This guide explores the process of claiming compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) if you have been the victim of a crime of violence. We will also discuss the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority tariff and how it could be used to value a claim.

Other topics covered in this guide include the eligibility requirements you must meet to claim through the CICA and the time limits that could apply to your circumstances. We will also discuss how criminal injury solicitors could make it easier to navigate the process of making a claim.

Read on to learn more about claiming for criminal injuries compensation. You can also contact our advisers for a free consultation about the merits of your potential claim. There is no obligation to continue using our services afterwards, and the consultation is free. For more information, speak to us by:

• Using our contact form to request more information
• Calling 020 8050 2736
• Talking to our team using the chat box below

Choose A Section

1. A Guide To Using The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Tariff
2. What Redress Could You Receive From The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Tariff?
3. When Are You Eligible To Seek Compensation Through The CICA?
4. What Do You Need When Making Claims Through The CICA?
5. Why Use Our Panel Of No Win No Fee Solicitors To Make A Criminal Injuries Compensation Claim?
6. Learn More About Claiming Through The CICA Tariff

A Guide To Using The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Tariff

You may be able to claim compensation for injuries you sustained during a violent attack. This is true even if you do not know the attacker’s identity or they don’t have the funds to pay compensation to you. For example, you may have experienced:

• Common assault
• Assault and battery
• Domestic abuse of a violent or sexual nature
• Sexual abuse
• Assault at work

The CICA is an executive agency sponsored by the Ministry of Justice that provides a way for innocent victims to be compensated for injuries sustained in violent attacks. If you are awarded compensation through this agency, the amount you receive will be dictated by the Criminal Injury Compensation Authority tariff, which we will discuss in the next section.

What Redress Could You Receive From The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Tariff?

Compensation awarded by the CICA is determined by the injury tariff laid out in the Criminal Injury Compensation Scheme 2012, which establishes award amounts based upon:

• The extent of the injury
• The physical and psychological impact of the injury
• Whether the incident created any permanent symptoms

The table below contains some of the figures found in the CICA’s tariff of injuries.

Criminal Injury	Tariff Amount	Further Information
Non-Consensual Penile Penetration of Mouth, Anus, or Vagina	£22,000	Results in serious internal bodily injuries.
Non-Consensual Penile Penetration of Mouth, Anus, or Vagina	£13,500	Two or more attackers involving a victim of any age, if not already compensated as a child.
Non-Consensual Penile Penetration of Mouth, Anus, or Vagina	£11,000	One attacker involving a victim of any age, if not already compensated as a child.
Severe Abuse	£8,200	Persistent pattern of severe abuse that occurs to an adult for more than 3 years.
Teeth	£3,500	Loss of three or more front teeth.
Skull	£3,500	Simple fractured skull that requires an operation.
Skull	£1,000	Simple fractured skull that does not require an operation.
Clavicle	£2,400	One fractured clavicle that results in continuing significant disability.
Wrist	£2,400	One fractured wrist from which there is a substantial recovery.
Jaw	£1,500	Fractured jawbone that doesn't require surgery and from which a substantial recovery occurs.

As you can see, there is variation in these tariff amounts. For example, the compensation payouts for rape differ from the amounts awarded for a broken jaw. It is worth keeping in mind that you can claim for up to three injuries from this tariff. These are subject to the multiple injuries formula, which determines that you would receive:

• 100% of the highest-valued tariff amount
• 30% of the second- or equally highest-valued tariff amount
• 15% of the third- or equally highest-valued tariff amount

Certain injuries are not subject to this formula. For example, if you become pregnant or contract a sexually transmitted infection as a result of sexual assault, you would receive the full amount for these injuries in addition to the injuries compensated under the multiple injuries formula. This is because these injuries can be found on a separate tariff.

Claims Through The CICA – Special Expenses Compensation

You may be eligible to receive another head of claim, which is intended to help reimburse you for the special expenses incurred due to the violent attack. However, to receive this as part of your compensation, you must have lost earnings, the capacity to earn, or been similarly incapacitated for a period of more than 28 full weeks.

To claim, the special expenses must be reasonable, necessary, and unavailable for free from another source. For example, they could include:

• The cost of replacing physical aids, such as prosthetic limbs or hearing aids, that were damaged during the incident
• Special equipment you require after the incident, such as house adaptations to cope with a disability
• The cost of treatment if the NHS would charge, or the cost of treatment by a private healthcare provider if the NHS would charge the same amount

In addition, you may be eligible to claim for lost earnings. However, in order to qualify for this payment, you must have been unable to perform paid work or had an extremely limited capacity to do so for more than 28 full weeks. There are other eligibility requirements you must meet to claim for a lost earnings payment. If you qualify, you will receive payment from week 29 and onwards.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority tariff does not include special expenses payments because these are based on individual circumstances. Speak with one of our advisors today; they can help you understand the payments you may receive.

When Are You Eligible To Seek Compensation Through The CICA?

There are a number of criteria that your circumstances must meet in order to make a claim through the CICA. You may be eligible to claim through the CICA if the incident:

• Occurred in England, Scotland, or Wales. The claim could also be considered if the incident location was another relevant location, such as a vessel registered in those countries
• Meets the CICA’s definition of a crime of violence
• Has been reported to the police, which must be done as soon as possible. “As soon as possible” generally means immediately after the incident occurs, but exceptional circumstances that prevent this might be considered.

There may be other eligibility requirements you must meet. You can speak to our advisers if you’d like to know more.

What Do You Need When Making Claims Through The CICA?

You may have to produce certain pieces of evidence in support of a claim made through the CICA. For example, you may be asked for:

• Evidence that you meet the CICA’s eligibility requirements
• A police reference number
• Medical evidence about the injuries you sustained
• Financial evidence about the special expenses

In addition, you must start a claim within the CICA time limit. Generally, this is within two years of reporting the incident to the police. However, there may be extenuating circumstances that mean your claim could be considered outside this time frame, so it is worth calling our advisers to discuss the subject.

Why Use Our Panel Of No Win No Fee Solicitors To Make A Criminal Injuries Compensation Claim?

Though you do not need a solicitor to begin a claim, it could be beneficial to retain the services of one to help navigate the legal process of claiming. One of the criminal injury lawyers on our panel may be able to offer their services under a type of No Win No Fee agreement called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).

This legal agreement means that you generally won’t have to pay for your solicitor’s services if your claim fails. You also usually don’t have to pay their service fees to get the claim started.

Instead, your solicitor would take a success fee at the end of the process, but only if your claim succeeds. A piece of legislation known as the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 stipulates a legal cap for the amount that can be taken as a success fee.

Contact Us 24/7 For Free To See If You Could Receive Criminal Injuries Compensation

Speak to our advisers if you have further questions about the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority tariff. Our team can offer free legal advice over the phone at any time that is convenient for you. Alternatively, you can request more information by filling out our contact form or typing in the chatbox below. Our team is available every day of the week, so reach us by:

• Using our contact form to request more information
• Calling 020 8050 2736
• Talking to our team using the chat box below

Learn More About Claiming Through The CICA Tariff

More articles we’ve written that may be of use:

Claims For GBH Explained

Child Abuse Compensation Claims – Historic Child Abuse Solicitors

A Guide To Using An Assault Claim Calculator

Third-party resources with related information:

Rape Crisis – Charity working to end sexual violence

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) – Charity that prevents abuse, rebuilds children’s lives, and supports families

Charging Standards For Offences Against The Person – Information from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) about various criminal offences

Thank you for reading this guide about the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority tariff. For further information on this topic, contact us using the details provided above.

Writer Morgan Fox

Publisher Fern Shelley