VIOLENT CRIME INJURY CLAIMS - CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) may pay compensation to the victims of violent crime in the U.K. The levels of compensation that may be awarded are based on a tariff system and are calculated by reference to:

• physical or mental injury suffered
• compensation for loss of earnings
• other special damages & expenses

Notes:

1. All physical and mental injuries are assigned a band according to the severity of the injury. These bands run from £1,000 to £250,000. As a minimum, a victim must have had injuries that necessitated at least two visits to a doctor for treatment and it must have taken at least 6 weeks to recover from those injuries. Our criminal injury compensation claim solicitors will fully advise on these matters at an early stage.
2. Claims for loss of earnings will normally only be considered by the CICA for any period extending after 28 weeks from the incident that caused the injury. The first 28 weeks of any loss of earnings is normally not paid. These rules are complex and our criminal injury compensation claim solicitors will automatically consider any potential claim under this part of the regulations.
3. Special damages will normally form part of the CICA claim if the injuries have caused the victim to be incapacitated for more than 28 weeks. If this applies then the cost of care or medical treatment may be included in the claim.