The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is a government funded organisation established to offer compensation to innocent victims of violent crimes. It can award a wide range of criminal injuries compensation, valued anywhere between £1,000 and £250,000.
Claims made to the CICA are not conducted in the same way as a court trial, but are instead run under a scheme introduced in 2012. All information and details can be found on the CICA website.
Who can claim criminal injuries compensation?
Broadly speaking, to be entitled to apply for compensation under the CICA scheme you must have been:
- A victim of a crime of violence, or a person who has taken exceptional risk
- Suffering physical and/or mental injury as a result
- In England, Scotland or Wales at the time when the injury was sustained
- Suffered injury serious enough to qualify for at least the minimum award under the scheme, or be the dependent or relative of a victim of a crime of violence who has since died as a result
- Reporting the matter personally to the police, this is an essential requirement and any failure to report will result in the case being turned down by the CICA. There must also be no delay in reporting the crime to the police, unless there is a reasonable explanation (for example, your injuries were too severe)
- Applied to the CICA within two years of the date of the incident. The time limit must be complied with.
How Thompsons can help with your criminal injuries compensation claim
You don't actually need a solicitor to claim under the CICA scheme and application forms are on the CICA website. Having said that, the process can be more complicated than it appears, particularly if your claim is not successful or your injuries raise difficult issues. Our personal injury specialists handle CICA cases all the time and can manage the paperwork, fight your case if it's refused, or make sure you are claiming for everything you should be.
For further information, consult the guides below or call 0800 0891 331.
If you are not sure whether you have a valid claim, speak to our lawyers today for free advice on 0800 0891 331. There is no obligation.
