Face Injury Compensation Claims - More Information

- What kind of face injuries can i claim for?
- Facial injuries could happen during a road accident, an incident at work, a dog attack, or even a criminal assault. We can help you claim for injuries such as:
  - A broken nose
  - A broken or fractured jaw
  - Broken or fractured eye sockets or cheekbones
  - Broken or damaged teeth
  - Eye injuries, including eye loss or vision loss
  - Facial scarring.
  You may need significant dental treatment or ongoing surgery to repair the damage. There may also be long-term impacts such as loss of earnings or psychological trauma.
- What If I Don't qualify for no win no fee?
- If your case doesn’t meet the no win, no fee criteria, there may be other options available to you.
  
  You may have Legal Expenses Insurance on your home insurance policy, for example, or you may be a member of a trade union which covers legal expenses. We’ll discuss the best options for you during your initial consultation.
- Who Will pay my compensation?
- If you’re claiming against an employer, a public body or a driver, your claim will most likely be settled by insurance companies. For criminal assault claims, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) will pay out if the person who assaulted you doesn’t have the means to pay.
- What is the criminal injuries compensation authority (CICA)?
- The CICA is an executive agency which is sponsored by the Ministry of Justice to handle compensation claims for victims of violent crimes. The CICA pays out compensation for those who’ve been physically or mentally affected by a criminal assault. We process criminal claims through the CICA on your behalf. Read more about CICA and how we can help.
- Are there exceptions to the three-year time limit?
- Adults can make claims for children up until their 18th birthday. If they reach 18 and a claim hasn’t been made for them, they can make their own claim up until their 21st birthday.
  
  There’s no time limit to make claims on behalf of people who lack the mental capacity to make a claim themselves.
  
  If your claim relates to a criminal assault, generally the limit is two years. However, this can be extended in some circumstances, for example if you were too ill to claim.
  
  If you were injured by a faulty product, you’ll have 10 years from the product launch date to make a claim.
  
  Finally, if the injury happened abroad, the time limit may be shorter. We can advise you on specific regions.
  
  Regardless of the circumstances of your injury, get in touch with us as soon as possible. The earlier you contact us, the easier it is for us to gather evidence to support your claim.
- What are interim compensation payments?
- Where applicable, interim compensation payments cover ongoing costs while you recover from your facial injury, for example, travel expenses to and from hospital. These funds are awarded before your final settlement and will be deducted from your final compensation amount. We’ll let you know if we think you will benefit from interim compensation payments.
- what if my opponent doesn't accept responsibility?
- We always try to negotiate an out-of-court settlement for you as this is generally less stressful for all parties, particularly during difficult recovery periods. If your opponent denies responsibility or disagrees with the proposed settlement, we’ll begin court proceedings.
  
  Often, even when trial dates have been set, claims are settled before reaching court. If it does go to court, we’ll guide you through every step.

The compensation is far more than I ever expected, and I am naturally delighted with this outcome - I am quite sure I could never have achieved this on my own."

Joan, client