Criminal Injury Compensation Claims Solicitors (CICA Claims)

Many people don’t realise that if they have been injured during a criminal incident, they could be able to make a criminal injury compensation claim.

The specialist personal injury claims solicitors in the team here at Lanyon Bowdler can help you claim the compensation you are entitled to, even if the assailant has yet to be identified. The financial compensation can be used to help pay for rehabilitation and medical fees, along with covering any loss of earnings that followed the incident.

We are proud of our reputation for down-to-earth yet professional legal advice, and our solicitors would be happy to chat with you on the phone, or at a free consultation.

Criminal Injuries - Can I Make a Claim?

Thankfully, the risk of being the victim of a crime has fallen steadily in the UK over recent years - falling by over 60% since its peak in 1995 (according to Crime in England and Wales 2015/2016) - but when a violent crime does occur, it is always a distressing and traumatic time for the victim.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) was established to compensate people who have suffered serious criminal injuries - even if the person responsible has not been found. The CICA can award compensation ranging from £1,000 to £500,000.

The following conditions need to be met to be able to make a claim in this way:

• The incident must have taken place in England, Wales or Scotland.
• The injuries must be serious enough to qualify for the minimum award of £1,000.
• The claim must be made within two years of the original incident (although there are exceptions to this).

If you are not sure whether your case meets these criteria, the best thing to do is to get in touch us to talk it through. If the crime happened abroad, you may be eligible under a scheme of the country where the crime occurred.

Making a Compensation Claim with the CICA - How Will Lanyon Bowdler Help?

The CICA compensation scheme was established to support innocent victims who have suffered serious criminal injuries, both physical and psychological.

The legal professionals here at Lanyon Bowdler can provide you with specialist assistance.

• We can help you complete the criminal injury compensation claim application form and can then correspond with the CICA on your behalf, ensuring your claim is dealt with quickly and efficiently.
• We can advise you on the progress of your claim at every stage of the process
• We can review the CICA's initial decision to make sure you receive the correct amount of financial compensation.
• We will also ensure the CICA has all the relevant information so you are fully compensated for your injuries, as well as any loss of earnings, rehabilitation and medical costs.

We have a dedicated Court of Protection Team, who can assist if you need to set up a Personal Injury Trust in relation to any award the CICA have made, or are proposing to make.

In some circumstances the CICA will require you to have a Professional Trustee, or it may simply be that you would prefer to have a Professional Trustee, and we do also offer a Personal Trustee service for the ongoing administration of your Personal Injury Trust, should it be required.

Contact Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors

Give us a call or complete our online enquiry form, to see how we can help. We have offices in Shrewsbury, Bromyard, Conwy, Hereford, Ludlow, Oswestry and Telford, so are able to act for clients all over Shropshire, Herefordshire, Mid and North Wales and across the Midlands.

Remember: If you have been the victim of a violent crime it is important that you report it to the Police as soon as possible, and co-operate with them in order to bring the offender to justice.