Criminal Injury Claims

You can claim compensation for any injury, either physical or psychological, that you received in an act of criminal violence. These could include (but are not limited to);

• Brain injury.
• Fractures.
• Dental injuries.
• Mental injuries.

If you’re not sure whether you are eligible for compensation, you can always talk to the Hudgell Solicitors Criminal Injuries Team, by requesting a call or filling in our claim form.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is a government-run organisation set up to deal with compensation claims for blameless victims of crime.

The CICA is funded by the Ministry of Justice, and awards compensation ranging from £1,000 to a maximum of £500,000 to people who have been mentally or physically injured due to criminal assault, as well as to victims of physical and sexual abuse.

If you have been the victim of a crime of violence in England, Scotland or Wales then you could be eligible for compensation. The person or persons who injured you do not need to have been identified, charged with, or convicted of a crime.

The CICA is able to offer awards if it there is enough evidence to show that a crime was committed.

We have helped many people claim compensation in cases where the assailant has died, even when the allegations were never subject to a police investigation when they were alive.

The burden of proof is less in civil claims than in criminal cases. If enough evidence can be presented to demonstrate that the allegations are true, claims can be successful.

You may also be eligible to claim compensation if you have been injured whilst taking reasonable steps to prevent a crime, or if you have been psychologically damaged by witnessing a loved one become a victim of a violent crime.

It’s important that you have reported the offence to the police as soon as reasonably practicable. This usually means within 48 hours unless exceptional circumstances prevented you from doing so. Different rules apply in cases of domestic and sexual abuse.

In most cases, you will need to begin your compensation claim within two years of the crime being committed. There are exceptions to this rule which we can discuss with you. These include:

• If the claim is for a child then the two year time limit begins from their 18th birthday, as long as the crime was reported to the police while they were still a child.
• If the claim is for historical abuse then the time limit starts as soon as the abuse is reported to the police.
• If there are exceptional circumstances – such as the person making the claim having diminished mental capacity – the CICA may allow claims outside of the time limit.

Whether you have been injured recently or the claim is historical, it’s always best to claim as soon as possible. If you would like to discuss your options, request a call or fill in our claim form and we’ll be in touch.

If someone is unable to make a claim compensation themselves then it is possible for you to claim on their behalf. This might include making a claim for someone under the age of 18, claiming for someone with diminished mental capacity or claiming for someone with life changing injuries.

You may also be able to claim a Bereavement Award if you have lost a loved one as the result of a violent crime.

If you’re not sure, you can always contact the Hudgell Solicitors Criminal Injuries Team, by requesting a call or filling in our claim form for a free, no obligation consultation.

The amount of compensation you receive for a criminal injury claim will depend on the injury you sustained.

It could range from £1,000 to as much as £500,000. Payment will be assessed from a government document called the CICA Scheme 2012 (PDF).

You can learn more from our criminal injuries guide.

If you have a successful claim for multiple injuries, you will receive the full compensation amount for the most severe injury, and a percentage of the amount for two further injuries.

If this seems complicated don’t worry; Hudgell Solicitors can help you to work through your options. Simply request a call or fill in our claim form and we’ll be in touch.

You can find out more about the compensation we have secured in our ‘Client Stories’.

On average, CICA compensation claims take around 18 months to complete. Cases involving more serious injuries can take longer, and some straightforward cases can conclude much more quickly.

According to the CICA around 30% of its awards were changed following a successful appeal.

Applicants who disagree with a decision can request a review and, if still dissatisfied can appeal to an independent panel.

In one case our client, with the specialist support of our CICA claims experts, was eventually awarded almost £130,000 for physical and mental injuries following an earlier offer of £1,500.

Hudgell Solicitors are experts in Criminal Injuries Compensation Awards, we understand that as a victim of crime, how much compensation you are awarded from CICA, could depend on the evidence you submit with your claim.

Free legal advice could lead to a substantial increase to your CICA award.