Criminal Injury Solicitors – CICA Claims – Assault Compensation

Our criminal injury solicitors deal with claims for compensation for the victims of violent crime using the no win no fee scheme which is totally risk free. You will not be asked to make any financial contribution as the claim proceeds and if it is unsuccessful for any reason there is no legal bill to pay. If you would like to consult with a criminal injury solicitor over the telephone, just call the helpline or send in the completed contact form. This consultation is free and there is no further obligation. During the course of the consultation, you will receive clear and unambiguous advice on your chances of success, the value of your injury and how to proceed with your claim.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) provides compensation to the victims of crimes of violence who have suffered physical or psychological injuries. Our criminal injury solicitors are experienced in these matters and every year submit hundreds of applications to the CICA offices in London and Glasgow for claims arising in England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland has its own scheme. The CICA offices in London and Glasgow have more than 500 employees who distribute over £2,000,000 in compensation every year.

A CICA claim begins when our criminal injury solicitors submit a detailed application form, receipt of which is logged and acknowledged by the CICA who give it a unique reference. Investigation of the incident and the claim is carried out with the cooperation of the police, doctors, hospitals and other relevant authorities. The award to the claimant is based on a tariff scheme which attributes each injury into one of 25 bands ranging from £1,000 to £250,000. A maximum of three separate injuries are considered with compensation for the two less serious injuries suffering discounts of 30% and 15% respectively. The maximum sum paid for injury is £250,000 with a further £250,000 available for other expenses including loss of future wages or the cost of care.

Claims may be rejected for many reasons including failure to fully cooperate with the police authorities during investigation or prosecution, an unacceptable history of ‘unspent’ convictions, delay in reporting the crime to the police, the victims behaviour before, during or after the incident. To qualify for a basic award the injury’s effects must last at least 6 weeks and require a minimum of two attendances on a medical practitioner.

The CICA requires that claims be filed within two years of the assault. This limit may be waived in exceptional circumstances. Your criminal injury solicitor can ask for a review of any initial decision by the CICA and if the outcome of the review by a senior claims officer is not satisfactory your criminal injury solicitor can make an appeal to CICAP the independent Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel. Forms for both the review and appeal are included with the relevant written decision sent by the CICA to the claimant. If the claimant has complaints regarding administration issues of Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel he can get in touch with The Parliamentary Ombudsman, which has jurisdiction over CICAP.

Our criminal injury solicitors deal with applications to the CICA using the no win no fee scheme. They only get paid if you get paid and if the application for compensation is not unsuccessful you will not be charged. For free advice without obligation just call the helpline or send the contact form.