This guide discusses the eligibility requirements for acid attack compensation claims. We will discuss the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), which is one of the channels through which victims of crimes of violence can make criminal injury claims. We will also provide information about how a criminal injury solicitor could make the claiming process as smooth as possible.

Read on to learn more about CICA compensation requirements and how they could apply to your circumstances. In addition to the information found here, you can contact our advisers to ask any specific questions you may have about making a claim. Our team is available 24/7, and the consultation is free. Talk to us by:

• Calling an advisor at 020 8050 2736
• Speaking to us via the live chatbox below
• Providing your contact details using our online form

Choose A Section

1. Acid Attack Compensation Claims – A Guide
2. Are You Eligible To Claim For An Acid Attack?
3. Potential Evidence In Acid Attack Compensation Claims
4. What Compensation Could You Receive From A Burn Injury Claim?
5. What Are The Benefits Of Pursuing Criminal Injuries Compensation On A No Win No Fee Basis?
6. Learn More About Making Acid Attack Compensation Claims

Acid Attack Compensation Claims – A Guide

An acid attack is a criminal act in which a corrosive substance is thrown at an individual with the intent of scarring or disfiguring them. This kind of attack could involve the use of sulfuric acid, nitric acid, or any other corrosive substances.

Acid and chemical burns can be very damaging. This kind of attack can cause:

• Permanent scarring and severe disfigurement
• Blindness
• Psychological damage, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

There are several channels through which victims of violent crimes could be entitled to claim. It could be possible to make a criminal injury claim if the incident occurred as the result of a breach of duty of care. For example, if you sustain an injury during an assault at work, your employer may be liable if they failed to take reasonable steps that would have prevented the attack from happening.

Depending on your circumstances, your claim may be processed through the CICA, which is a government organisation that can provide compensation to the victims of violent crime. We will examine the requirements for making a CICA claim in the next section.

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team of advisers will listen carefully and compassionately to the details of your attack. They can offer advice about making acid attack compensation claims and may pass you onto a solicitor who can help you claim for assault.

Are You Eligible To Claim For An Acid Attack?

The CICA has a specific definition for a crime of violence, and the attack in which you were injured must fulfil this definition. The CICA’s definition of a crime of violence includes:

• A physical attack, such as assault and battery or common assault
• Any intentional or reckless act or omission that causes physical injury to a person
• Sexual assault

Additionally, the incident must have occurred in England, Scotland, Wales or a relevant incident location. You will also be asked to produce a police reference number showing that you reported the crime.

You must begin your claim within the CICA claim time limit. The time limit for standing a claim is within 2 years of reporting the injury to the police, which you must do as soon as possible after the incident occurs. “As soon as possible” usually means directly after the incident happens; however, exceptional circumstances that mean there was a delay in reporting might be taken into account.

If you are not certain about how the time limit may apply to your circumstances, call our advisers to find out more about how long you have to claim criminal injury compensation.

Potential Evidence In Acid Attack Compensation Claims

CICA claims require a certain amount of evidence in order to be successful. This includes:

• Proving you meet the residency requirements
• Proving you reported the crime to the police
• Providing medical records showing the extent of your injuries and financial records detailing the financial losses suffered because of the incident

The CICA will liaise with the police on certain details, which is why you need to provide them with a crime reference number. For example, they will confirm that you cooperated with the police in their investigations and whether you have any unspent criminal convictions that could affect whether you receive an award.

Contact our advisers for further information about evidence the CICA requires for acid attack compensation claims. They can help you understand the requirements for making a CICA injury claim.

What Compensation Could You Receive From A Burn Injury Claim?

CICA payouts can include several heads of claim. You could receive a payment for your injuries, a payment for special expenses and a lost earnings payment.

The first head of claim takes into account the severity of your injuries, and the amounts awarded in injury payments will reflect the CICA tariff of injuries found in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.

You can claim for up to three injuries from this tariff. You will receive 100% of the CICA amount for your worst injury, 30% of the amount for the second-worst injury, and 15% of the amount for the third-worst injury. There are other injuries that you could claim from another tariff that are not subject to this multiple injury formula.

You can use our criminal injury compensation calculator to get an idea of the compensation you could receive. We’ve also provided a table below that shows the CICA tariff amounts for different injuries.

Criminal Injuries	Compensation	Details
Facial Burns	£27,000	Severe burns to the face causing more than minor disfigurement.
Facial Burns	£3,500	Moderate burns to the face causing more than minor disfigurement.
Head Burns	£16,500	Severe burns to the head that cause more than minor disfigurement.
Head Burns	£2,400	Moderate burns to the head that cause more than minor disfigurement.
Neck Burns	£16,500	Severe burns to the neck that cause more than minor disfigurement.
Facial Scarring	£11,000	Scarring to the face that causes serious disfigurement.
Burns to the Upper Limbs	£11,000	Severe burns to the upper limbs.
Burns to the Upper Limbs	£2,400	Moderate burns to the upper limbs, excluding minor burns.
Torso Burns	£11,000	Severe burns to the torso.
Torso Burns	£2,400	Moderate burns to the torso, excluding minor burns.

Our advisers can answer questions you may find yourself asking about making an assault claim in the UK. If your claim has a good chance of success, they could connect you with a lawyer from our panel to work on your case.

What Else Could You Receive In Your Criminal Injury Compensation Claim?

In addition to the money you receive for your injuries, you could receive a head of claim to help you recoup financial losses. This is called special expenses, and in order to receive it, you must have lost earnings or capacity to earn or have been incapacitated to a similar extent for at least 28 weeks as a result of your injury.

Some financial losses that may be recouped through special expenses include:

• Physical aids that were damaged during the accident. This can include spectacles, walking canes, and other aids
• Treatment costs, either from the NHS or another healthcare provider where the NHS would have charged the same amount of money
• Care costs relating to your bodily needs and food preparation
• Special equipment you require after your accident, such as vehicle or house adaptations

These expenses must be necessary, reasonable, and unavailable for free from any other sources. If you do receive special expenses as a part of your claim, they will be backdated to the date of the injury.

You may also be able to recoup lost earnings from week 29 onward as part of a criminal injury claim made through CICA. Unlike special expenses, this will not be backdated.

Talk to our advisers if you need more information about special expenses. They can offer more specific information about acid attack compensation claims.

What Are The Benefits Of Pursuing Criminal Injuries Compensation On A No Win No Fee Basis?

Hiring a solicitor could benefit your criminal injury compensation claim. For example, a solicitor can ensure that your claim includes all relevant information, ensuring you receive the full amount of compensation you are due.

One of the solicitors from our panel could offer you a No Win No Fee agreement. Specifically, they may offer you a type of No Win No Fee agreement known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).

By using this agreement, you generally don’t have to pay for the solicitor’s services if your claim fails, nor in order to begin the claim. Instead, your solicitor will take a success fee from the compensation you are awarded. This amount is subject to a legal cap.

Contact Us For Free To See If You Can Make A CICA Claim

Contact our advisers today if you need further information about acid attack compensation claims or if you would like help understanding whether your circumstances make you eligible to receive serious injury compensation. The consultation is free, and our advisers are available 24/7. To learn more, reach us by:

• Calling an advisor at 020 8050 2736
• Speaking to us via the live chatbox below
• Providing your contact details using our online form

Learn More About Making Acid Attack Compensation Claims

Below we’ve included more links that are relevant to this topic:

Claiming Compensation For A Broken Nose

Sexual Abuse Compensation Calculator 

When Can You Claim Compensation For A Stabbing?

Changing Faces – A charity for those with visible scars, marks, or conditions

Victim Support – An organisation that specialises in helping individuals deal with the emotional turmoil resulting from witnessing or being involved in crime

Offences Against The Person – Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) resource for assisting prosecutors in assigning the most appropriate charge in light of the facts that can be proved

We hope this guide has provided useful information about the process of making acid attack compensation claims. Our advisers are available to answer any questions you may still have. Contact us using the provided details below.

Writer Morgan Fox 

Publisher Fern Shelley