What is criminal injury compensation in the UK?

1. What is criminal injury compensation in the UK? The CICA scheme pays compensation to victims of crime who have sustained physical or psychological injury or whose loved ones have died as a result. The injury must have been caused by a ‘crime of violence’, as described in Annex B to the Scheme. You do not have to wait for the criminal to be identified or convicted. Compensation decisions are made on the basis of the evidence available. What is the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme? The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is a government funded scheme that compensates blameless victims of crime who have suffered physical or mental injury as the result of a violent offence. It is administered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

2. A CICA claim is usually made through a solicitor and must be made within two years of the date that the incident occurred. The CICA can decide whether you are eligible to receive a payment and the value of that payment based on your injuries. Impact and other evidence. You can read more about what is covered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme here. Visit Website; https://www.united-solicitors.co.uk/criminal-injuries-compensation Applicants are not required to wait for the outcome of a criminal trial before making a claim and you should never take advice from police or the CPS not to make a CICA application due to an ongoing investigation. You will be required to attend a Tribunal hearing in some limited cases. But the majority of claims are handled by the Secretary of the Tribunal who can also review decisions. Who is eligible to make a claim? You can make a criminal injury compensation claim for physical and mental harm you have suffered as a result of a crime of violence. You can also claim for loss of earnings payments. If your injuries have left you completely incapable of working or with a very limited capacity to work. To make a criminal injury claim. You must have been injured by a crime of violence that took place in England. Wales or Scotland and the incident must have been reported to police as soon as possible after it happened. And you must also co-operate as much as you can with police to help bring your attacker to justice. You can also make a claim if a parent, child or husband or wife died as a result of a criminal act. We can help you understand the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme rules and what will be required to prove your case. And we will discuss what has happened to you in a free consultation. And then help you complete the CICA form. We

3. will also arrange for an independent medical assessment and provide support in your claim. How do I make a claim? When you suffer injury from a crime, it is possible to claim compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. This scheme is backed by the government and can help with both physical and psychological injury. It is important that any crime suffered is reported to the police as without this information it is unlikely you will be able to make a successful claim. It is also important to note that it is not a requirement that your attacker has been caught. You do not need to wait until the end of criminal proceedings before applying for compensation. Claiming through the CICA can be complex as you must show that your injury was caused by. Or directly caused by a criminal act. This is very different to a personal injury claim such as slipping in a supermarket or suffering injuries from a road traffic accident. Where you can usually make a claim against the person who has injured you. For this reason. It is always advisable to have a solicitor who has experience of dealing with CICA cases as they will understand what the CICA requires from victims of injury. What evidence you must provide in order for them to reach a successful decision. Can I make a claim if I have only minor injuries? Aside from physical injuries like scarring or broken bones. The CICA scheme also compensates for psychological (emotional and mental) injuries such as anxiety and flashbacks. You can use our online compensation calculator to see how much you might be entitled to.

4. Your own conduct before. During and after the incident will be taken into account and may prevent or reduce an award. For example if you provoked an argument or took part in a fight you may lose out. If you have criminal convictions they will generally prevent an award but may be reconsidered depending on the number and seriousness of them and how recent they are. To receive a loss of earnings payment, your injury must mean that you have a total inability to work or can only do so with a very limited capacity. This means that you must have a loss of earnings payment for at least 28 full weeks. You can claim for other costs referred to as special expenses. But these are only paid where they are justified by your injury and relate to it. How much compensation will I receive? While no amount of money can bring back a loved one who has been taken from you by violent crime. It can help to ease the impact on those left behind. If you have been bereaved as a result of criminal injuries. You may be entitled to compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. If your injury has stopped you from working or left you with a very limited capacity to work. You can also claim loss of earnings payments. This compensation is designed to cover any out-of-pocket expenses that you have incurred as a result of your injury including care and other support costs. To make a successful claim you will need to be able to demonstrate that you were a blameless victim of a criminal act which resulted in your injury. Generally this will be easy to do as it will be clear that the injury you have sustained is a direct result of that criminal event. You will also need to have your injury assessed by a medical professional. The CICA apply the civil standard of proof which is the balance of probabilities in reaching decisions on whether and how much compensation to award.

5. Visit Website: https://www.united-solicitors.co.uk/personal-injury United Solicitors based in Levenshulme, Manchester: If you were injured and someone else was responsible then contact our No Win No Fee injury claim solicitors in Manchester. Phone & Fax Phone: 0161 225 8181 Fax: 0161 249 0384 Emergency: 0749 789 6550, or Visit our website: united-solicitors If you want to meet Office Address 1016-1018 Stockport Rd, Levenshulme, Manchester M19 3WN, Business Hours Mon-Fri: 09:00am - 05:00pm Sat: Appointments Only Sun: Closed