By Megan Webster. Last Updated 9th February 2023. In this article, we’re going to look at when you could claim compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). This is an executive agency that operates a scheme that allows victims of violent crimes to seek damages for their injuries.
Importantly, this could include a claim for psychological damage as well as physical injury. During our article, we’ll explain the eligibility criteria for claiming through the CICA. Also, we’ll look at what crimes could lead to a claim and how much compensation you could be awarded.
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority guide
While claiming compensation might not be something you think of at the time of the incident, it can play an important role in helping you get back. You may wish to claim if you’ve sustained a head injury, a broken foot, suffered nerve damage or sustained any other injury caused by a criminal. We’re here to help if you do decide to take action.
Our specialist advisors offer a free consultation to discuss your options. They’ll provide legal advice about your claim during the call. If your claim appears to have strong grounds, we could also connect you with one of the personal injury solicitors on our panel.
They also provide a No Win No Fee service. That means no upfront solicitor’s fees and there’s nothing to pay if your claim is unsuccessful.
To begin the claims process right away, please get in touch with our team on 0800 408 7825 today. To learn more about the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority before calling, please read on.
Select A Section
- What Claims Are Handled By The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority?
- What Is The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme?
- How Are CICA Customers Protected?
- What Types Of Compensation Are Available Through The CICA?
- Criminal Injury Compensation – Evidence You Need To Claim
- Criminal Injuries Compensation Calculator – CICA Calculator
- Talk To Us About Making Your No Win No Fee Claim
- CICA Claim Resources
What Claims Are Handled By The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority?
The CICA scheme will consider claims for physical or mental injuries caused by violent crime. A “violent crime” is defined within the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
It is important to note that claiming through the CICA scheme is different to making a personal injury claim. The CICA scheme has its own criteria, including:
- You must have told the police about your crime (and have a crime reference number).
- You must have cooperated with the police in their enquiries.
- There is a 2-year time limit for claiming (whereas personal injury claims usually have 3 years).
- The incident must have happened in England, Wales or Scotland (or another relevant place).
The scheme does allow claims to be made after the 2-year limitation period in exceptional circumstances. You will need to prove that extenuating circumstances stopped you from reporting the incident or claiming within the time limit. You’ll also need to provide enough additional information that a claims officer won’t need to undertake extensive additional
If you’ve lost a loved one because of a violent crime, you could also claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. If you’ve been injured because of criminal activity and would like to claim, please call today.
What Is The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme?
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme sets out when compensation could be paid to victims of violent crimes. It sets the eligibility criteria and compensation amounts paid for different types of injuries.
Importantly, you could claim through the scheme even if the criminal hasn’t been:
- Caught or identified.
- Charged by the police.
- Found guilty in court.
What Responsibility Does The CICA Have For This Scheme?
The CICA are responsible for assessing claims and paying compensation. Their case officers review any claims by applying the rules of the scheme. Their priorities include:
- To provide an accessible service where victims are treated with compassion, fairness and sensitivity.
- Process claims as accurately and efficiently as possible.
If you’d like our help to claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, please call today. You could be connected with a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel.
How Are CICA Customers Protected?
The CICA has published a Customer Charter. It sets out your rights if you claim through the scheme. They include:
- A fair decision. This will be based on any evidence you provide as well as information from the police. Officers may also ask for a medical report to help prove your injuries.
- Efficient service. To do this, the CICA will only contact you to a) request relevant information or b) because they’ve reached a decision.
- Be respectful. CICA officers will be courteous, respectful and treat you as an individual. They also won’t ask you to provide more evidence than necessary to support your claim.
If you decide to claim through the CICA, our panel of solicitors could help make the process easier. They’ll use their skills and experience to ensure your claim is filed correctly and get you the outcome you deserve from your case.
What Types Of Compensation Are Available Through The CICA?
Let’s now look at what compensation could be paid for by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. You could claim for:
- Injuries sustained during a violent crime (both mental and physical).
- Loss of earnings.
- Fatalities caused by criminal activity. These could include funeral payments, financial dependency claims and bereavement payments.
As well as claiming for your injuries, the CICA will consider claims for ‘special expenses’. These could be requested to recover any costs you have incurred because of your injuries.
Special expenses could include:
- The cost of replacing any physical aids that were damaged during the crime.
- Paying for the cost of mobility aids to help with your injuries. For example, if you’ve broken your hip, the scheme could cover the cost of a zimmer frame or walking stick.
- The cost of home adaptations if they will help you cope with your injuries.
- Some care costs. For example, you could claim back the cost of care related to food preparation if you cannot do this yourself.
You can only claim special expenses for items that cannot be obtained for free elsewhere. As a result, you may need to check whether benefit payments or the NHS could cover your needs. Importantly, special expenses can only be claimed when your injuries have prevented you from working for more than 28 weeks.
Most special expenses will be backdated to the date of the incident. However, if you’re claiming loss of earnings, you will only be compensated from week 29 onwards.
If your claim is accepted by a solicitor from our panel, they’ll work with you to fully understand how your injuries have affected you. By doing so, they’ll be able to make sure that nothing is missed from your claim.
Criminal Injury Compensation – Evidence You Need To Claim
To be able to pursue criminal injury compensation through CICA claims, there is certain criteria you must meet and evidence you must supply. This includes:
- A police reference number to prove that the crime was reported.
- Proof that you meet the residency requirements.
- Medical evidence stating your mental or physical injuries and any treatments you required for them.
CICA claims do not require you to provide eyewitness statements or CCTV footage of the crime. This is because the CICA will liaise with the police for information relating to the incident.
If you would like more information on how to claim compensation through a criminal injury claim, you can contact our advisors.
Criminal Injuries Compensation Calculator – CICA Calculator
Following a successful CICA claim, compensation should be awarded to you for your injuries. However, you will need to prove that you suffered your injuries in a crime of violence.
A criminal injuries compensation calculator could help you understand how much you could be entitled to in compensation for your injuries. The CICA calculator could ask you questions about the incident you were involved in and the injuries you suffered to provide you with a compensation estimation.
Alternatively, you could refer to the table that we have created below. When creating this table, we have used the figures listed in the Tariff of Injuries, which is set out in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012. If your claim is successful, the amount listed for the injury you have suffered is the exact amount you will receive.
| Criminal Injury | Details | Settlement Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jaw | Where a dislocated jaw causes continuing significant disability. | £3,500 |
| Skull | Depressed skull fractures requiring an operation. | £4,600 |
| Arm | Where there is paralysis or loss of function that equates to paralysis the dominant arm. | £44,000 |
| Finger | Partial loss of the thumb and index finger on one hand. | £6,200 |
| Shoulder | Covers a dislocated shoulder that causes continuing disability. | £3,500 |
| Back | A permanently strained back that is seriously disabling. | £11,000 |
| Pelvis | A fractured pelvis where there has been substantial recovery. | £2,400 |
| Foot | Fractured metatarsal bones in one foot. | £1,800 |
| Leg | An above the knee amputation of one leg. | £44,000 |
| Mental Injury | A disabling mental injury that’s lasted 5 years or more but will not be permanent. | £13,500 |
Additionally, you could make a claim for multiple injuries through the CICA. If your claim is successful, you will receive 100% compensation for your highest-valued injury, 30% for the second, and 15% for the third.
Contact our advisors today if you have any questions about making a claim through the CICA for your criminal injuries. Our advisors are available 24/7 to answer your questions and offer you free legal advice.
Talk To Us About Making Your No Win No Fee Claim
If you do wish to claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, one of the personal injury lawyers on our panel could help. They won’t ask you to pay upfront, though, because they’ll work on a No Win No Fee basis. As a result, you’ll probably find the claims process a lot less stressful.
If your case is won, you’ll pay up to 25% of your compensation as a success fee. If the case doesn’t work out, you won’t have to pay the success fee.
To find out if we could help you make a criminal injury claim, please:
- Call us on 0800 408 7825 to speak with an advisor.
- Ask for advice in live chat.
- Contact us online to request a call back from a specialist.
CICA Claim Resources
Victim Support – An organisation that offers to help anybody that’s been affected by crime.
How To Report A Crime – Advice on the different ways you can tell the police about a crime.
Ministry Of Justice – The government department that sponsors the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
PTSD Claims – Advice on claiming compensation through the CICA scheme related to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Claim For Assault – This article looks at when you could claim for injuries sustained during an assault.
Sexual Assault Claims – This article looks at how to claim compensation through the CICA scheme for injuries caused by sexual assault or rape.
Domestic Violence Compensation Claims – This guide goes through and helps you with making a claim for compensation involving domestic abuse and violence.
Thank you for reading about how to claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. Please contact us if you have any further questions.
Guide by RA
Publisher ET