The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) administers the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme throughout England, Scotland and Wales, and pays compensation to people who have been the victim of a violent crime in these areas. Northern Ireland has its own scheme. Financial awards are made:

• in certain circumstances, to compensate for past or future lost earnings or special expenses caused by such a crime.

• for bereavement as a result of a crime of violence, including, in some cases, compensation for the lost earnings of the person who has been killed.

Historically, awards were made according to what the victim would have received in a successful civil action against the offender.

Since April 1996, the level of compensation has been determined according to a scale, or tariff, set by Parliament.

The tariff includes descriptions of over 400 injuries, with each attached to one of 25 levels of compensation between £1,000 and £250,000.

A 'tariff calculator' is available on the CICA website to provide a guide to what level of compensation you may be entitled to.

Additional compensation can be applied for where applicants have also suffered financial loss, through loss of earnings or earnings capacity, the cost of medical or other care, or because they were dependent on someone who was murdered.

In order to be eligible to make an application for compensation under the CICA Scheme you must have been:

• a victim of a crime of violence, or injured in some other way covered by the scheme; and

• physically and/or mentally injured as a result; and

• in England, Scotland or Wales at the time when the injury was sustained

• injured seriously enough to qualify for at least the minimum award available under the Scheme or a dependant or relative of a victim of a crime of violence who has since died.

Unless there are good reasons, you should also have:

• reported the incident personally to the police as soon as possible after it happened; and

• sent your application so that the CICA receive it within 2 years from the date of the incident causing the injury.

In general you do not need legal advice or representation in order to apply for compensation, and application forms are available to download from the CICA website.

 

If you are unsure if you have a valid claim, contact our specialist lawyers today for FREE legal advice on 0800 0891331 or complete the compensation claim form and we will contact you.

Compensation Claim Form