Criminal injury compensation claims solicitors

If you suffered an injury as a result of a violent crime or criminal activity, you may be eligible to claim compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

To find out if you can claim compensation, call us today on 0800 0384 384 to speak with a solicitor that specialises in criminal injury compensation claims, or email us via our contact form.

Compensation can be claimed from the CICA by people who have been injured as a result of a crime. The CICA is government-funded and has strict guidelines about awarding compensation for criminal injuries; however, the CICA exists to compensate victims who qualify. In most instances, if you have the correct documentation regarding your criminal injury and you can demonstrate that you meet the requirements to receive compensation, then your claim will succeed.

The requirements for criminal injury compensation are as follows:

• you must have received the injury as a result of a crime
• your injury must be serious enough to require at least two follow up doctor's appointments
• your recovery takes at least six weeks.

You can receive compensation for either a physical or psychological injury. You can also claim whether your injury was deliberate or accidental; for example, if you were pushed to the ground by a criminal fleeing the scene and suffered a head injury or broken bones.

People who have lost a spouse, partner, child or parent to a fatal criminal injury can also claim compensation.

The injury must have occurred in England, Scotland or Wales and you must report the crime to the police (normally straight away) and then co-operate with the police while they investigate the incident. In most cases you must initiate your claim within two years of the incident, although exceptions may be made.

The CICA can withhold or reduce a compensation award if they feel your behaviour may have led to the attack; for example if you initiated a fight or goaded the attacker.

You do not need to have legal representation to make an application for compensation and for a straightforward claim it is often unnecessary. As the CICA scheme does not pay for solicitors' fees, Pannone's criminal injury solicitors will advise you on how best to proceed and whether you should use a solicitor.

If you have suffered a serious injury and will have to cope with financial losses in the longer term, you should usually appoint a specialist criminal injury solicitor to ensure you get the maximum level of compensation.

Criminal injury solicitors

For a free 'no obligation' meeting with solicitor who specialises in criminal injury claims, please click here or call us free on 0800 0384 384.
We are available to take your call twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.