The CICA (Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority) is a government body set up to compensate victims of violent crime and abuse. The purpose of the scheme is to compensate victims who may not be able to claim against those responsible for causing their injuries.
Our experienced CICA solicitors could help you make a CICA claim, or appeal a decision made by the Authority. For a free initial consultation about your CICA claim call us on 0800 056 4110 or contact us online.
What Injuries Can You Claim For Through the CICA?
If you’ve been the victim of a violent crime or abuse, you may be able to claim through the CICA. We regularly make CICA claims on behalf of people following:
- Assault (including ABH and GBH)
- Sexual abuse (including historical childhood abuse)
- Domestic abuse
- Threats of violence that have caused psychological injuries
- Human trafficking
- An act of terrorism
- A loved one being murdered.
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What’s The Process For Making A CICA Claim?
CICA claims go through a three stage process. Your claim could be settled during any of these three stages. In most cases you'll get your compensation within 18 months, if your claim is successful.
- Initial Stage
Your claim is submitted to the CICA. They then request police and medical evidence. Once the evidence is received they will decide whether to pay compensation, and how much.
- Review Stage
This stage is if you disagree with the initial decision by the CICA. The review application needs to be submitted within 56 days of the initial decision. The CICA will reassess your claim and may ask for further evidence. A different person will then make a review decision of whether you’re entitled to compensation, and how much.
- Appeal Stage
If you’re still not happy with the CICA’s decision, you can appeal it at the CICA Tribunal. This is separate to the CICA. The Tribunal’s decision is usually final.
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What Are The Time Limits For Making A CICA Claim?
The normal time limit for making a CICA claim is two years from the date of the crime.
However, there are some exceptions to the two year rule, including:
- Children – you can make a claim at any point before the child’s twentieth birthday, if the crime was reported to the police while the person was still a child.
- Historical child abuse – the time limit is two years from the date the abuse was reported to the police as an adult.
- Exceptional circumstances – the CICA can allow claims if there are good reasons for a delay in claiming (for example if the person claiming lacks mental capacity).
- Medically reopening CICA claims – the time limit for a claim being medically reopened is two years from the date of the original decision by the CICA. Claims may be medically reopened if your injury has significantly changed or got worse following the original compensation decision.
In all instances it’s best to begin a CICA claim as soon as you’re able. For a free consultation about your case, call us on 0800 056 4110 or contact us online. Even if you think the time limit has passed, it’s worth finding out whether you still have a claim.
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How Much Compensation Will You Get?
Compensation for CICA claims is set at fixed levels depending on the type of injury you’ve suffered and how severe it is.
The minimum amount of compensation the scheme awards is £1,000, and this rises to £500,000 for the most serious injuries.
You can claim for up to three injuries through the CICA, but the amounts paid for the second and third injuries are reduced as follows:
- Most serious injury – 100% of the compensation award for that type of injury.
- Second most serious injury – 30% of the compensation award.
- Third most serious injury – 15% of the compensation award.
In addition the CICA can make compensation awards for loss of earnings or expenses – but there are strict guidelines for these payments.
Some compensation awards may be reduced if there are issues relating to your conduct. If you have an unspent conviction the CICA will usually reject your claim. Your case may also be rejected if you delayed reporting your case to the police, or didn’t cooperate with their investigation.
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What Services Do We Offer?
Our experienced CICA solicitors can help you:
- Make a CICA claim
- Review an application if you’re making a CICA claim yourself
- Review the "health" of an existing claim, if you’re claiming by yourself or using another law firm
- Make appeals to the CICA Tribunal
- Apply to the CICA to medically re-open your case.
As well as helping you through the CICA process, our solicitors can help you with a range of related services. We have a specialist team of Support and Rehabilitation Coordinators, who can help you with issues such as accessing benefits and rehabilitation services. We can also offer advice on Court of Protection issues through our dedicated team.
If your application for compensation is successful, we can help you with advice on how to invest that money. As well as that we can help make sure your compensation doesn’t stop your entitlement to certain state benefits, by setting up a personal injury trust.
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How Much Does It Cost To Claim?
We make CICA claims on a no win no fee basis. This means that there’s nothing for you to pay upfront, and that you don’t pay us anything if your claim is unsuccessful.
If your claim is successful then our fee is deducted from your compensation award. The CICA doesn’t pay us any legal costs unfortunately, which is why we need to deduct our fee from your compensation.
However, using a solicitor to make your CICA claim does often mean that you’ll receive a higher amount then if you made a claim on your own. Your lawyer will discuss this with you at a free initial consultation.
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Why Choose Us?
We have an experienced team of solicitors who specialise in CICA claims. Our lawyers offer expert advice about all parts of the CICA process.
We’re often asked to take over claims that people have started themselves, but were rejected or not valued highly enough. Our solicitors are experts in the reasons the CICA can reject a claim, and can provide specialist guidance in this area.
We regularly deal with complex and high value CICA claims that involve:
- Brain injuries
- Sexual and physical abuse
- Psychological injuries
- Fractures
- Burns and scarring
- Fatalities.
Our team understand what you’re going through, and are here to help every step of the way. We make sure that we keep regular contact with the CICA throughout your claim, and will keep you well-informed about what’s going on. Alongside that, our Support and Rehabilitation Coordinators can provide help and support with things like accessing benefits and specialist rehabilitation services.
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Contact Us
Call us on 0800 056 4110 or contact us online for a free initial consultation about your claim.
Experienced CICA claims lawyers
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