Falling victim to a violent crime can have a profoundly damaging effect on a person’s life.
It can leave you feeling powerless and vulnerable – whilst at the same time suffering the consequences of physical and psychological injuries.
Understandably, this may give rise to a sense of injustice. However, if you have been injured as a result of violent crime, it may be possible for you to claim compensation for your injuries.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) operates a fund, from which victims of violent crime can claim compensation, to ‘make good’ some of the harm that the crime has caused.
In most situations, personal injury claims are made against the person who is legally responsible for the injuries in question. When you have been injured through a crime, however, that is rarely an option – whether this is because the offender cannot be identified, has not been caught, or would not have the funds to pay any compensation to you.
The CICA offers a way for victims of violent crime to recover the compensation they deserve.
At Truth Legal, we understand what this compensation can mean for people whose lives have been shattered by violent crime. If you would like to talk to our specialist personal injury solicitors about making a CICA claim, contact us today.
CICA claims can be made in a wide range of circumstances, such as cases of:
The CICA pays compensation to people injured in ‘violent crimes’. This covers:
When assessing your claim, the CICA will also check that you meet the other requirements of the scheme in order to be eligible for compensation. The main ones are:
Crucially – there is no need for the person committing the violent crime to have been caught or prosecuted for you to be able to make a CICA claim.
You can find out more about how CICA claims are conducted in our blog: The CICA Claims Process – How Does It Work?
Injuries might not be the only ‘loss’ you have suffered following injury in a violent crime. The incident may cause you to incur other financial harm from its knock-on effects. For example, they may prevent you from working and earning money, causing you to lose income.
CICA claims can include some of these other losses in addition to your claim for injury compensation. The main losses which can be included in CICA claims are:
On a related note, compensation payouts can affect any benefits you receive. Our blog, Will CICA Compensation Affect Your Benefits?, provides more information and explains how negative consequences can be avoided.
Truth Legal’s guiding principles have always been to help our clients in an effective and highly ethical way. We understand that when a matter is as personal and emotive as an injury following violent crime, there is no substitute for an attentive legal service delivered with integrity.
You are not required to engage legal representatives when make a CICA claim. However, there are good reasons why you may want the assistance of our expert solicitors:
Technical knowledge and skill
Ensuring your claim is handled efficiently and correctly.
Support and compassion
Injury through violent crime can be very traumatic and this could make handling the claim yourself difficult and distressing. If you have Truth Legal’s solicitors acting on your behalf, you will have some separation from the process but will still be able to seek redress.
Advice and representation
When making a CICA claim, Truth Legal can act for you under a No Win, No Fee Agreement. The agreement means that if your claim is unsuccessful, and do not recover any compensation, you will not have to pay any legal fees, in the vast majority of circumstances. If you are successful, then our fees will be paid by a portion of your compensation award. It is an effective way of avoiding any financial risks of making a claim, whilst still ensuring you receive compensation.
Full details of funding your claim will always be discussed with you before you start your case, and if you would like to discuss this with us, please contact us and we would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Truth Legal was founded on the idea of putting ethics at the centre of legal services.
Indeed, ethical working is at our core: in treating people fairly, being open and honest, and taking social responsibility. To that end, Truth Legal sponsor a large section of woodland near Harrogate, planting a tree for every one of the clients we represent.
We believe a good lawyer shouldn’t just offer technical expertise, but a real understanding of what you’re going through and how best to help you.
Above all, our team are dedicated to their clients – whether that is guiding them through legal complexities, securing compensation, or simply fighting for what’s right.
We won’t blind you with jargon – we give advice clearly. And when technical terms can’t be avoided we explain them in full.
In contrast to some firms, we don’t overload our lawyers with cases. Our team provide clients with a more personal service, meaning we can dedicate adequate time to your matter.
Just read our client reviews to see what a difference this can make.
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