Making a CICA compensation claim
Who can make a claim?
Anyone who has been mentally or physically injured as the result of assault or who is a survivor of sexual of physical assault or abuse is entitled to make a claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
The Government-run scheme aims to help blameless victims get their lives back on track by funding the support and rehabilitation they need.
Payments are funded by the Ministry of Justice using taxpayers’ money as opposed to from the perpetrator. It is in place solely to help people who have been victims of violent crime.
Download our CICA Brochure “Seeking Justice After Criminal Injury”
If you satisfy the criteria, the amount of compensation you receive will be assessed from a set tariff – brackets which the settlement amounts fall under – ranging from £1,000 to £500,000.
In cases which involve significant long-term psychological damage, payments can be substantially higher, and our solicitors will be able to advise you on this very specific and more complex area of the claims process.
Your pay-out will depend on the type of injuries you have sustained, but some of the most common awards received are:
| Examples of the most common serious assault awards received include: | |
|---|---|
| £4,600 | Depressed fracture of the skull requiring an operation |
| £6,200 | Fracture to the jaw requiring surgery with a continuing significant disability |
| £11,000 | Strained neck or whiplash, seriously disabling or permanent |
| £11,000 | Nose total loss of smell or taste |
| £11,000 | Severe burns |
| £16,500 | Minor Brain Injury lasting 6 months – 2 years |
| £22,000 | Significant brain injury lasting 2 years or more |
| £22,000 | Loss of sight (One eye) |
| £33,000 | Loss of sight (One eye, where the sight in the uninjured eye cannot be corrected better than 6/36) |
| Moderate brain damage (Some dependence on others, intellectual deficit, personality change, ability to work reduced, some effect on the sesnes) |
|
| £27,000 | – Slight |
| £55,000 | – Moderate |
| £82,000 | – Significant |
| £110,000 | Loss of sight (Both eyes) |
| £110,000 | Moderately severe brain damage |
| £175,000 | Very serious brain injury (Severe physical limitation, significant effect on the senses with little insight or significant reduction in life expectancy. Little or no meaningful response to the environment, little or no language function, double incontinence and need for full-time or all day care and some night nursing care.) |
| £250,000 | Very serious brain injury (No useful physical movement, significant effect on the senses and with some degree of insight. Little or no meaningful response to the environment, little or no language function, double incontinence and need for full-time nursing care.) |
| The pattern of repetitive incidents, non-consensual penile penetration over a period of time. | |
| £6,500 | Up to 3 years |
| £22,000 | Over 3 years |
| Physical, Domestic and Sexual Abuse | |
| £1,000 | Minor sexual assault, non-penetrative sexual physical act(s) over clothing |
| £2,000 | Serious sexual assault, non-penetrative sexual physical act(s) under clothing |
| £3,300 | Severe sexual assault, non-penile penetrative or oral-genital act(s) |
| £5,500 | A pattern of repetitive violence resulting in minor disfigurement |
| £8,200 | A persistent pattern of severe abuse lasting more than 3 years |
| £22,000 | Resulting in serious internal bodily injuries |
| Psychological Injuries as a result of Sexual Abuse | |
| £6,200 | Lasting 2 years or more up to 5 years |
| £13,500 | Lasting 5 years or more but not permanent |
| £19,000 | Permanent and moderately disabling |
| £27,000 | Permanent and seriously disabling |
The CICA usually aim to make a decision on applications within 12-18 months, but there are no specific timescales they work to.
Obviously more complex cases, involving more serious or complex injuries , can take longer. Equally, some more straightforward cases can be dealt with in sorter time frames.
No matter how long it takes to receive the justice you deserve, we’ll keep you updated about your case’s progresses every step of the way, and ensure we are working to bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion as quickly as possible.
The cases we pursue are funded on a ‘No win, no fee’ basis – so there’s no financial risk to you. It costs NOTHING to start the process.
After your free initial consultation, you can decide whether to carry on. If you don’t want to continue, there’s no obligation to do so and no charge.
We believe this allows victims of crime to make an informed decision, based on expert legal advice after all the relevant information has been reviewed.
Our experienced team of experts will guide you through the CICA claims process.
Get in touch over the phone or via email and we will ask you a few simple questions to immediately assess whether you’re entitled to compensation, at no cost to you.
If we think you have a strong case, our experts will advise you about how much compensation to expect and take care of the application process on your behalf.
Children are entitled to compensation under the CICA scheme, but an adult must make the application on behalf of a child and the CICA will hold the money until the claimant reaches the age of 18.
The adult’s details and proof of their relationship to the child must be provided to the CICA.
Incidents which occur during childhood can still be reported after the age of 18. From the date of it being disclosed to the police, the claimant then has two years to pursue a claim with the CICA.
However, we would always recommend making applications as soon as possible, because the longer it’s left, the harder it can become to obtain evidence.
Innocent victims of crime often expect the CICA to be sympathetic when they apply for compensation. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
Pursuing a case with the CICA can prove a complex, lengthy and frustrating process – and having expert legal assistance could make the difference between a successful or rejected claim.
If you use an experienced CICA lawyer, they will be fully aware of the application process. They can also make the process smoother and less harrowing by chasing up and securing any evidence, police statements, medical reports or social services reports which may need to be considered.
They will also advise you about your potential award and tell know if they think your circumstances warrant a larger settlement. If required, they can also review a rejected claim and prepare a subsequent Notice of Appeal if required.
If you are considering making a claim to the CICA you need to lodge your application within two years of the incident or before your 20th birthday if you were under 18 at the time of the incident.
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