Compensation for Criminal Injuries
Anyone who has been injured as a result a criminal activity is likely to be aware that they have the right to claim compensation for those injuries, However the rules on how the claim is made and what can be claimed for may not be so clear. In fact, for many people the effects of the crime on their confidence and mental health may mean that making a claim is not a priority. In this case getting a solicitor or other professional to help may be a worthwhile decision to make. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is there to help people who have been victims of crime and who have been injured as a result. These injuries could include physical injuries such as broken limbs and psychological scarring. The service is free and awards can be as high as £500,000. According to the CICA website anyone who has been seriously injured in an act of violence can claim compensation. This is even possible if no one has been convicted of the crime. The claim must be made within two years of the crime and the injury must be worthy of at least £1,000 which is their minimum level of compensation. Anyone who has a criminal record, does not cooperate with police, has not informed the police of the incident or whose behaviour during the incident could imply it was their fault may be refused the chance to apply for compensation. One of the types of compensation which can be applied for is the standard tariff compensation. This is usually for a set amount depending on the type of injury and will compensate for loss of earnings after 28 weeks and other expenses such as the cost of medical treatment or the cost of care. Anyone who has lost a loved one can apply for compensation if they relied on the person who died for their earnings. Funeral expenses can also be refunded after the claim has been assessed. Applying through the CICA website is fairly straightforward and an online claim form will need to be filled in. If the victim prefers, Victim Support can fill in the form on their behalf or a solicitor can be sought to help with the claim. Once the form is filled in, CICA may contact the relevant people such as the police or a doctor to verify details. It can sometimes take up to a year for a decision to be made and a final award is usually offered after this time. Sometimes an interim payment is made if things are taking a long time to finalise. If the result is not as expected there is also an appeals process. |
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