Criminal injuries compensation may be available to you if you have been injured in a crime of violence. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is a government-sponsored agency that can award compensation to those injured in violent crimes in England, Scotland and Wales. 

In this guide, we will look at how you can make a claim for compensation for criminal injuries. We’ll look at what the eligibility criteria is, as well as how claims can be valued. 

Our advisors can provide more information as well as advice and guidance on your claim for criminal injury compensation. We have a team of trained advisors that can answer any questions, big or small, that you may have about the compensation claim process.

Speak to us today: 

• Contact us today through our online form
• Talk to us today about your claim using the feature below
• Call us on 020 8050 2736

Select a Section

1. Criminal Injuries Compensation – Who Can Make A Claim?
2. How Do I Claim Compensation For Criminal Injuries?
3. What Is The CICA?
4. Criminal Injuries Compensation Calculator
5. Do Criminal Injury Solicitors Offer No Win No Fee Agreements?
6. Learn More About How To Claim Compensation For Criminal Injuries

Criminal Injuries Compensation – Who Can Make A Claim?

A crime of violence has a specific definition within the CICA Scheme– it does not just mean any criminal act that has caused you injury. A crime of violence could include an attack such as common assault, sexual abuse or assault, arson or a threat against someone that causes them to fear immediate violence provided that the circumstances are such that it’s reasonable for them to fear this. 

There are a number of ways that you could make a claim for criminal injuries compensation: 

• Make a claim through the CICA 
• Make a claim against the person who injured you directly. You would need to know who your attacker was, and they would need to have the funds to pay you if your claim is a success
• Make a claim against a vicariously liable party. For example, if you experienced sexual assault at work because of your employer’s negligence, then you could be entitled to claim sexual abuse compensation against them 

Time Limits

If you are claiming compensation from criminal injuries through the CICA, there is generally a two-year time limit. This generally runs from when you make an incident report to the police. It is expected that you do this right away, unless you can prove that exceptional circumstances prevented you. 

There are expectations that can affect the two-year window. However, as stated above, you’ll need to be able to show that there are exceptional circumstances stopping you from being able to start your claim in this timeframe. 

If you are under 18 when the incident happened, and the incident was reported to the police, but no claim was made, you have two years from your 18th birthday to claim. While you’re under the age of 18, your parent or guardian can claim for you. If you were under 18 and the incident was not reported, you should do this as soon as you can upon turning 18. You will then have two years to start a claim. 

Speak to us today about your criminal injuries compensation claim, and we can provide you with additional information and support if you request it. 

How Do I Claim Compensation For Criminal Injuries?

As a victim of a violent crime, you could be entitled to compensation. However, if you claim through the CICA, there are criteria that you would need to meet. You will need to prove this when making your claim. 

This includes: 

• Proof that you meet the requirements relating to residency.
• Evidence that you reported the incident to the police.

The CICA will also ask the police to confirm other details relating to your case. This might include confirmation that:

• You cooperated with them in their investigations
• Your conduct did not contribute to the harm you were caused
• You don’t have any previous criminal convictions that might affect your compensation award

Speak to us today about your circumstances . We have a team of advisors that can help you with your claim. They can provide you with support and advice. 

What Is The CICA?

The CICA should be used as a last resort when claiming criminal injuries compensation. They are a government body that awards compensation to people who have sustained physical or mental injuries in a crime of violence in England, Scotland or Wales.

When you claim through the CICA, there is no requirement for the person who hurt you to be convicted, charged or even identified. Furthermore, you don’t need to wait for the culmination of any criminal proceedings in order to claim.

Speak to one of our advisors today for advice about your claim. 

Criminal Injuries Compensation Calculator

If you’re wondering how much you could receive in a criminal injuries compensation claim, then this section could help. The CICA award settlements for injuries in accordance with their tariff of injuries. We have included some of these in the table below. 

Criminal Injuries	Compensation	Description
Permanent mental injury	£19,000	A mental injury that has been diagnosed and is moderately disabling.
Minor brain damage	£16,500	An injury to the brain that lasts from 6 months to 2 years. Issues may arise in relation to mood, concentration and returning to work.
Back injuries	£6,200	Invertebral discs have prolapsed and resulted in a permanent serious disability
Dislocated shoulder	£3,500	One shoulder is dislocated with a continuing significant disability.
Frozen shoulder	£3,500	One shoulder is frozen with a continuing significant disability.
Eye lens dislocation	£3,500	One eye lens is dislocated
Jaw injury	£3,500	A jaw that clicks permanently
Ankle injuries	£2,400	Ankle is fractured or dislocated but there has been a substantial recovery
Moderate head burns	£2,400	Moderate burns to the head.
Thumb fracture or dislocation	£2,400	One thumb is fractured or dislocated with a continuing disability

Special expenses 

As well as the compensation you receive for your injuries, you could also receive something called special damages. Special damages is the head of your claim that reimburses you for necessary, reasonable costs that you incurred as a direct result of the crime.

It could include:

• Any equipment that you relied on as a physical aid that was damaged in the accident. 
• The cost of treatment by the NHS or from another state health service where some costs would have arisen if you’d gotten treatment on the NHS.
• Equipment that you need to cope with your injuries, such as a specially adapted car 
• Adaptations to your home such as adding a ramp or stairlift
• The cost of care that relates to your bodily functions or food preparation, or supervising you if any of these present a substantial danger to yourself or others

You may also be able to claim loss of earnings through the CICA. In order to claim loss of earnings and special expenses, you will need to prove that you lost earnings or earning potential for more than 28 weeks after the incident. You will be compensated for loss of earnings from the start of week 29; other special expenses will be awarded from the date of the incident.

If you have questions about the process of claiming criminal injuries compensation, speak to one of our advisors today. 

Do Criminal Injury Solicitors Offer No Win No Fee Agreements?

No Win No Fee is an umbrella term that encompasses Conditional Fee Agreements (CFA). It is a way to fund legal representation. 

This kind of agreement means that:

• There’s nothing for you to pay at the start of your claim
• If your claim is unsuccessful, you don’t pay your lawyer for the work that they have done
• If you are awarded compensation, then a legally-capped success fee will be taken from your settlement amount.

If you would like us to look over your claim, in order to see if you have grounds for a claim, speak to us today. If you do, our advisors could connect you with a lawer from our panel. 

Begin A Claim For Criminal Injuries Compensation

If you have been a victim of a crime of violence and you want to know if you are eligible to make a claim for compensation, speak to one of our advisors today. We can answer any questions you may have about claiming criminal injuries compensation. 

You can get in touch using the details below:

• Contact us today through our online form
• Talk to us today about your claim using the feature below
• Call us on 020 8050 2736

Learn More About How To Claim Compensation For Criminal Injuries

• NHS First Aid Guide
• Mental Health Services from the NHS
• Crown Prosecution Services – Offences against the person

Speak to us today about whether you could be eligible to claim criminal injuries compensation.

Writer Lizzie Whitting 

Publisher Fern Shelley