will need to prove that these costs were necessary, reasonable and directly resulted from your criminal injuries. Additionally, you must also be able to demonstrate that they are not available for free elsewhere.

You may also be able to claim for a loss of earnings when making a criminal injury claim. However, the CICA have certain criteria that will need to be met in order for you to qualify to receive a loss of earnings payment.

To find out more about special expenses and loss of earnings payments, or for more information regarding compensation for successful criminal injury claims, you can contact a member of our advisory team.

Man walking up the stairs holding a knife.

What Is The CICA Criminal Injury Claims Process?

If you’re looking to begin a criminal injury claim, the first step you may wish to take is to contact our advisors for a free assessment of your eligibility. As well as advising you as to whether you can claim through the CICA, our team can also answer any questions you may have.

After receiving your free eligibility check, typically, the criminal injury claims process is as follows:

  1. When submitting your claim, you will need to provide them with certain information such as the location and date of the crime and medical evidence of the injuries you are claiming for. You may also need to provide them with details of any unspent criminal convictions or any other applications you have made through the CICA previously.
  2. The CICA will use this information to assess your case. They may also liaise with the police for any additional information they may need.
  3. If your claim is successful, they will present you with a compensation offer that aligns with the tariffs set out in the Scheme 2012. Generally, the CICA aim to assess the majority of applications within 12 months. However, this may be longer if the case is more complex. This is to help ensure that the payment awarded reflects the injuries you have suffered as well as their long-term impact.

To learn about the claims process in more detail, or to get a free consultation regarding your eligibility to begin a claim, contact our advisors today. You can reach our team at any time via the contact information provided below.

Claim Criminal Injuries Compensation Using A No Win No Fee Solicitor

Our specialist solicitors have years of experience handling various types of criminal injury claims. If you contact our advisors today, they could assess your case and may pass you onto one of our solicitors, who may then offer to take on your claim under a type of No Win No Fee contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).

A CFA contract offers claimants considerable benefits during their case, including:

  1. Generally, not having to pay anything upfront for the solicitor to start working on your claim.
  2. There will also not typically be any fees for their continued work during the claims process itself.
  3. If your claim does not succeed, you will not have to pay your solicitor a fee for their services.

Should you make a successful claim, your solicitor will take a percentage of your compensation. This is called a success fee. The maximum percentage that solicitors are permitted to charge as a success fee is capped by law.

A set of metal handcuffs, a wooden gavel and metal scales.

Contact Us

Our team of advisors are available 24/7 to address any questions you may have about the criminal injury claims process. They can also offer a free consultation on your eligibility to begin a claim through the CICA. Get in touch using the following contact information:

More Information About Claiming Compensation

You can read some of our guides discussing other types of claims, such as personal injury and medical negligence:

We have  included these external resources which you may find useful:

  • You can report a crime to the Police through their website.
  • Access various help and support following a crime using this resource from charity organisation Victim Support.
  • Following a violent crime, the injured person may require first aid. The NHS has published this guidance on supporting injured persons at the scene of the incident.

If you have any additional questions regarding the criminal injury claims process, you can contact one of our advisors today.

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