Criminal injury compensation claims

If you have suffered an injury as a result of a crime of violence, you may be able to claim compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

The CICA is a Government agency set up to pay compensation to victims of crimes of violence as an expression of public sympathy.

In order to succeed in obtaining compensation, you need to have complied with certain requirements set out by the CICA. For example:

• The application to the CICA must normally be made within two years of the date of the crime of violence (however there are exceptions to this rule);
• The crime of violence must be reported to the police by you as soon as possible after it has occurred; and
• You must assist the police as far as possible to bring your assailant to justice.

There are stringent requirements in making an application to CICA and so this can be a complicated process. Issues such as the effect of injuries upon you and working out your loss of earnings, the effect of compensation on your entitlement to state benefits and whether you should obtain your own medical evidence all need to be taken into account, so you should seek legal advice and make your claim as soon as possible.

How can we help?

Hugh James can provide expert advice in bringing CICA claims and will guide you through the appropriate steps.

Our legal knowledge coupled with our expertise in neurolaw will ensure that you receive all the practical and professional support you need when making your claim.

This, in turn, will ensure that you achieve the best outcome in terms of compensation awarded and quality of life.

Brain and spinal compensation claim experience

Our team has secured millions of pounds of compensation over the past 10 years or so for individuals and their families affected by brain or spinal cord injury.  We have also helped clients with applications to the CICA for many years and have succeeded in some with clients receiving a maximum award of £500,000 available under the Scheme.

Such sums will never compensate for the devastation that such injuries cause but it can help the injured person rebuild their lives and allow them to regain control over their day to day life.

Our specialist neurolaw team includes Solicitors Regulation Authority (Personal Injury) Panel members and Association of Personal Injury Lawyers members together with a social worker, paediatric speech and language specialist, welfare benefits advisers, accountant and medical records officer.  We are therefore able to assist clients with the issues raised as a result of a catastrophic injury.