How To Claim Compensation For Attempted Murder
This guide offers information about the process of seeking compensation for attempted murder.
In some cases, you could claim compensation directly from the perpetrator if they have been identified and have the funds to pay you compensation. However, if this is not possible, you could direct your claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). The CICA are a government body that allows violent crime victims the opportunity to claim compensation for their pain and suffering.
We cover the claims process in detail, including the eligibility criteria and time limits for claiming through the CICA as well as the evidence that can be presented in support of your case.
Furthermore, we look at the criminal injury compensation you could receive for a successful claim. Finally, learn how you could seek legal advice from a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel and when they could give you legal representation with no upfront or ongoing fees for their work.
If you have any questions about your compensation claim, please do not hesitate to get in touch for free advice from an advisor. By getting a case assessment at no cost, you could see if you have a case a solicitor can take on. You can reach us in any of these ways:
- Call us on 020 8050 2736.
- Speak with our advisors using the live chat feature below.
- Complete our claim online form.
Learn How To Claim Compensation For Attempted Murder
Jump To A Section
- Can You Claim Compensation For Attempted Murder Through The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority?
- How To Claim Compensation For Attempted Murder
- CICA Time Limits For Claiming Compensation For Attempted Murder
- What Criminal Injuries Compensation Could You Receive?
- Claim CICA Compensation With No Win No Fee Solicitors
- Learn More About Making A Criminal Injuries Compensation Claim
Can You Claim Compensation For Attempted Murder Through The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority?
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) notes that a murder charge can be made against someone who intended to inflict grievous bodily harm or had the intent to kill. However, for the offence of attempted murder, only having intent to kill is enough.
If you are unable to claim directly against the perpetrator, you could claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, or CICA. The CICA provides a last-resort compensation route for people harmed in a crime of violence, where no other route exists. They administer the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme which contains a tariff of fixed amounts for different criminal injuries.
The definition of a crime of violence outlined in the Scheme includes different forms of physical assault, ranging from common assault to Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) or attempted murder.
Eligibility Criteria For CICA Claims
If you wish to seek criminal injury compensation through the CICA, you need to prove the following applies to your case:
- The incident needs to have been reported to the police.
- You must meet the residency requirements to claim. This means that you must have ordinarily been a resident in the UK on the date of the incident. However, there other ways of meeting the residency criteria, such as showing you are a British citizen regardless of where you normally reside.
- The crime of violence must have happened in England, Scotland, Wales or another eligible place; for example, a boat registered in one of those countries.
- You must be within the time limits. We provided more information on this later.
You do not need to be the direct victim of a crime of violence to be entitled to claim. You may still qualify to make a CICA claim for a mental injury if you witnessed, and were present at, the incident in which a loved one sustained the criminal injury. Also, you could be eligible to claim if you were involved in the immediate aftermath of an incident involving a loved one sustaining a criminal injury.
Furthermore, the perpetrator does not need to have been convicted for you to make your compensation claim for a criminal injury.
Please get in touch with us today to learn whether you are eligible to seek criminal injury compensation for attempted murder.
How To Claim Compensation For Attempted Murder
You must provide evidence when claiming through the CICA. More specifically, they may ask for the following when seeking compensation for attempted murder:
- Evidence of meeting residency requirements.
- A police reference number to show you reported the incident to the police.
- Medical evidence to show that you suffered an injury that can be compensated for under the Scheme.
- Proof of any financial costs incurred due to the crime of violence.
The CICA will liaise with the police to collect information regarding the crime. They might also ask for confirmation that you co-operated with the police investigation and that your behaviour did not contribute to the incident in which your injuries were received.
An advisor from our team can provide more detail on providing evidence for criminal injury claims. Call today for advice on what you need for the CICA to compensate you for injuries suffered as a direct result of attempted murder.
CICA Time Limits For Claiming Compensation For Attempted Murder
You may be wondering: “How long do I have to claim criminal injury compensation?”. When claiming through the CICA, they expect you to submit your claim as soon as it’s reasonably practicable for you to do so. If you were an adult at the time of the incident, they generally expect this to not be later than two years after the incident occurred. However, the time limit can be extended if exceptional circumstances prevented you from submitting your claim on time.
The time limit for those under the age of 18 is slightly different. If the incident was reported to the police before they turn 18, they will have until they turn 20 to submit a claim. If the incident was reported on their 18th birthday or after, they have two years from when the incident was first reported. A person with parental responsibilities can apply on behalf of a child.
The CICA also expect you to report the incident to the police as soon as it’s reasonably practicable for you to do so. However, consideration will be given to circumstances that prevented you from reporting the incident to the police straight away.
If you want to know more about the time limit for criminal injury claims or want free advice on how long you have to claim compensation for attempted murder, please give us a call.
What Criminal Injuries Compensation Could You Receive?
When you successfully claim compensation for attempted murder, you can receive a payment for your injuries, physical and psychological. For example, physical harm could include brain injuries, facial scarring, lacerations, broken bones or internal injury. Psychological injuries could include anxiety, depression or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Injuries are valued in line with the fixed tariff amounts outlined in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012. You can receive criminal injury compensation for a maximum of three injuries. If you claim for more than one injury, they would be subject to the multiple injuries formula.
This means you would receive the maximum amount outlined in the CICA tariff for the highest-valued injury. An injury with an equal or second-highest value receives 30% of the tariff figure. An injury with the third-highest or equal value will get 15% of the CICA tariff amount.
Whilst you cannot claim for more than three injuries, you could receive an additional payment if the crime caused pregnancy, contraction of a sexually transmitted illness or the loss of a foetus. This payment is exempt from the multiple injuries formula.
CICA Table
This table acts as an alternative to a criminal injury compensation calculator and features CICA payouts for various injuries. However, the top entry does not come from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme and should only be used as a guide.
| Injury | Details | Compensation Guidelines | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Serious Injuries Plus Monetary Losses | Serious | Up to £500,000 | Compensation for lost earnings, special expenses, and other injuries. |
| Brain damage | Very Serious Brain Injury | £250,000 | No useful physical movement and little or no meaningful response to the environment, as well as little or no language function and double incontinence. Full-time nursing is required. |
| Moderately Severe Brain Damage | £110,000 | Serious disablement of mental or physical faculties. The injured person depends substantially on professional or other care. There is a marked impairment of intellect and personality. | |
| Major Paralysis | Tetraplegia | £250,000 | Substantially complete impairment of motor or sensory function to both the upper and lower limbs levels. |
| Paraplegia | £175,000 | Paralysis of the lower extremities that is substantially complete with impaired motor or sensory function of the lower extremities. | |
| Hemiplegia | £110,000 | Severe motor or sensory impairment of one half of the body. | |
| Arm | Paralysis or Equivalent Loss of Function | £82,000 | Total loss of function in one arm, with no remaining arm or hand that has any useful function. |
| Kidney | Loss or Serious and Permanent Damage | £55,000 | Loss of, or serious and permanent damage to, both kidneys or the only functioning kidney. |
| Burns | Multiple Areas of Body | £33,000 | Covering over 25% of total skin and causing significant scarring. |
| Chest | Injury Requiring Thoracotomy | £16,500 | One or more organs must be removed or extensively repaired. |
Monetary Losses When Claiming Violent Crime Compensation
You could also receive criminal injury compensation for financial losses caused by the attempted murder. Firstly, if you meet the necessary criteria, you could be eligible for a special expenses payment. This refers to certain costs incurred due to your injury. Examples include:
- Damage to, or loss of, property or equipment that you relied on as a physical aid.
- Special equipment, such as physical aids including specially adapted vehicles, wheelchairs, and walking aids.
- The cost of care relating to your bodily functions or meal preparation.
You could also receive a loss of earnings payment if you are unable to work as a direct result of a criminal injury.
However, certain criteria must be met in order for you to qualify for a special expenses or loss of earnings payment.
For advice on how much compensation you can receive for a criminal injury, please call today. An advisor can explain how the CICA can award compensation for the effects of attempted murder in further detail.
Claim CICA Compensation With No Win No Fee Solicitors
If someone attempted to kill you in a criminal assault that left you with physical or emotional harm, you could seek compensation. The process of doing so can seem complex so you might be wondering “How can criminal injury solicitors help me claim compensation for attempted murder?”.
A criminal injury solicitor from our panel can help you build and present your case to maximise your chances of a successful claim. They work on a No Win No Fee basis and could offer to give legal representation under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).
This can have many financial benefits for claimants. For instance, there is no upfront or running fee for the services the solicitor provides.
Furthermore, you only have to pay for the solicitor’s work if the claim is successful. In that case, you pay a success fee to your solicitor. This is a small percentage of the compensation, capped by The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, that ensures you receive the majority of your compensation.
Contact us today for free advice and you can learn whether you qualify to seek attempted murder compensation with the help of a No Win No Fee solicitor. Use any of these routes to get an advisor’s support:
- Call us at 020 8050 2736.
- Speak with our advisors using the live chat feature.
- Complete our claim online form.
Learn More About Making A Criminal Injuries Compensation Claim
These guides could also help you when seeking criminal injuries compensation:
- Learn how to claim for the effects of an acid attack through the CICA.
- Information on claiming compensation for assault and battery that led to your harm.
- We explain when you can seek compensation for a stabbing and how a No Win No Fee criminal injury solicitor can help.
For some further reading:
- Your rights after a crime, as explained on the government’s website.
- Guidance on getting emotional support from the charity Victim Support.
- The NHS covers mental health services available to you if needed.
Thank you for reading this guide on how to seek compensation for attempted murder. If you have any more questions, please speak with an advisor from our team.
