Learn When You Could Make A CICA Claim For Broken Bones
Being the victim of a violent crime can leave you with various injuries, which can include broken bones or fractures. You may also have psychological symptoms following the incident as you come to terms with what has happened to you. To help the victims of violent crime, the Government has set up the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), which can allow a claim for compensation. In this guide, we will specifically look at how to make a CICA claim for broken bones.
We will first explain who the CICA are and when you could claim through them. Additionally, we will also cover how to claim for more than one injury, how much compensation could be awarded by the CICA for broken bones and how working with an experienced No Win No Fee solicitor could benefit you.
If you would like to discuss your potential claim at any point, you can get in touch with us by:
- Call us on 020 8050 2736
- Claim online
- Or use the live chat feature at the bottom of the page.
Browse Our Guide
- What Is A CICA Claim?
- Can You Make A CICA Claim For Broken Bones?
- Can You Claim Compensation For Multiple Injuries Through The CICA?
- How Much Compensation From A CICA Claim For Broken Bones?
- Claim For Serious Injuries On A No Win No Fee Basis
- More Resources About Claiming Criminal Injuries Compensation
What Is A CICA Claim?
As discussed in the introduction, the Criminal Injury Compensation Authority (CICA) was set up by the Government to assist the victims of violent crime. Its main role is to administer the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the Scheme), under which victims can obtain criminal injuries compensation after a violent crime.
The Scheme covers England, Scotland, and Wales and applies a tariff system to injuries caused by violent crime. It is funded by the Government, which is important as while it is possible to recover damages directly from the perpetrator of a crime, they may not have the money to pay you or you may not know who they are. This is why the CICA came into existence: to allow violent crime victims a method of getting compensation.
If you would like to begin the process of making a claim for your injuries, please contact one of our advisors. It’s free of charge and carries no obligation to proceed.
Can You Make A CICA Claim For Broken Bones?
Certain eligibility criteria must be met to allow you to make a claim for compensation through the CICA. The criteria include:
- The incident in question must have happened in England, Scotland, Wales, or another relevant place. A relevant place could include, as an example, a ship registered in England, Scotland, or Wales.
- You need to have been a victim of a violent crime as defined by the scheme. This includes crimes such as assault and battery, arson attacks or sexual abuse.
- A crime reference number. You will be given this by the police when you report the crime, which is something you should do as soon as reasonably possible.
- Evidence that you meet the residency requirements.
- Medical evidence detailing your injuries and proof of any special expenses (discussed later) will be needed.
Is There A Time Limit In CICA Claims?
You might be wondering, ‘How long do I have to claim criminal injury compensation?’ The usual time limit to bring a CICA claim is 2 years from the date of the violent incident. You also need to report the crime to the police as soon as reasonably possible, and you will not be able to advance a CICA claim before you report the matter to the police.
There are exceptions to this 2-year time limit, which are dealt with on a case-by-case basis by the CICA, so it is best to begin your claim within the usual time limit if you can. It must usually be exceptional circumstances that prevented you from bringing your claim earlier that will only be considered by the CICA if you attempt to bring a claim past the 2 year time limit.
The time limit may also differ for those who have been injured in a crime of violence under the age of 18. To learn what these time limits are, you can contact our advisors.
Can You Claim Compensation For Multiple Injuries Through The CICA?
Sometimes, victims of violent crime have more than one injury, and this can even be multiple broken bones. For example, you are assaulted and suffer a broken nose and a broken jaw. Or, you might have a psychological injury in addition to your broken bones. You can claim for up to a maximum of three injuries through the CICA.
The Scheme gives a tariff for specific injuries, and we will look at some examples in the next section. If you have suffered a single injury as a result of the violent crime, you will receive the tariff figure. If you have multiple injuries, you will be subjected to the multiple injuries formula. This means you will receive the full amount for the most serious injury (the highest amount), 30% of the figure for your second most serious injury and 15% of the figure for your third most serious injury. You cannot claim for more than three injuries.
Our advisors are ready and waiting to help you start the process of making a claim, so why not contact us today?
How Much Compensation From A CICA Claim For Broken Bones?
If your CICA claim for broken bones is successful, you will receive compensation. The tariff of injuries in the Scheme will be used by the CICA to determine this compensation. This is a fixed tariff, and you will receive what the tariff states.
When deciding which tariff figure to apply, the CICA will consider various factors, including:
- The injuries sustained.
- The severity of the injury.
- The impact of the physical and psychological symptoms suffered.
Here is a table including some different factures or broken bones and the tariff figure that the CICA may apply to them. Please note that the first figure does not come from the tariff.
| Injury | Compensation Tariff | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Serious Injuries with Special Expenses | Up to £500,000 | Serious injuries with significant loss of earnings and special expenses. |
| Toes | £13,500 | The big toe on both feet is broken leading to a continuing significant disability. |
| Face | £11,000 | Many facial fractures e.g. Le Fort fractures. |
| Arm | £11,000 | Fractures to both radius bones (forearm) with significant disability. |
| Arm | £3,500 | Upper arm (humerus) fracture with significant disability. |
| Elbow | £6,200 | Fractured elbow with significant ongoing disability. |
| Hand | £6,200 | Both hands fractured with ongoing significant disability. |
| Leg | £4,600 | A broken shin bone (tibia) with continuing disability. |
| Skull | £3,500 | A straightforward skull fracture, but still requires an operation. |
| Eye | £2,400 | Broken orbital bone cavity requiring an operation. |
What Financial Losses Can You Claim For?
You may be able to claim for special expenses as part of your claim. Some examples of special expenses you could receive include:
- Equipment needed because of your injuries, e.g. you now need an adapted vehicle.
- Property that you relied upon as a physical aid that is damaged in the incident, e.g. broken glasses.
- Necessary home adaptions e.g. the installation of a ramp, as you now require a wheelchair.
- The costs of care services assisting you with food preparation or assisting you with your bodily functions.
When claiming for special expenses, these costs must have been necessary, reasonable, directly related to your injuries and not available for free elsewhere.
You could also claim for a loss of earnings. However, specific criteria will need to be met
If you would like to know more about how compensation is awarded for CICA claims, you can contact our advisors.
Claim For Serious Injuries On A No Win No Fee Basis
If you have serious injuries following a violent crime, it can be helpful to use a solicitor to assist you with your case. They can:
- Fill in documents on your behalf.
- Make sure you obtain all of the compensation you are entitled to.
- Progress your claim in a timely manner.
Our panel of experienced criminal injury solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis. If your case is accepted, then you may be offered a Conditional Fee Agreement which carries with it certain benefits, including:
- No upfront service fees to pay to your solicitor.
- No ongoing service fees.
- Nothing to pay to your solicitor for their work if your claim fails.
If your case wins, a success fee will be payable from your compensation to your solicitor. This fee is a percentage that is legally capped, meaning that you will keep the majority of your compensation.
To see if you are able to work with one of the solicitors on our panel for your CICA claim for broken bones, please reach out to one of our advisors by:
- Calling us on 020 8050 2736
- Filling out our claim online form.
- Or use our live chat function.
More Resources About Claiming Criminal Injuries Compensation
You may wish to consider some of our other CICA compensation guides:
- How do GBH claims work?
- What is the average payout for an assault at work?
- Learn how to claim compensation for domestic abuse.
Here are some external resources:
- Check the CICA yearly statistics here.
- How to report a crime incident online to the Police.
- Learn when to call 999 from the NHS.
Thank you for reading our guide on how to make a CICA claim for broken bones. To discuss your particular case, you can contact our advisors today.
