Criminal injury compensation claims

Claim compensation for criminal injury

Violent crime is unfortunately a fact of life. We do whatever we can to avoid it, but although rare, there are thousands of victims each year. Violent muggings, attacks on the street, sexual and violent assault…in each case good legal representation can mean a compensation claim that eases the physical and mental recovery process, whether your attacker is found and charged or not.

Fill in our online claims form for free initial advice

Expert criminal injury solicitors

Our dedicated criminal injuries unit helps clients pursuing claims through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). This body was created to administer state compensation to violent crime victims. By working with you and the CICA, our team can achieve a just compensation package for the losses you have suffered. If during the course of our investigation we find you have grounds for other legal action, we will, of course, keep you informed.

We can also advise you on benefits and payments available to you if you are left permanently or temporarily disabled or unable to work.

About criminal injury compensation claims

In any violent crime, your priority is of course, reporting the matter to the police and seeking medical attention for yourself. But you should also seek legal advice as soon as possible – we may need accounts from witnesses whose memories of the event will be clearer if recorded quickly.

Thanks to the CICA, even if an offender is not identified, caught or convicted, a successful claim can still be made, so before you make assumptions about the likely success or failure of your case, let us look into things. There may be other legal courses of action to take too, such as a civil action or a compensation order.

See our recent comment in the Solicitors Journal >

Time limits for making claims also apply, although those limits are discretionary and in some cases are regularly waived. CICA compensation can be claimed, for example, in child abuse and elder abuse cases where no conviction has been made, even years after the event. These claims are not exempt from time limits, but because of their sensitive nature and the fact that they often go unreported for many years, they can be waived.

You may be able to claim damages for loss of earnings, loss of future earnings (where your injuries have long term implications) and future expenses (for example, if you are left disabled and your home needs moderating).

You can also file, through the CICA, for Fatal Criminal Compensation if someone you care about has died as the result of a crime.

What we'll do for you

More than anything, we aim to keep things clear, simple and as straightforward as possible for our clients, so there’s no need for you to worry at any point about the legal complexities or technicalities of your case. You’ll be kept informed throughout the claims process which, put simply, looks like this:

• Your free initial consultation gives us a clear understanding of your claim. 
• If you have a case we assign our best legal team with the expertise to handle your claim. 
• The legal team will investigate and build evidence to back up your case. 
• We keep in touch with you throughout, so you’re always informed. 
• Finally, with your approval, we arrive at the best settlement possible.

Make contact as soon as you can

It’s important to speak to us as soon as possible – time limitation periods apply and investigating your claim is often easier if you begin proceedings quickly. If you are claiming compensation through the CICA, your time limitation period is just two years. Your initial consultation with us is free, and we’ll tell you then whether or not your case is worth pursuing. If it is, we’ll carry out our investigation of the case free of charge too.

Can I make a compensation claim? Complete our personal injury claim form to see how we can help you.